In a strong show of resilience, Pakistan have stormed into the Tremendous 8s of the T20 World Cup 2026 following a scientific 102-run victory over Namibia on February 18, 2026. Past the tactical brilliance on the sector, a novel psychological shift has taken maintain of the squad. Following their must-win triumph in Colombo, star all-rounder Shadab Khan revealed that the group is not taking part in with simply eleven males on the sector. He credited their newfound momentum to a mysterious ’twelfth man’, an element he believes would be the catalyst for a title cost.
‘Our twelfth man is with us’: Shadab Khan’s highly effective message after Pakistan e book Tremendous 8 spot
The thriller of Pakistan’s additional supporter was solved throughout the post-match press convention, the place Shadab linked the group’s surge to the graduation of the holy month of Ramadan. With the squad going through immense criticism following a heavy defeat to India, Shadab insisted that the non secular power of the fasting month has offered an unbreakable morale enhance. Utilizing his full remarks to elucidate the group’s mindset, he said:
“On the finish of the day, you’ll be able to solely management sure issues, so it is best to concentrate on controlling these. And now Ramadan has began, humara twelfth man toh saath hello hai (our twelfth man is with us). The Tremendous 8 shall be troublesome. These shall be high-pressure matches. Ramadan has begun, and it is going to be like our twelfth participant.” Shadab was quoted as saying by NDTV Sports activities.
Shadab additional dismissed the noise from former cricketers, noting that the present squad stays centered on their inside ‘course of’ slightly than exterior opinions. By framing the holy month as a tangible benefit, the all-rounder has signaled that the 2009 champions are mentally ready for the grueling schedule forward, which incorporates high-octane clashes in opposition to England and New Zealand.
Additionally READ: Defined: Which groups will Pakistan face in Tremendous 8 of T20 World Cup 2026?
T20 World Cup 2026: Sahibzada Farhan’s historic ton seals Pakistan’s Tremendous 8 qualification
On the sector, Pakistan’s efficiency was nothing wanting ‘deadly and ruthless,’ as described by captain Salman Ali Agha. The centerpiece of the victory was a record-shattering maiden T20I century by Sahibzada Farhan, who grew to become solely the second Pakistan batter in historical past, after Ahmed Shehzad in 2014, to attain 100 in a T20 World Cup.
Farhan’s unbeaten 100 off 58 balls, that includes 11 boundaries and 4 towering sixes, anchored Pakistan to an enormous 199/3. The bowling division then took over, led by thriller spinner Usman Tariq, whose bamboozling ‘pause-and-bowl’ motion earned him career-best figures of 4/16. Supported by Shadab Khan’s scientific 3/19, the Pakistan assault bundled Namibia out for simply 97 runs in 17.3 overs. This 102-run demolition not solely secured their Tremendous 8 berth but in addition marked Pakistan’s largest-ever margin of victory in T20 World Cup historical past, formally ending the desires of the USA, who had hoped for a Namibian upset to remain within the hunt.
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