ICC T20 World Cup 2026: Namibia vs Pakistan | Match 35 | Group A | Colombo | February 18 | Pre-Match Discussion

[Cryin Out Loud]

On the one side you have a team of fierce, wounded warriors, with a deep and rich history of accomplishments. A spinner with a unique bowling style. Guided/ coached by a deep cricket thinker. A team that can take down giants.

But enough about Namibia, let’s talk about Pakistan and how bad it is…

 

[Cryin Out Loud]

Babar at a press conference today:

“Ya to select hai, ya to drop hai. That’s not the problem. Par yaar dono case mein Learn kyon ho jaata hai….?”

 

[G0rmintAunty]

Babar is sitting alone for some reason. Seems quite morose.

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

Namibia will be annihilated

 

[Fast bowler6929]

Babar is sitting alone for some reason. Seems quite morose.

He should not be given food for few days. lock him up in a dark room.He deserve severe punishment.

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

Saim and Abrar very kaanfident, eating fruits and müsli with yogurt. Mr Deer in Headlights still talking about Indian team and how good they are for some reason.
Had to translate for Nafay at the eff station, poor guy ordered 3 eggs sunny side up but they gave him an omelette.
Fakhar was also in a good mood, I asked him if he thinks if he will play tomorrow, he just smiled and shrugged.

Good yaar, you are in colombo till they are in the wc, getting to catch up with them up close. Have you booked your stay till end of the month ? May i know how much it costed in usd ?

 

[Fast bowler6929]

Saim and Abrar very kaanfident, eating fruits and müsli with yogurt. Mr Deer in Headlights still talking about Indian team and how good they are for some reason.
Had to translate for Nafay at the eff station, poor guy ordered 3 eggs sunny side up but they gave him an omelette.
Fakhar was also in a good mood, I asked him if he thinks if he will play tomorrow, he just smiled and shrugged.

Abrar nerd is one of the main reason Pakistan lost that match with his pathetic bowling.
He is so overrated by Pakistani fans.

He never performs against top teams yet he is revered like he is 2nd coming of shame warne.

 

[BouncerGuy]

do or die game yet again for Pakistan in ICC event... happens 100% in all ICC events...LOL

Namibia is gonna get smoked and people will forget everything... Shadab is gonna destroy their batting lineup.. Farhan is gonna smash thier bowler, saim the all rounder is gonna kill the thing in both department... YAHOOOOO

 

[cricket.mad]

Just met Faheem at breakfast, he is usually alone (unlike the others who are in groups of 3-4). He said he is feeling very good about the match but his face was saying otherwise. Feel bad for the guy.

Are you at taj or shangri-la?

 

[RahulBose]

Can we please kick these jokers Farhan and tulla Agha out please? Babar cannot bat at 4 it is clear. Kick out Shadab too.

1/Saim
2/Babar
3/Fakhar
4/Nafay
5/Usman Khan I don't rate him but he showed heart
6/ M Nawaz
7/ Faheem Ashraf
8/ Shaheen Afridi
9/ Naseem Shah
10/Usman Tariq
11/Salman Mirza

Kick out Farhan?
This has to the most biased request ever.

Hate Farhan for his documentry and boastful mannerism but he is the best in form guy Pak has.

Had Babar should not even be the water guy in T20 setup.

 

[Cryin Out Loud]

@G0rmintAunty great reporting thanks.

Have you considered dressing up as your namesake and holding a PC on the lobby of that hotel?

“Sab bik gaye hain… etc”

 

[Bhaijaan]

Just go out there positively against Namibia and give a professional cricketing display.

Nothing fancy.
No celebrations.
Just professional outing and talent presentation.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Kick out Farhan?
This has to the most biased request ever.

Hate Farhan for his documentry and boastful mannerism but he is the best in form guy Pak has.

Had Babar should not even be the water guy in T20 setup.

Yeah Farhan is still the best guy who cannot be benched atm...

Shaheen, Babar, Shadab, saim, Faheem, these guys should be benched asap... Would have taken the name of Salman Ali agha as well but LOL he is the captain...

 

[rballer]

Yeah Farhan is still the best guy who cannot be benched atm...

Shaheen, Babar, Shadab, saim, Faheem, these guys should be benched asap... Would have taken the name of Salman Ali agha as well but LOL he is the captain...

We cannot bench Agha ‘coz we really don’t have anyone capable of being captain.

 

[BouncerGuy]

We cannot bench Agha ‘coz we really don’t have anyone capable of being captain.

Yeah, unfortunately..

