Sahibzada Farhan's Historic Century Propels Pakistan to Super Eight Stage
In a stunning display of resilience and skill, Sahibzada Farhan etched his name into the annals of cricket history on Wednesday at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo. The 29-year-old opener became only the second Pakistani batter to score a century in T20 World Cup history, following in the footsteps of his idol Ahmad Shehzad. His unbeaten 100 off 57 balls was the cornerstone of Pakistan's commanding 199 for 3, leading to a comprehensive 102-run victory over Namibia and cementing their place in the Super Eight.
A Rocky Journey to Redemption
Farhan's path to this milestone has been anything but straightforward. Since his international debut in 2018, which began bizarrely with a stumping off a Glenn Maxwell wide without facing a ball, he has navigated a career marked by ups and downs. Despite playing nine matches for Pakistan across various batting positions, he faded from the setup after being pushed down the order. In 2024, while captaining Pakistan A, he publicly criticized the management for unfair treatment, challenging the opening slots of established stars like Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan.
"I did not get proper chances as an opener. I have the right to play as an opener for Pakistan," Farhan asserted at the time. His determination paid off domestically, where he aggregated 605 runs in the 2025 National T20 Cup, the most in a single season. However, he initially went unsold at the PSL 2025 auction before Islamabad United picked him in the supplementary category. He repaid that faith by finishing as the tournament's leading run-scorer with 449 runs in 12 innings.
The Match: A Scratchy Start to a Dominant Finish
Opting to bat first, Pakistan made two strategic changes from their heavy defeat against India, leaving out Shaheen Shah Afridi and Abrar Ahmed in favor of Khawaja Nafay and Salman Mirza. The start was cautious, with Namibia's bowlers keeping things tight early on. Farhan opened his account with a boundary off Gerhard Erasmus, but it was a struggle initially as he scored his first authoritative stroke after 24 balls.
Pakistan reached 47 for 1 at the end of the powerplay, with Saim Ayub departing for 14. Captain Salman Ali Agha then joined Farhan and injected momentum with a crisp cut past point. The middle overs brought pressure from spinners Willem Myburgh and Bernard Scholtz, but the release came when Salman lofted Myburgh for the first six of the match. Farhan followed suit, clearing mid-wicket twice as Myburgh's second over went for 22 runs.
Despite visible struggles with cramps, Farhan refused to slow down. He reached his fifty off 37 balls, built on perseverance rather than fluency. The 67-run stand with Salman ended when Jack Brassell induced a mistimed loft, but Farhan continued to accelerate. With Shadab Khan providing support, he hammered boundaries and sixes, racing from 50 to 100 in just 20 balls. His century, studded with eleven fours and four sixes, was a testament to resolve and perfect timing.
Post-Match Reactions and Legacy
Ahmad Shehzad was among the first to applaud Farhan's achievement, writing on X: "A historic century in the T20 World Cup and now the second Pakistani ever to achieve this milestone. I always believed in you and you proved your class to the world. Congratulations, champion." Farhan's knock not only secured victory but also highlighted his refined technique, thanks to tips from Salman Ali Agha on improving balance and on-side play.
Since 2025, Farhan is the only batter in the world to score five T20 centuries, showcasing his explosive form. If Pakistan are to advance deep in the tournament, his performance at the top will be crucial. Cricket careers rarely move in straight lines, and Farhan's has been a rollercoaster of doubt and perseverance. Yet, on a humid Colombo afternoon, he answered every question with runs, proving that resilience can lead to historic triumphs.
Brief Scores: Pakistan: 199 for 3 in 20 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 100 not out, Salman Agha 38, Shadab Khan 36 not out; Jack Brassell 2/48). Namibia: 97 all out (Louren Steenkamp 23; Shadab Khan 3/19, Usman Tariq 4/16). Pakistan won by 102 runs.
