Pakistan’s men’s cricket team clinched the final spot in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Super Eight stage on Wednesday with a commanding 102-run victory over Namibia in a must-win Group A match at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground.
Batting first, Pakistan posted 199 for 3, anchored by an unbeaten 100 from Sahibzada Farhan, his maiden T20 international century. Farhan struck 11 fours and four sixes, becoming only the second Pakistani batter to score a century in a T20 World Cup match.
Off spinner Usman Tariq was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with figures of 4-16, as Namibia were bundled out for 97 in 17.3 overs to end their tournament without a win.
With Pakistan’s win, the full Super Eights line-ups and fixtures for the T20 World Cup 2026 have now been confirmed. Pakistan will join England, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka in Group 2, while India, Zimbabwe, West Indies, and South Africa make up Group 1 of the next round.
Pakistan’s first Super Eight match is scheduled against New Zealand on February 21 in Colombo, followed by additional fixtures against England and Sri Lanka later in the stage.
Pakistan’s qualification follows a mixed group stage campaign. They suffered a 61-run defeat to arch-rivals India, whose emphatic win secured them the top spot in Group A earlier in the tournament.
Meanwhile, the global tournament has seen surprises elsewhere. Australia, traditionally a powerhouse in limited-overs cricket, were eliminated in the group stage, prompting calls for a squad rebuild.
The 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, is the tenth edition of the event and features 20 teams competing across Group Stage, Super Eight, and Knockout rounds before culminating in the final in early March.
Pakistan’s progression to the Super Eights keeps alive hopes of advancing deep into the tournament after a strong batting and bowling display against Namibia. Their next matches will be crucial in determining whether they can reach the semi-finals.