🏏ICC Men's T20 W C 2026: Group A, M 35: Namibia vs Pak at Colombo🏏 - Page 2

Thank you Soni for the thread and for tagging.

Best wishes to both teams!

We’re into the final stretch of the league phase, and this clash between Pakistan and Namibia carries enormous significance. Seven teams have already sealed their spots in the Super Eights, and only one berth remains. The equation is simple - a win for Pakistan sends them through as the eighth team; a loss and USA sneak in. Pakistan, like several sides in this tournament, haven’t quite hit top gear. They escaped against Netherlands, edged past USA, and were then outplayed by their arch-rivals India. They have enough quality on paper to overpower Namibia and book that Super Eight spot. The question is - can Namibia spring a surprise?

Pakistan's batting has revolved heavily around Sahibzada Farhan. When he scores, Pakistan tend to win - 47 and 73 in the first two victories underline that. When he fell for a duck against India, the batting unravelled. The dependence is clear, and this might be the game for others to shoulder responsibility. The bowling remains one of their strongest suits, particularly in these conditions. With 5-6 spin options, each offering something different, they are well-equipped. However, Shaheen Afridi’s lack of wickets with the new ball is a concern, and there could be temptation to bring in Salman Mirza or Naseem Shah. Will they make such a bold call in a must-win encounter?

Namibia, meanwhile, haven’t quite met their own standards. They’ve lost all three games, and each by clear margins; rusty against Netherlands, overpowered by India, and unable to chase down 190 against USA. The bowling has been competitive, with skipper Gerhard Erasmus leading from the front, but the batting has lacked fluency. Namibia have qualified for this tournament four times and won at least one game in each of the previous three editions - a streak they’ll be desperate to protect. It’s a tough assignment against Pakistan’s spin-heavy attack, especially in an afternoon fixture where conditions could get drier.

Pakistan have won the toss and have opted to bat

Teams:

Namibia (Playing XI): Louren Steenkamp, Jan Frylinck, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Gerhard Erasmus(c), Alexander Volschenk, JJ Smit, Zane Green(w), Ruben Trumpelmann, Willem Myburgh, Bernard Scholtz, Jack Brassell

Pakistan (Playing XI): Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha(c), Babar Azam, Usman Khan(w), Khawaja Nafay, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Salman Mirza, Usman Tariq

We are going to bat first. We have played two games here. It is a good pitch. We just want to score above par and put them under pressure with the scoreboard pressure. (little bit of pressure on you?) Not really, we have been here like previously as well. And when you come to the World Cup like this, you have fixtures like that. You pretty much have to win every single game and we are ready for the game. (batting needs a lift) Yeah, yeah, the batting has just been a concern for us. We need to bat well. We have batted well against USA. We need to do the similar kind of performance today as well. We've got two changes. Salman and Nafay are playing. Shaheen and Abrar are missing out.

Gerhard Erasmus: Yeah, I really like it around here. It's kind of warm, which is a custom. We're accustomed to that in Namibia and really enjoying a little bit of sweat. (what can we expect from Namibia?) I guess we want to, you know, live up to our reputation as a good T20 side. We haven't quite hit our straps in all facets. I think we've competed for large amounts of the games, but you really need to do that against good teams for 40 overs, don't you? We have two changes. Alexander Volschenk and Jack Brassell come in. Dylan Leicher and Max Heingo miss out.

2:23pm Here's Nagraj with some golden nuggets from the SSC: "Faheem is the only bowler to mark his run-up so far. Pakistan journalists believe Shaheen will be dropped with Salman Mirza comig in, but both yet to mark run-ups. I still feel Shaheen will play; Babar, by the way, retains his place." We'll know more in about seven minutes...

Abid nawaz: "Pakistan playing eleven must be selected on merit and as per the condition of pitch. If the pitch supports spinners, then abrar and nawaz may be included in the team. Fakhar Zaman may also be given a chance, he will probably be the match winner. "

Nader Abbas: "Best chance for Namibia is to win the toss and bat, put a 180 plus total and make Pakistan batters sweat for runs.You never know when Pakistan is chasing."

Nagraj Gollapudi had a keen eye on Babar yesterday...

2:11pm Mustafa Moudi: "I want Namibia to win today so that we can unlock a Brand New Rivalry - USA vs Pakistan. Last time they defeated Pakistan and now if they take Pakistan's Super 8 Spot, USA to Pakistan would become what Zimbabwe and Netherlands are to Australia and South Africa!!"

