NEW DELHI: A power-packed fifty from opener Sahibzada Farhan guided Pakistan to a competitive 190 for nine against the United States of America in a Group A T20 World Cup clash on Tuesday.
Babar Azam (46 off 32 balls) and Farhan (73 off 41 balls) shared an 81-run partnership for the third wicket, helping Pakistan recover from a slightly concerning 56 for two after the Power Play.
After being asked to bat first, Pakistan had started brightly at 56 without loss in five overs.
But pacer Shadley van Schalkwyk (4/25) struck twice in the sixth over, dismissing Saim Ayub and skipper Salman Agha in the space of five deliveries, slowing Pakistan’s momentum.
#SahibzadaFarhan‘s brilliant half-century, followed by a late cameo from #ShadabKhanhelped Pakistan post a challenging total against the USA. 🔥
Will the USA chase this down, or will Pakistan dominate? ✍🏻
ICC Men’s #T20WorldCup | #PAKvUSA | LIVE NOW 👉 pic.twitter.com/xVGExSP8aL
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) February 10, 2026
Babar Settles as Farhan Dominates
Farhan, as usual, relied on sheer power, dispatching bowlers for sixes at will. His towering hits off spinner Milind Kumar highlighted his brute strength.
His aggressive innings allowed Babar to settle in and play his shots comfortably in the first match under lights at the Sinhalese Sports Club.
The right-hander, whose strike rate of 110 is the lowest by any batter in T20 World Cup history, took 20 balls to hit his first six. But once he found rhythm, Babar showcased class, using cross-batted shots to pierce the field.
He targeted left-arm spinner Harmeet Singh, hitting a six and two fours in the 12th over as Pakistan’s run rate approached 10 an over.
Meanwhile, Farhan reached his ninth T20 fifty—his first in an ICC event—off just 27 balls.
Babar’s innings ended when Milind took a brilliant diving catch off spinner Mohammad Mohsin, who cleverly placed the ball away from his hitting arc.
Farhan soon followed, falling to Harmeet as Sanjay Krishnamurthi completed a sharp running catch near long-off.
But all-rounder Shadab Khan (30 off 12 balls) smashed some big hits in the death overs, pushing Pakistan towards a strong total despite losing wickets at crucial stages.
(With PTI Inputs)
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