Sahibzada Farhan Archives

Shaheen Afridi confirms three debutants in first ODI against Bangladesh

DHAKA: Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi has confirmed that the Green Shirts will field three debutants in the first ODI of their three-match series against Bangladesh, set to be played at the Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, March 11.

Pakistan dropped senior players like Babar Azam and Saim Ayub for the series, giving a platform to several promising talents.

The squad for the series includes six uncapped players: Abdul Samad, Maaz Sadaqat, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Saad Masood, Sahibzada Farhan and Shamyl Hussain.

Speaking at a pre-series press conference on Tuesday, Afridi revealed that Sahibzada Farhan, Maaz Sadaqat, and Shamyl Hussain will make their international ODI debuts.

Farhan and Sadaqat are set to open the innings, while Hussain will bat at one-down.

“Sahibzada [Farhan] ofcourse he has been a top performer in T20Is as well as List A domestic cricket in Pakistan. Maaz Sadaqat will also open the innings, and Shamyl Hussain will bat at one down,” he said.

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“I hope that they play their own [natural] game and show their skills. We, as a team, are very excited to see them play.”

The captain highlighted that familiarity with local conditions will be an advantage for the debutants.

“Sahibzada has played in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), and Maaz has also played here. So it should feel like just another game for them. I hope they play their best cricket and express themselves,” he added.

Shaheen Afridi was also asked about Pakistan’s bowling combination and the potential inclusion of Saad Masood, given the spin-friendly nature of Dhaka pitches.

“Only 11 players can play, so we will decide according to the team requirement and pitch conditions. We have one more practice session today, after which the final playing XI will be announced,” he stated.

READ: Pakistan-Bangladesh ODI series trophy unveiled in Dhaka

T20 World Cup 2026: Sahibzada Farhan among Player of the Tournament nominees

Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan has been nominated for the Player of the Tournament award at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, following a remarkable individual campaign despite the team’s early exit from the competition.

Farhan emerged as one of the standout performers of the tournament, finishing with 383 runs in six innings, the highest aggregate recorded in a single edition of the Men’s T20 World Cup.

The right-hander also etched his name into the record books by becoming the first player to score two centuries in one tournament, achieving the feat against Sri Lanka and Namibia.

While Pakistan failed to progress to the semi-finals, Farhan’s consistency at the top of the order proved to be one of the few bright spots in an otherwise disappointing campaign for the national side.

England all-rounder Will Jacks is another strong contender for the award after playing a key role in his team’s run to the semi-finals.

Jacks delivered several match-winning performances, collecting four Player of the Match awards during the tournament.

Batting in a finishing role, he scored 226 runs at an impressive strike rate of 176.56, while also contributing with the ball by claiming nine wickets, including crucial breakthroughs in the Super Eight stage against Sri Lanka and New Zealand.

South Africa’s pace spearhead Lungi Ngidi has also been shortlisted after spearheading the Proteas’ bowling attack throughout the competition.

The fast bowler claimed 12 wickets in seven matches, consistently delivering important spells to guide South Africa to the semi-finals.

Ngidi’s teammate Aiden Markram also features among the nominees following a series of influential batting performances.

Promoted to the top of the order, Markram registered three half-centuries in eight matches, with his most notable innings coming during successful run-chases against New Zealand and West Indies, where he produced unbeaten knocks of 86 on both occasions.

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New Zealand all-rounder Rachin Ravindra has impressed with his ability to contribute in multiple departments.

The left-hander scored 128 runs while also claiming 11 wickets, including a decisive four for 27 against Sri Lanka during the Super Eight stage.

Fellow Kiwi Tim Seifert has also been instrumental in New Zealand’s march to the final.

The wicketkeeper-batter accumulated 274 runs across eight matches, producing several key innings at the top of the order.

His 58 in the semi-final against South Africa, alongside a 117-run opening partnership with Finn Allen, played a crucial role in guiding the Black Caps to a successful chase of 170.

Despite the United States exiting the tournament in the group stage, pacer Shadley van Schalkwyk delivered one of the most impressive bowling displays of the event.

The fast bowler picked up 13 wickets in just four matches, finishing as one of the leading wicket-takers while maintaining an economy rate of 6.80.

India’s Sanju Samson rounds out the shortlist after producing match-winning performances in the knockout stage.

The wicketkeeper-batter smashed an unbeaten 97 off 50 balls against West Indies in the Super Eight stage before following it up with a blistering 89 from 42 deliveries in the semi-final.

The winner of the Player of the Tournament award will be announced following the final between England and India, scheduled to take place on Sunday.

READ: Former South Africa batter compares Jasprit Bumrah to a ‘genie’

Sahibzada closes gap with top-ranked Abhishek in T20I rankings

DUBAI: Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan has surged to second place in the latest ICC T20I batters’ rankings following a historic run at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, narrowing the gap on India’s Abhishek Sharma.