 

[Cryin Out Loud]

I’d recommend wholesale changes only if they’re looking ahead and beyond the Namibia game.

But if the focus is Namibia and Namibia alone, then only Babar should be benched. Get Fakhar in maybe.

Like it or not, there are more chances Shaheen will be needed because he still has the quality to blow away teams like Namibia.

In either case, Babar should go. He seems to have lost all confidence anyway.

 

[G0rmintAunty]

@G0rmintAunty great reporting thanks.

Have you considered dressing up as your namesake and holding a PC on the lobby of that hotel?

“Sab bik gaye hain… etc”

I think Hesson is now giving them a lot of danda, the players were chillaxing at breakfast until Hesson came and told then to move their butts immediately and get to practice, he was quite animated.

 

[G0rmintAunty]

Good yaar, you are in colombo till they are in the wc, getting to catch up with them up close. Have you booked your stay till end of the month ? May i know how much it costed in usd ?

My flights are Emirates staff ticket so they are very flexible and can be changed last minute so my itinerary depends on the team. I have booked the hotel the hotel till day after tomorrow. If we qualify then I will stay till the NZ match on Saturday and leave on Sunday. As for the costs I cant really say about the flight tickets (I only pay 15% of the actual price) and the ticket prices (since they are complimentary sponsor box tickets) but the hotels are varying prices, although they are mostly booked and shot up 3 times the normal price.

I booked this hotel 2 rooms for 4 days for 1100€ a couple pf hours before Pakistans announcment to play India (was tipped off beforehand by a contact) same room prices then went to 3800€ 10 mins after the announcment.
There are also hotels for 40-50€ a night but they're mostly sold out. Now that India has left the prices may come down and availability may increase.

 

[Rana]

I’d recommend wholesale changes only if they’re looking ahead and beyond the Namibia game.

But if the focus is Namibia and Namibia alone, then only Babar should be benched. Get Fakhar in maybe.

Like it or not, there are more chances Shaheen will be needed because he still has the quality to blow away teams like Namibia.

In either case, Babar should go. He seems to have lost all confidence anyway.

Naseem or Mirza for Shaheen is a safe change

 

[G0rmintAunty]

Abrar nerd is one of the main reason Pakistan lost that match with his pathetic bowling.
He is so overrated by Pakistani fans.

He never performs against top teams yet he is revered like he is 2nd coming of shame warne.

He had a bad game, it happens. Also he seems like a really chill, friendly and down to earth guy, mqybe thats why I like him.

Indians found it a bit harder to play him in the previous matches but I think they did their honework on him and came prepared. Usman will probably also get found out once they play him a couple of times.

 

[shah9425]

My flights are Emirates staff ticket so they are very flexible and can be changed last minute so my itinerary depends on the team. I have booked the hotel the hotel till day after tomorrow. If we qualify then I will stay till the NZ match on Saturday and leave on Sunday. As for the costs I cant really say about the flight tickets (I only pay 15% of the actual price) and the ticket prices (since they are complimentary sponsor box tickets) but the hotels are varying prices, although they are mostly booked and shot up 3 times the normal price.

I booked this hotel 2 rooms for 4 days for 1100€ a couple pf hours before Pakistans announcment to play India (was tipped off beforehand by a contact) same room prices then went to 3800€ 10 mins after the announcment.
There are also hotels for 40-50€ a night but they're mostly sold out. Now that India has left the prices may come down and availability may increase.

How is the weather for tomorrow?

 

[Fast bowler6929]

He had a bad game, it happens. Also he seems like a really chill, friendly and down to earth guy, mqybe thats why I like him.

Indians found it a bit harder to play him in the previous matches but I think they did their honework on him and came prepared. Usman will probably also get found out once they play him a couple of times.

He has played 4 times against India and picked up only 2 wickets at an average of 62.

He is one of the main reason Pakistan lost that match along with shaheen and shadab.

He is quite average with only minnow bashing.

He has done nothing against India and he is not that good against other top teams either.

 

[G0rmintAunty]

How is the weather for tomorrow?

Its showing the same as the Pak-Ind match so far, 40-45 percent chance of light rain. Although since I came there has been 40-45% chance of rain daily and I have yet to see any, so I don't think it is going to affect the match much.

 

[G0rmintAunty]

He has played 4 times against India and picked up only 2 wickets at an average of 62.

He is one of the main reason Pakistan lost that match along with shaheen and shadab.

He is quite average with only minnow bashing.

He has done nothing against India and he is not that good against other top teams either.

Yeah, you're right. I guess I just like him cuz he seems like a chill guy and an honest trier.