2:07pm Surbhit: "Any update on rain, weather forecast. How is it looking?" The word from Colombo is there is no rain and present, which is a great sign considering there was a bit expected ahead of the start of the match. That may come, but we're looking good for now.

Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub are at the crease. Sahibzada Farhan is on strike. Smit will open the attack

Pakistan have taken the call of leaving out Shaheen for this massive game. Also, they have strengthened the batting with the inclusion of Nafay, so we should see their batters bat more freely. The players are making their way out to the middle. Not much sun around. Bit of cloud cover as well. JJ Smit has the new ball and will open the attack. One slip in place. We are ready to go..

PITCH REPORT - Former Sri Lankan batter, Russel Arnold, is pitchside. He informs that it was gloomy this morning, but the sun has broken through. Shares that the square boundaries measure 69 metres on one side and 67 on the other, with the straight hit being 79 metres. Former Pakistan fast bowler, Waqar Younis, believes Pakistan will feel at home in these conditions, having played a couple of games at this venue. Mentions that this pitch has offered something for everyone. Shares that at this ground, pacers have picked 31 wickets at an average of 18.96 while spinners have claimed 26 wickets at an average of 23.11.

Weather watch - In Delhi, there were showers early in the morning, and rain caused a brief interruption during the break between innings. Showers are predicted ahead of the game here in Colombo as well. For now, though, conditions remain dry, and the players are out in the middle going through their warm-up drills.

No room for error for the Men in Green - Under the Colombo skies, with the sea breeze drifting across the SSC Cricket Ground, this Group A clash feels less like a dead rubber and more like a final for Pakistan. After being hammered by India and watching the USA climb above them on net run rate, there is no safety net left - Pakistan have to win, if they want to keep their Super 8 hopes alive. Namibia, already out of the race, might be playing without pressure, but that only makes them more dangerous.

Batting balance still elusive - Pakistan's campaign so far has been a story of missed chances and uneven performances. They were nearly stunned by the Netherlands before Faheem Ashraf's late cameo rescued them, steadied themselves against the USA, and then were completely outplayed by India. With the bat, the burden has fallen heavily on Sahibzada Farhan, who has 120 runs in the tournament, including a blazing 73 off 41 against the Americans. Around him, though, the returns have been thin. Babar Azam’s 66 runs have come at a strike rate under 116, not ideal in modern T20 cricket, while Saim Ayub, Salman Agha and Shadab Khan have all struggled to make telling contributions. Shadab and Usman Khan have flashed their power without truly shaping an innings, leaving Pakistan too often short of the explosives they crave.

Spinners in search of spark - Ironically, it is Ayub who has been Pakistan's standout with the ball, leading their bowling charts and coming off a fine three-wicket haul in the last game. Usman Tariq's unusual action and deliberate pause have quietly brought control, but the bigger names - Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab have managed only eight wickets between them across three matches on spin-friendly surfaces. Salman Agha's surprise decision to bowl himself against India paid off instantly when he removed Abhishek Sharma, adding a useful extra option, but Shaheen Afridi's lack of early breakthroughs remains a concern. Whether Pakistan go all-in with spin again or bring back Salman Mirza's pace is one of the key selection calls.

Bright starts, empty finishes - Namibia, despite three defeats, have shown enough to prove they belong at this level. Their biggest frustration has been with the bat. Only Louren Steenkamp has passed fifty, while Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton and Jan Frylinck have started brightly without kicking on. Skipper Gerhard Erasmus and JJ Smit have been forced to play rescue acts too often after middle-order collapses in big chases against India and the USA.

Namibia's skipper setting the tone - Erasmus, however, has led superbly with the ball, taking six wickets, including a career-best 4 for 20 against India, while Myburgh has impressed with his economy. The pacers, Ruben Trumpelmann and Max Heingo, have not quite hit their straps, but Namibia will hope Colombo's slow, gripping surface levels the contest.

Adapting on the fly - That is the task in front of Namibia. All their previous games have been in India, and they now run into a Pakistan side that has been based in Colombo throughout the tournament and has already played twice at this ground. Pakistan's spinners, in particular, have relished conditions at the Sinhalese Sports Club, accounting for 13 of the 18 wickets they have taken across their two matches here. Navigating that spin challenge will be a stern test for the African side if they are to pull off an upset.

Team Form (Last 5 T20Is, latest result first)

Pakistan - LWWWW

Namibia - LLLWL.