Farhan finished the tournament with a staggering 383 runs at an average of 76.60, the most by any batter in a single edition of the T20 World Cup.

In doing so, he also became the only player to score two centuries in one T20 World Cup campaign.

The prolific right-hander climbed one position to second in the rankings with 848 rating points.

Despite enduring a relatively quiet tournament, Abhishek Sharma continues to hold the top spot, while England’s Phil Salt has slipped to third.

While Farhan enjoyed a meteoric rise, several other Pakistani batters witnessed a dip. Saim Ayub and Babar Azam each dropped one place to 35th and 37th, respectively. T20I captain Salman Ali Agha fell three spots to 41st.

However, Fakhar Zaman made a notable jump, climbing 17 places to 71st after his blistering 84-run knock against Sri Lanka in the final Super Eights fixture. He now sits on 481 rating points.

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In the bowlers’ rankings, Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed advanced two places to third with 736 points, edging closer to India’s Varun Chakaravarthy, who occupies the top position. Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan remains second.

Mohammad Nawaz retained his 12th spot, while pacer Salman Mirza dropped three places to 21st. Shaheen Shah Afridi slipped four positions to 35th with 602 points.

Spinner Usman Tariq held firm at 55th, and Sufiyan Muqeem stayed at 60th. Saim Ayub, who features in the bowling rankings as well, fell to 67th.

Leg-spinner Shadab Khan dropped seven places to 72nd, while pacer Haris Rauf slid three spots to 84th. Abbas Afridi currently sits at 98th with 415 points.

In the all-rounders’ category, Saim Ayub slipped one position to third, paving the way for India’s Hardik Pandya to move up to second. Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza continues to lead the standings.

Mohammad Nawaz climbed one place to eighth, while Shadab Khan dropped to 22nd. Faheem Ashraf and Salman Ali Agha both slipped three spots to 55th and 56th, respectively, and Shaheen Afridi fell two places to 65th.

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Farhan breaks Kohli’s long-standing T20 World Cup record

KANDY: Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan on Saturday shattered Indian legend Virat Kohli’s record for most runs in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Kohli held the record with a tally of 319 runs in the 2014 T20 World Cup.

Before heading into the Pakistan Super Eight fixture against Sri Lanka, Sahibzada had scored 283 runs in six matches. The right-hander had required 36 runs to break the record.

Farhan overtook Kohli when he smashed Shanaka for a boundary in the sixth over. The former India captain scored 319 runs in the 2014 edition.

The right-handed opener now leads the run charts with 323* runs, underlining a standout campaign that has included a century and two half-centuries for Pakistan at the T20 World Cup 2026.

He was eventually caught at covers just after reaching the triple-figure mark. Farhan tonked five maximums and nine fours in his record-breaking 100 off 60 balls.

Most runs in a single T20 World Cup edition

348* – Sahibzada Farhan, Pakistan (2026)*

319 – Virat Kohli, India (2014)

317 – Tillakaratne Dilshan, Sri Lanka (2009)

303 – Babar Azam, Pakistan (2021)

302 – Mahela Jayawardene, Sri Lanka (2010)

296 – Virat Kohli, India (2022)

295 – Tamim Iqbal, Bangladesh (2016)

289 – David Warner, Australia (2021)

281 – Mohammad Rizwan, Pakistan (2021)

281 – Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Afghanistan (2024)

Playing XIs

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara (wk), Charith Asalanka, Pavan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka (c), Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka

Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Agha (c), Khawaja Nafay, Usman Khan (wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Tariq

READ: Shahid Afridi names Agha’s replacement for Pakistan captaincy

Sahibzada Farhan climbs to career-best third in ICC T20I rankings

DUBAI: Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan has surged to a career-best third position in the latest ICC T20I Batting Rankings following his prolific run in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

Farhan, currently the leading run-scorer of the tournament, has amassed 283 runs in five innings at a staggering average of 70.75.

His consistent performances at the top of the order have earned him 810 rating points, moving him up two spots in the global standings.

The right-hander now sits just five points behind England’s Phil Salt, who occupies second place with 815 points.

India’s Abhishek Sharma continues to lead the rankings with 877 points despite a relatively modest campaign in the tournament so far.

While Farhan enjoyed a significant rise, several other Pakistani batters experienced a dip in their positions.

Opener Saim Ayub has slipped three places to 34th, while former captain Babar Azam dropped one spot to 36th. Captain Salman Ali Agha is now ranked 38th after a one-place fall, and Fakhar Zaman has slid to 88th.

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In the bowlers’ list, spinner Abrar Ahmed dropped from third to fifth with 712 rating points, while Mohammad Nawaz fell three places to 12th.

