Pakistan set to bat first in last group-stage clash with Namibia. PHOTO: SCREENGRAB
Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat first in their final group-stage encounter against Namibia at the Sinhalese Sports Club in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 on Wednesday.
Earlier, defending champions India put on a dominant display against arch-rivals Pakistan in their T20 World Cup clash, winning the match by 61 runs and leading the points table in the group.
Pakistan beat the United States by 32 runs in their T20 World Cup Group A game at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo.
Pakistan posted a target of 191, and in response, the United States managed a respectable 158-8 in their 20 overs, with strong performances from opener Shayan Jahangir (49 off 34) and middle-order batsman Shubham Ranjane (51 off 30).
The win avenged Pakistan’s shock defeat at the hands of USA in the T20 World Cup two years ago and handed them a second win in as many games following their close three-wicket win over the Netherlands on February 7.
Chasing 148 against the Netherlands, Pakistan reached 147 for seven in 19.3 overs, surviving a nervy finish after sustained pressure from the Netherlands during the middle phase of the chase.
Playing XI
Pakistan: Salman Ali Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan and Usman Tariq.
Namibia: Gerhard Erasmus (c), Zane Green, Bernard Scholtz, Ruben Trumpelmann, JJ Smit, Jan Frylinck, Louren Steenkamp, Malan Kruger, Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Jack Brassell, Alex Volschenk, JC Balt, Dylan Leicher, WP Myburgh and Max Heingo.
