In a thrilling encounter at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi etched his name into T20 World Cup folklore. Facing England in the 2026 edition, Afridi became the first Pakistani bowler to claim a wicket off the very first ball of an innings.
Afridi’s lethal swing dismissed England’s opener Phil Salt with the opening delivery, sending shockwaves through the opposition camp. This feat not only marked a historic moment for Pakistan but also propelled Afridi to the top of the powerplay wicket-takers list in T20 World Cups. Surpassing South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada, Afridi now boasts 18 wickets in the crucial early overs, compared to Rabada’s 16.
Earlier, Pakistan captain Salman Agha won the toss and elected to bat first, but the innings got off to a shaky start. Openers Sam Ayub (7) and Agha (5) fell cheaply, putting pressure on the middle order. Babar Azam steadied the ship with a patient 25 off 24 balls, but it was Sahibzada Farhan who played the anchor role, smashing an unbeaten 63 off 45 deliveries, including seven fours and two sixes.
Fakhar Zaman contributed a quick 25 off 16, while Shadab Khan’s late fireworks of 23 off 11 balls helped Pakistan post a competitive 164/9 in 20 overs. England’s spinners dominated the bowling charts, with Liam Dawson starring by taking 3/24 in his four overs. Jofra Archer (2/32) and Jamie Overton (2/26) also impressed.
Pakistan made one change to their lineup, bringing in Afridi for Faheem Ashraf. As the chase unfolds, Afridi’s early breakthrough sets the tone for what promises to be a tense battle between two cricketing powerhouses.