Pakistan faced a tough loss against England in the T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 match at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. Despite a close finish, Shaheen Afridi pointed out that the team’s performance in the middle overs was a key issue, as they struggled to form effective partnerships.
Pakistan batted first, scoring 164/9, a total that proved insufficient as England chased it down, finishing with two wickets in hand and five balls to spare. This modest score left little room for error for Pakistan’s bowlers on a pitch that was favorable for batting.
Shaheen Afridi discusses Pakistan’s shortcomings
Afridi, who took 4 wickets for 30 runs, identified a crucial moment in the game. He mentioned that not forming a consistent partnership during the critical middle overs led to an inadequate total for Pakistan to defend.
He stressed the need for a batsman to stay at the crease during these overs, highlighting that Pakistan lost wickets quickly, disrupting their momentum.
Afridi believed that with a target of around 180–190 runs, Pakistan could have been competitive. However, losing wickets impeded their ability to score at the needed rate of eight to nine runs per over, which is often vital in T20 matches.
“I feel in a wicket like this you need a partnership and you need a set batsman in that position who can bat throughout the middle overs. But unfortunately we lost wickets back to back, which is why we did not go for that 180-190 score,” Afridi noted as reported by GeoSuper.
Afridi commends Harry Brook’s performance
Despite Afridi’s strong bowling, England’s batting proved crucial. Harry Brook anchored the innings with an exceptional century, exemplifying the steady approach that Pakistan missed.
Brook was effective in rotating the strike, forming partnerships, and managing pressure, which helped keep England on track. Afridi observed that England’s ability to maintain a solid presence at the crease made a significant difference, highlighting the disparity between the two teams’ strategies.
“If you see, when England batted, Harry Brook stayed at the crease and he was rotating the strike and building partnerships. I think we missed this opportunity to build partnerships. Throughout a T20 innings you need those eight or nine runs an over, if you want to build a partnership as well,” Afridi added.
Afridi also recognized the efforts of England’s bowlers, singling out leg-spinner Adil Rashid, whose effective bowling during the middle overs kept Pakistan from making a late push.
“I think that middle phase Adil Rashid bowled really well, so I think the credit goes to him as well,” Afridi remarked.
Despite the disappointing outcome, Afridi’s four-wicket haul, including the key wicket of Brook, marked a positive aspect in his performance. However, individual success was not enough to overcome the team’s batting challenges.