 

[G0rmintAunty]

Are you at taj or shangri-la?

Cinammon City of Dreams, but I am checking out now and moving to a hotel next to the SSC stadium for the match tomorrow.

 

[RahulBose]

Babar is sitting alone for some reason. Seems quite morose.

What could the reason be.... i wonder.

 

[RahulBose]

He should not be given food for few days. lock him up in a dark room.He deserve severe punishment.

We the desis, are the real culprit , behind Babar's demise.

He was hyped to cloud when he needed tough love and then punched in the gut when he needs compassion.

 

[RahulBose]

Yeah Farhan is still the best guy who cannot be benched atm...

Shaheen, Babar, Shadab, saim, Faheem, these guys should be benched asap... Would have taken the name of Salman Ali agha as well but LOL he is the captain...

Salman is actually the perfect odi and test captain for Pak team.

But the Pak management made him T20 captain, a format he wasn't even suited for.

But then Agha did something unheard of within Pak circuit... actually work on ones skill. Reinvent oneself.

Now i feel he is the best all format guy you have.

He maybe limited in skills.... but has the right attitude, kinda like Dravid.

He has a good head on his shoulders, ability to try new things.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Salman is actually the perfect odi and test captain for Pak team.

But the Pak management made him T20 captain, a format he wasn't even suited for.

But then Agha did something unheard of within Pak circuit... actually work on ones skill. Reinvent oneself.

Now i feel he is the best all format guy you have.

He maybe limited in skills.... but has the right attitude, kinda like Dravid.

He has a good head on his shoulders, ability to try new things.

Salman has been a failure so far.. His captaincy has been exposed as soon as a good team came.. His batting at 3 has taken a nose dive...

 

[RahulBose]

Salman has been a failure so far.. His captaincy has been exposed as soon as a good team came.. His batting at 3 has taken a nose dive...

True...

But still feel like he is the only player in Pak team who actually does the hard work required to improve.

 

[BouncerGuy]

True...

But still feel like he is the only player in Pak team who actually does the hard work required to improve.

Look at the irony TBH.. He is supposed to be a great spin player but he comes at 3 so he can face pace??? babar was supposed to shine against pace but they pushed him down to face spin?

This is pure madness and a brainless decision.

 

[zahid01]

Do or die game in many ways I can see shaeen rightly dropped for mirza but will Henson have bottle to drop babar i think not unless naqvi approves it bring in naseem for one of the spinners or faheem we need a balance in the team to many spinners nafay and fakhar need to be seriously considered for not only this game but for rest of the tournament if we make it to super 8s plan has failed go to plan b don't stick your head in the sand and think everything is going to be OK

 

[Rana]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2023648230907756741

@topspin

Babar is the back born of Pakistan batting line up.

 

[BouncerGuy]

NO PERSONAL REMARKS

 

[Rana]

How many Back Borns does Pakistan batting line up have?

Some time it’s Babar, sometime it’s Rizwan

Sometimes cramp, sometimes acting

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

1. Sahibzada Farhan
2. Saim Ayub
3. Salman Agha
4. Khawaja Nafay
5. Usman Khan
6. Shadab Khan
7. Mohammad Nawaz
8. Faheem Ashraf
9. Naseem Shah
10. Salman Mirza
11. Usman Tariq

 

[RahulBose]

Look at the irony TBH.. He is supposed to be a great spin player but he comes at 3 so he can face pace??? babar was supposed to shine against pace but they pushed him down to face spin?

This is pure madness and a brainless decision.

That is irony... sure.

But the current form of Babar isn't suitable for any type of bowling.

I have a personal bias for hard workers, that probably plays a factor in my rating of Agha.

Salman... not sure if he has the skills for number 3 but has the attitude that makes a team professional rather then the (self sabotaging ) "mercurial"

 

[Rana]

Reports are that it looks like Farhan will be dropped for Fakhar and Babar will retain his place

 

[Asif321]

Reports are that it looks like Farhan will be dropped for Fakhar and Babar will retain his place

 

[Usman Chadda]

Reports are that it looks like Farhan will be dropped for Fakhar and Babar will retain his place

Also heard Shaheen is going to retain his place, while one of Shadab or Nawaz makes way for Naseem.

I hope we lose to Namibia and get booted out of the tournament tomorrow. No amount of humiliation is enough for these *******s if Babar and Shaheen play tomorrow.

 

[G0rmintAunty]

Met the Namibia team as they were leaving the hotel, they have also booked at another hotel near the SSC. Asked them to take it easy on our boyses.

