‘Take a single? Unbelievable’: Irfan Pathan slams Sahibzada Farhan’s approach despite ton
Sahibzada Farhan etched his name in the record books with a maiden T20I century in the T20 World Cup 2026 Group A clash between Pakistan and Namibia on Wednesday. However, while it was an important milestone, former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan was not entirely impressed with the way the opener approached the final moments of the innings.
Farhan reached his hundred in the penultimate over but did so in a manner that raised eyebrows. On the second ball of the 20th over, he calmly pushed the delivery towards long-on for a single to bring up the landmark. In doing so, he became only the second Pakistani batter after Ahmed Shehzad to score a century in the T20 World Cup.
Pathan, however, questioned the timing and intention behind this approach, suggesting that the team’s total should have been the sole target in the final.
“He definitely scored a century, but to take a simple one? Unbelievable. Unbelievable. You would be happy that you scored a century and Pakistan reached 199,” Irfan said on air.
“But in the last over, you play a defensive shot and then you leave the last ball. Kamaal hai,” he added.
Farhan also failed to capitalize on the final delivery of the innings, unable to reach a wide ball thrown by Namibian captain Gerhard Erasmus. The final over was not fully maximized, and had Shadab Khan not hit two crucial sixes, Pakistan might not have taken their total to 199.
The 29-year-old ultimately finished unbeaten with 100 off 58 balls, an innings decorated with 11 fours and four sixes at a strike rate of 172.41.
In the larger context of the match, Farhan’s century laid the foundation for Pakistan’s imposing 199/3 in Colombo. Captain Salman Ali Agha contributed 38 runs, while Shadab remained unbeaten with 36 runs to provide a late success. In response, Namibia were outclassed as Usman Tariq’s (4/16) mystery spin dismantled the middle order and Shadab took 3/19. Namibia were bowled out for 97 in 17.3 overs, handing Pakistan a resounding 102-run victory and confirming their place in the Super 8 stage.
