In a group A high-pressure unit ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, Pakistan Made two notable changes to the playing XI against Namibia at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. With their Super 8 hopes hanging in the balance, the Men in Green opted to put speed first. Shaheen Afridi and mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed for this important meeting.
Pakistan captain Salman Agha He won the toss and elected to bat first, underscoring his intention to put scoreboard pressure on Namibia in a virtual knockout contest for the 2009 champions.
Why are Shaheen Afridi and Abrar Ahmed not playing in the clash against Namibia?
Agha confirmed this while announcing the changes during the shooting Salman Mirza and Khawaja Nafay He was called to XI instead of Afridi and Abrar. However, the captain did not reveal any injury concerns or tactical reasons for the absence of the two frontmen.
“We have two changes. Salman and Nafay are playing. Sahin and Abrar are out. The batting was just bothering us. We have to bat well. We batted well against USA. We have to perform similarly today.” Aga said during the shooting.
Although no specific explanation was given, the decision appears to be based on the proceedings. Both Afridi and Abrar have struggled to make a consistent impact in the ongoing tournament. Usually Pakistan’s best man with the new ball, Afridi has regularly failed to make early breakthroughs, while Abrar’s variations have failed to deliver on subcontinental surfaces. Given the magnitude of this clash, the team management opted for a new combination to regain momentum.
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Batting forces rethinking concerns
Agha’s words made it clear that Pakistan’s main concern was their batting inconsistency. Despite the bright flashes, the top and middle ranks could not put the overall result together. The captain stressed the importance of repeating their improved display against the USA, suggesting that the team’s focus is on strengthening the batting unit.
Nafai’s inclusion is likely aimed at adding depth and stability to the middle order, while Mirza’s selection could provide a different bowling dynamic. By making these changes, Pakistan is looking for a better balance than relying solely on big names.
It should be noted that the match against Namibia is nothing but a must-win for Pakistan. Defeat could put them out of contention for Super 8 qualification, making team selection even more critical.
The 11th of both teams is playing
Namibia: Louren Steenkamp, ​​Jan Frylinck, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Gerhard Erasmus (c), Alexander Volschenk, JJ Smith, Zane Green (wk), Ruben Trumpelmann, Willem Myburgh, Bernard Scholtz, Jack Brassell
Pakistan: Sahibzade Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha (c), Babar Azam, Usman Khan (wk), Khawaja Nafay, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Salman Mirza, Usman Tariq