Among the pacers, Mohammad Salman Mirza climbed one place to 18th, and Shaheen Shah Afridi rose four spots to 31st.

One of the biggest movers was Usman Tariq, who jumped 59 places to reach 55th.

Spinner Sufiyan Muqeem slipped 10 places to 60th, while all-rounder Shadab Khan gained 10 spots to move up to 65th.

Saim Ayub also dropped 11 places in the bowlers’ rankings to 66th, and pacer Haris Rauf fell five positions to 81st.

India’s Varun Chakaravarthy continues to lead the T20I bowlers’ rankings, followed by Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan in second. South Africa’s Corbin Bosch made a remarkable leap of 21 places to claim third spot.

In the ICC T20I all-rounders’ rankings, Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza has reclaimed the top position, pushing Saim Ayub down to second. India’s Hardik Pandya remains third.

READ: ECB insists Pakistan players will not be frozen out the Hundred

Sahibzada Farhan comments on potentially breaking Virat Kohli’s record

KANDY: Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan has dismissed the talk of breaking Indian legend Virat Kohli’s record for most runs in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, insisting his focus remains on helping Pakistan win.

Farhan is currently the leading run-scorer in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 with 220 runs in four games.

Meanwhile, Kohli holds the record with 319 runs in the 2014 T20 World Cup, a mark that has sparked speculation as Farhan heads into at least two more Super Eight matches against England and Sri Lanka, with the potential for more if Pakistan advance.

During the pre-match press conference in Kandy ahead of Tuesday’s clash with England, Farhan made it clear that personal milestones are secondary.

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“My effort is always to take the innings deep and to score more runs and win matches for Pakistan,” he said.

“I don’t focus much on stats or records. Although records are made to be broken, I am not thinking about that. The aim is to score maximum runs for Pakistan.”

Pakistan have just a solitary point in the Super Eight stage after their opening fixture against New Zealand in Colombo was washed out, while England arrive with momentum after a 51-run win over co-hosts Sri Lanka at the same venue on Sunday.

READ: Sahibzada Farhan unfazed by Jofra Archer in must-win England clash

Sahibzada Farhan unfazed by Jofra Archer in must-win England clash

KANDY: Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan has brushed aside concerns over Jofra Archer’s pace threat ahead of Tuesday’s high-stakes Super Eight encounter against England in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

England enter the contest with momentum on their side after a commanding 51-run victory over Sri Lanka at the same venue on Sunday.

Pakistan, meanwhile, have a solitary point in their Super Eight group after their opening fixture against New Zealand in Colombo was washed out due to persistent rain.

Archer played a pivotal role in England’s win, producing a fiery spell while defending 147 and removing Sri Lankan openers Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara to set the tone early.

However, Farhan made it clear during the pre-match press conference in Kandy that Pakistan are not intimidated.

“It’s not that big a deal to face Jofra Archer. We also have bowlers who clock 140-plus, and they have come prepared. We’ve done our preparation as well,” he said.

The opener stressed that confidence within the Pakistan camp remains intact despite the circumstances.

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“We are confident. The team has played good cricket here before, and we will give England a tough time,” Farhan stated, adding that tactical calls such as opting to bat or bowl rest with the captain and coaching staff.

Playing in Kandy for the first time, Sahibzada Farhan revealed he sought insights from senior players, including Babar Azam.

“I have never played here, but our senior players have. I spoke to Babar Azam, and he said the ball comes nicely onto the bat here. The other boys who have played here are saying the same, that these are batting-friendly tracks,” he noted.

At the same time, he acknowledged that conditions in the recent England-Sri Lanka match suggested some variation.

“In the last match, the ball was gripping, and the pitch looked different, so we’ll assess the conditions tomorrow,” he added.

Farhan also addressed Pakistan’s recent struggles with the bat, admitting that the top order must shoulder greater responsibility.

“We have been collapsing in batting, and we need to think about that. We have to carry the innings deeper from the top order. We are working on it, and there will be improvement,” he said.

READ: ECB warns The Hundred franchises amid concerns over Pakistan snub

Sahibzada Farhan joins Ahmed Shehzad in elusive list

COLOMBO: Pakistan opening batter Sahibzada Farhan joined former batter Ahmed Shehzad in an elusive list with a century against Namibia in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 here at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground on Wednesday.

Farhan’s 100* off 58 balls with the aid of four sixes and 11 fours played a vital role in propelling Pakistan to a big total of 200.

After scoring a ton, the right-hander became only the second Pakistani batter after Ahmed Shehzad to score a century in the T20 World Cup.

Previously, Shehzad had scored a century against Bangladesh in the 2014 World Cup.

The century also took Farhan to the top of the runs chart in the tournament, accumulating 220 runs in four matches at an average of 73.33.

