Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan created history in the must-win Super 8 clash against Sri Lanka in the T20 World Cup 2026, going past Virat Kohli to register the highest number of runs in a single edition of the tournament on Saturday.Kohli had scored 319 runs in six innings during the 2014 T20 World Cup, a record that had stood for years.

Farhan, however, overtook that mark with another fluent knock at a crucial time for Pakistan, emphasising his dream run in this year’s competition.The big moment came in a high-pressure game. Farhan amassed 100 off 60 balls, having racked up nine 4s and five 6s. And thanks to this innings, he now holds 383 runs, 64 more runs than Kohli’s tally, in a single edition of a T20 World Cup.Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka won the toss and chose to bowl first. While Sri Lanka were already out of the semifinal race, Pakistan still had a slim chance. To qualify, they needed not just a win but a massive 64-run victory to overtake New Zealand on net run rate.Pakistan made three changes to their playing XI, with Babar Azam, Saim Ayub and Salman Mirza missing out. Naseem Shah, Khawaja Nafay and Abrar Ahmed were drafted in. Sri Lanka also made two changes, bringing in Kamil Mishara and Janith Liyanage.Batting first, Pakistan got off to a blazing start. Farhan and Fakhar Zaman put together an unbeaten 150-run partnership in just 14 overs.Pakistan raced to 150 without losing a wicket, scoring at more than 10 runs per over. The powerplay itself yielded 64 runs, setting the tone for a strong total.With Farhan in record-breaking form and Pakistan off to a flying start, the team kept its semifinal hopes alive in style.

PAK vs SL Playing XIs

Pakistan: Salman Agha (c), Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay, Usman Khan (wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Tariq.Sri Lanka: Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara (wk), Charith Asalanka, Pavan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka.

Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan (AP Photo)

Sahibzada Farhan etched his name into the record books with a maiden T20I century during Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2026 Group A clash against Namibia on Wednesday. However, while the milestone was significant, former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan was not entirely impressed with how the opener approached the closing 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 Pakistan batter after Ahmed Shehzad to score a century in the T20 World Cup.

Pathan, though, questioned the timing and intent behind the approach, suggesting that the team’s total should have been the sole focus in the final over. “He definitely has scored a century, but taking a single? Unbelievable. Unbelievable. You would be happy that you have scored a century and that Pakistan have reached 199,” Irfan said on air. “But in the last over, you play a defensive shot, then you leave the last ball. Kamaal hai,” he added. Farhan also failed to capitalise on the final delivery of the innings, unable to reach a wide ball bowled by Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus. The last over wasn’t fully maximised, and had Shadab Khan not struck two crucial sixes, Pakistan may not have pushed their total to 199. The 29-year-old eventually finished unbeaten on 100 from 58 balls, an innings decorated with 11 fours and four sixes at a strike rate of 172.41. In the broader context of the match, Farhan’s century laid the foundation for Pakistan’s imposing 199/3 in Colombo. Captain Salman Ali Agha contributed 38, while Shadab remained unbeaten on 36 to provide a late flourish. In reply, Namibia were outclassed as Usman Tariq’s mystery spin (4/16) dismantled the middle order and Shadab claimed 3/19. Namibia were bowled out for 97 in 17.3 overs, handing Pakistan a commanding 102-run victory and confirming their place in the Super 8 stage.