In the high-octane realm of ICC Men’s T20 World CupWhile strike rates often play an important role, scoring a century is the ultimate proof of a batsman’s mastery. For Pakistan, a nation passionate about cricket, the list of players who have achieved this feat in the tournament’s history is remarkably small – only two players in almost two decades.
Pakistan’s centurion in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup
Ahmed Shehzad (2014): The Power of Leading
Was the first Pakistani to score a century in the T20 World Cup Ahmed ShahzadWho achieved the feat against Bangladesh in Mirpur on 30 March 2014. Opening the innings, Shehzad remained unbeaten on 111 off just 62 balls, an innings that combined brute power with brilliant strokeplay.
His innings, which included 10 fours and five sixes, took Pakistan to a strong total of 190 runs. In reply, Bangladesh could only score 132 runs, giving Pakistan a comprehensive victory. At the age of 22 years and 127 days, Shehzad became the youngest centurion in T20 World Cup history at the time – a record that stood for 12 years until Canada’s Yuvraj Samra broke it in the 2026 edition.
Sahibzada Farhan (2026): New era precision
Fast forward 12 years and Sahibzada Farhan became the second Pakistani to reach the milestone by achieving the feat in Pakistan’s final group-stage match against Namibia at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo on February 18, 2026.
Farhan’s unbeaten 100 off just 58 balls was a masterclass in controlled aggression. In contrast to Shehzad’s power-hitting spectacle, Farhan’s innings was defined by precision – identifying the gaps, rotating the strike effectively, and increasing the pace at the right moments. His innings included 11 fours and four sixes. Pakistan was restricted to 199 runs for 3 wickets in 20 overs..
What made Farhan’s achievement special was the context. Coming into the match at a time when Pakistan was already facing questions over its batting approach, the 29-year-old opening batsman displayed remarkable composure. He completed his half-century in 36 balls before accelerating and bringing up his maiden T20I century in the final over of the innings.
12 years difference: Why so few centuries for Pakistan in T20 World Cup?
The fact is that Pakistan, a cricket nation with a rich batting heritage, has scored only two T20 World Cup centuries in 19 years. For comparison, West Indies’ Chris Gayle has two centuries in the tournament alone, while England, New Zealand and South Africa have scored multiple centuries each.
Several factors explain this discrepancy. Pakistan’s batting line-up in World Cup matches has often prioritized consistency over explosiveness, with players like Babar Azam accumulating runs without reaching three figures. Babar, despite being Pakistan’s most consistent T20I batsman in the World Cup with 464 runs, is yet to score a century in the tournament – his highest score is 70.
Additionally, conservative approaches are often adopted due to the pressure and challenging conditions of knockout matches in the World Cup. Notably, the 2024 T20 World Cup saw no centuries scored in the entire tournament.