Overall, he is the fifth Pakistani batter to score a hundred in T20Is, joining the likes of Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Haris, Ahmed Shehzad, and Hasan Nawaz.

Moreover, he also became the 13th batter to make a ton in the mega event, joining the likes of Chris Gayle and other notable players.

Opting to bat first, Pakistan made a brisk start as Farhan and Saim Ayub stitched together a quickfire 40-run opening stand in just over five overs.

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The partnership ended when Jack Brassell dismissed Ayub for 14 off 12 balls, an innings that included two boundaries.

Skipper Salman Ali Agha then joined Farhan at the crease, and the pair built a steady 67-run partnership for the second wicket, guiding Pakistan past the 100-run mark and laying the foundation for a big total.

Youngster Khawaja Nafay was promoted to number four but could only manage five runs before falling to Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus.

Farhan, however, continued to dominate. Joined by Shadab Khan, the duo added an unbeaten 81-run stand for the fourth wicket to propel Pakistan to an imposing total.

Shadab, after a cautious start, accelerated to finish on 36 off 22 balls, striking one four and three sixes.

READ: South Africa cruise past UAE to seal perfect group-stage run

Sahibzada, Tariq propel Pakistan into Super Eights with big win

COLOMBO: Sahibzada Farhan’s maiden T20I century and clinical bowling powered Pakistan to a big 102-run win over Namibia in their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 must-win clash on Wednesday at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground.

Set a daunting target, Namibia were bowled out for 97 in 17.3 overs.

Namibia’s openers started steadily in the chase, adding 32 in 4.1 overs. However, Salman Mirza’s first breakthrough stalled the Eagles’ chase.

After losing the first wicket, Namibia never came back in the game as Pakistan bowlers tightened the screws with regular wickets.

As a result, Namibia were reduced to 49-4 in 7.3 overs.

JJ Smit and Alexander Busing-Volschenk tried to arrest the slide with a 30-run partnership. The pair managed to bring the total to 79 in 12.3 overs.

But it was Usman Tariq’s mystery and Shadab Khan’s sharp leg spin bowling that quickly unraveled Namibia’s innings.

Louren Steenkamp top-scored with 23 off 22 balls with the aid of three fours and a six.

For Pakistan, Usman Tariq stood out among the bowlers, picking up a four-wicket haul. Shadab Khan supported him well with his three wickets.

Earlier, Pakistan posted a formidable 199-3 against Namibia in their 20 overs.

Opting to bat first, Pakistan made a brisk start as Farhan and Saim Ayub stitched together a quickfire 40-run opening stand in just over five overs.

The partnership ended when Jack Brassell dismissed Ayub for 14 off 12 balls, an innings that included two boundaries.

Brassell struck again to remove Agha for a well-made 38 off 23 balls, leaving Pakistan at 107-2 in 12.1 overs.

Youngster Khawaja Nafay was promoted to number four but could only manage five runs before falling to Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus.

Sahibzada Farhan, however, continued to dominate. Joined by Shadab Khan, the duo added an unbeaten 81-run stand for the fourth wicket to propel Pakistan to an imposing total.

Shadab, after a cautious start, accelerated to finish on 36 off 22 balls, striking one four and three sixes.

The night, though, belonged to Farhan. The right-hander remained unbeaten on 100 from 58 deliveries, hammering 11 fours and four sixes in a commanding display of strokeplay.

With this milestone, he became only the second Pakistani batter after Ahmed Shehzad to score a century in a Men’s T20 World Cup.

READ: South Africa cruise past UAE to seal perfect group-stage run

Sahibzada Farhan makes big stride in ICC T20I rankings

DUBAI: Pakistan opener batter Sahibzada Farhan continued to shine as he moved up four spots in the latest ICC T20I rankings announced on Wednesday.

The right-hander, who played a match-winning knock of 74 against the USA in the T20 World Cup, climbed four spots and moved to fourth position with 769 rating points.

This is Farhan’s second highest-ranking in his career, having previously reached the spot with 776 rating points.

On the other hand, Fakhar Zaman jumped three places to 57th position while Salman Ali Agha dropped to 63rd position.

Meanwhile, India opener Abhishek Sharma continued to stamp his authority in the shorter format with a top position.

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In the T20I bowling rankings, spinner Abrar Ahmed remains at eighth position with 659 points, while Mohammad Nawaz made a huge leap, moving 14 places to 13th spot with 638 points.

The top position is held by Varun Chakravarthy, followed by New Zealand’s Jacob Duffy in second and Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan.

Among the all-rounder rankings, Zimbabwe Sikandar Raza pipped Saim Ayub to move up to the top position.

Mohammad Nawaz and Faheem Ashraf slipped to 35th and 59 positions respectively. On the contrary, Pakistan T20I skipper Salman Agha dropped to 69th place.

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