 

[Rana]

Hearing Shaheen got more time in nets than Fakhar did

Also Fakhar got throw downs and the pacers bowling spin to him in his little amount of time.

He should have ghairat and call his time in Pakistan cricket. This is beyond disrespectful

 

[Chuggy]

Also heard Shaheen is going to retain his place, while one of Shadab or Nawaz makes way for Naseem.

I hope we lose to Namibia and get booted out of the tournament tomorrow. No amount of humiliation is enough for these *******s if Babar and Shaheen play tomorrow.

They are out of their mind both of them should be benched till the Sri Lanka game at least that too if we have 0 wins, give them the final farewell so they can retire.

 

[Kianig89]

So it seems team mgmt is stubborn and unable to get hold of the situation, pathetic

 

[Chuggy]

Hearing Shaheen got more time in nets than Fakhar did

Also Fakhar got throw downs and the pacers bowling spin to him in his little amount of time.

He should have ghairat and call his time in Pakistan cricket. This is beyond disrespectful

He was even batting more then Fakhar. Clearly thinks he's a batting alrounder like his father in law would call himself a bowling allrounder

 

[Usman Chadda]

Hearing Shaheen got more time in nets than Fakhar did

Also Fakhar got throw downs and the pacers bowling spin to him in his little amount of time.

He should have ghairat and call his time in Pakistan cricket. This is beyond disrespectful

Seems like they are going in with the same team as the India game.

I thought Hesson was different man, but his ego is clouding his judgment.

 

[Usman Chadda]

They are out of their mind both of them should be benched till the Sri Lanka game at least that too if we have 0 wins, give them the final farewell so they can retire.

Does seem like it's more about being proven right with certain individuals than what happens to our World Cup campaign. This is some serious nonsense if Babar and Shaheen end up part of the playing XI for any games moving forward.

 

[Chuggy]

Does seem like it's more about being proven right with certain individuals than what happens to our World Cup campaign. This is some serious nonsense if Babar and Shaheen end up part of the playing XI for any games moving forward.

Only in Pakistan.

 

[Asif321]

Some rain expected in afternoon . Hopefully doesn’t bother the game

 

[RidiculousMan]

Reports are that it looks like Farhan will be dropped for Fakhar and Babar will retain his place

Nah.

 

[Hawkeye]

Met the Namibia team as they were leaving the hotel, they have also booked at another hotel near the SSC. Asked them to take it easy on our boyses.

Will you be there for Pak’s super 8 game? And if so any chance to get one of those tickets you were talking about?

 

[Hawkeye]

Guys one question.

Can Pak and India face again in Super 8s or some other part of the tournament?

And what match will it be most likely?

Really want to go to that match. Maybe @G0rmintAunty knows?

 

[BouncerGuy]

Guys one question.

Can Pak and India face again in Super 8s or some other part of the tournament?

And what match will it be most likely?

Really want to go to that match. Maybe @G0rmintAunty knows?

Not in super 8s... Maybe final

 

[AZulfi]

Drop Babar and Shaheen

Play Fakhar and Mirza

 

[AZulfi]

If Pak make the super 8s they will be in a relatively easy group. Groups have already been decided by T20 rankings

Pak will face Eng (usually beat us in T20 world cups),
NZ (have dominated Pak in recent times) and
Sri Lanka (Hasaranga not playing but they will be tough to beat in home conditions)

Each team will have to win 2/3 games to finish in top two in their group

The other group - India, South Africa, West Indies and Zimbabwe (likely) is much tougher imo

 

[Hawkeye]

Not in super 8s... Maybe final

So no possibility of India-Pak in semifinals either? They will guaranteed play different teams?

Only possibility is final?

 

[Ball Blazer]

So no possibility of India-Pak in semifinals either? They will guaranteed play different teams?

Only possibility is final?

another likely humiliation loading

 

[Hawkeye]

another likely humiliation loading

I have a feeling, if they meet again, result will be different as we will not have Shadab and Shaheen in the team.

 

[G0rmintAunty]

Will you be there for Pak’s super 8 game? And if so any chance to get one of those tickets you were talking about?

I will be there for Pak's super 8 game if we qualify. Tikuts I will also know how many extra I can get by tomorrow (after the match). If you want for tomorrow's match vs Namibia then I can get you a box seat.

 

[JattMaula]

So no possibility of India-Pak in semifinals either? They will guaranteed play different teams?

Only possibility is final?

Semi is a possibility.

 

[Usman Chadda]

another likely humiliation loading

If they play Babar and Shaheen tomorrow, the humiliation might be coming up sooner than expected.

