In a powerful display of resilience, Pakistan have stormed into the Super 8s of the T20 World Cup 2026 following a clinical 102-run victory over Namibia on February 18, 2026. Beyond the tactical brilliance on the field, a unique psychological shift has taken hold of the squad. Following their must-win triumph in Colombo, star all-rounder Shadab Khan revealed that the team is no longer playing with just eleven men on the field. He credited their newfound momentum to a mysterious ’12th man’, a factor he believes will be the catalyst for a title charge.
‘Our 12th man is with us’: Shadab Khan’s powerful message after Pakistan book Super 8 spot
The mystery of Pakistan’s extra supporter was solved during the post-match press conference, where Shadab linked the team’s surge to the commencement of the holy month of Ramadan. With the squad facing immense criticism following a heavy defeat to India, Shadab insisted that the spiritual strength of the fasting month has provided an unbreakable morale boost. Using his full remarks to explain the team’s mindset, he stated:
“At the end of the day, you can only control certain things, so you should focus on controlling those. And now Ramadan has started, humara 12th man toh saath hi hai (our 12th man is with us). The Super 8 will be difficult. These will be high-pressure matches. Ramadan has begun, and it will be like our 12th player.” Shadab was quoted as saying by NDTV Sports.
Shadab further dismissed the noise from former cricketers, noting that the current squad remains focused on their internal ‘process’ rather than external opinions. By framing the holy month as a tangible advantage, the all-rounder has signaled that the 2009 champions are mentally prepared for the grueling schedule ahead, which includes high-octane clashes against England and New Zealand.
T20 World Cup 2026: Sahibzada Farhan’s historic ton seals Pakistan’s Super 8 qualification
On the field, Pakistan’s performance was nothing short of ‘lethal and ruthless,’ as described by captain Salman Ali Agha. The centerpiece of the victory was a record-shattering maiden T20I century by Sahibzada Farhan, who became only the second Pakistan batter in history, after Ahmed Shehzad in 2014, to score a hundred in a T20 World Cup.
Farhan’s unbeaten 100 off 58 balls, featuring 11 boundaries and 4 towering sixes, anchored Pakistan to a massive 199/3. The bowling department then took over, led by mystery spinner Usman Tariq, whose bamboozling ‘pause-and-bowl’ action earned him career-best figures of 4/16. Supported by Shadab Khan’s clinical 3/19, the Pakistan attack bundled Namibia out for just 97 runs in 17.3 overs. This 102-run demolition not only secured their Super 8 berth but also marked Pakistan’s largest-ever margin of victory in T20 World Cup history, officially ending the dreams of the USA, who had hoped for a Namibian upset to stay in the hunt.
Also WATCH: Mike Hesson and Salman Agha caught in a heated exchange during PAK vs NAM T20 World Cup 2026 clash