 

[Omer2002]

Hearing Shaheen got more time in nets than Fakhar did

Also Fakhar got throw downs and the pacers bowling spin to him in his little amount of time.

He should have ghairat and call his time in Pakistan cricket. This is beyond disrespectful

Fakhar is finished now then again all pak team is we never ever produce any batters

 

[Usman Chadda]

This match is certain to be washed out tomorrow, Super 8 teams pretty much set now.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Fakhar is finished now then again all pak team is we never ever produce any batters

Yeah.. He was never the MAN in T20Is... He played all games against INdia in asia cup... What did he do??

Fakhar would have done nothing here as well.. he is already done and dusted

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

Hearing Shaheen got more time in nets than Fakhar did

Also Fakhar got throw downs and the pacers bowling spin to him in his little amount of time.

He should have ghairat and call his time in Pakistan cricket. This is beyond disrespectful

Kohli retired at 35 from t20s after winning last wc. Even though hes supremely fit and doing well in ipl ( won the title in 25)

Fakhar should call it quits post this wc.

 

[pakistani pride]

Just a timid and meek individual.

 

[pakistani pride]

Fakhar is finished now then again all pak team is we never ever produce any batters

LOL we are playing 3 players who are finished!

 

[zahid01]

Reports are that it looks like Farhan will be dropped for Fakhar and Babar will retain his place

Rana Bhai are you serious or joking

 

[shah9425]

Rana Bhai are you serious or joking

Farhan will not be dropped

 

[mazkhan]

Drop shaheen for mirza or naseem

And drop the 2 spinners tariq and abrar , you have agha, nawaz, shadab and saim so why do you need 6 spin options ?

And replace those 2 with 2 batsmen nafay and fakhar so the team has some batting depth .

 

[zahid01]

Farhan will not be dropped

Only player capable of playing a modern t20 mode cricket and someone who has performed well gets dropped its unthinkable

 

[Wasim Ghulam]

Farhan
Saim
Fakhar
Agha
Usman
Nafay
Nawaz
Faheem
Naseem
Mirza
UTariq
===========
The fascination with bits and pieces stop. Specialist bowlers are req. Saim Nawaz and Faheem to share 8 overs. There is plenty of batting nothing to worry. Despite the hammering we got from India , our tourney is completely on track . Agha as skipper has to take responsibility of playing 11 and be ruthless, play to your strength we are a bat team , 170+ on board and 8/10 times we will win.

cant understand this line up. If we are playing two fast bowlers , whats the purpose of Faheem? he does nt bowl anyway

 

[NeVerMind]

Only 3 changes should be made (not cause we are so brilliant but we don't have many options):

1. Mirza for Shaheen
2. Fakhar for Babar
3. Nafay for Shadab (we don't need his bowling so better to have a proper batter)

 

[hur rizvi]

1. Sahibzada Farhan
2. Saim Ayub
3. Salman Agha
4. Khawaja Nafay
5. Usman Khan
6. Shadab Khan
7. Mohammad Nawaz
8. Faheem Ashraf
9. Naseem Shah
10. Salman Mirza
11. Usman Tariq

Too many relu kattas. Drop one of Nawaz/shadab for fakhar

 

[AAli98]

Send Agha packing stocks are pretty low, make Usman Tariq captain seems to have a decent brain.

 

[Asif321]

Some rain expected exactly at start of game . Hopefully not much

 

[Hawkeye]

I will be there for Pak's super 8 game if we qualify. Tikuts I will also know how many extra I can get by tomorrow (after the match). If you want for tomorrow's match vs Namibia then I can get you a box seat.

I plan on going if Pak makes it to semis.. hopefully you will be around in the knockouts?

 

[Rana]

Came across Babar, Usman Khan and Naseem at Galle Face mall.

Just approached Usman and tapped him and gave him a pat on his shoulder for his good effort against India.

Blanked Babar. He was wearing a Covid face mask anyways so I guess he doesn’t want to be approached.

Not sure why those blokes are out shopping on the eve of practically a knockout game though.

 

[Bhaijaan]

If rain abandons the game, Pakistan goes through.

 

[TheSultan]

1. Sahibzada Farhan
2. Saim Ayub
3. Salman Agha
4. Khawaja Nafay
5. Usman Khan
6. Shadab Khan
7. Mohammad Nawaz
8. Faheem Ashraf
9. Naseem Shah
10. Salman Mirza
11. Usman Tariq

I’ve been crying out for this XI since the start of the tournament.

I also think you can drop one of shadab or Nawaz for Fakhar