Pakistan opening batsman Sahibzada Farhan talked about playing at the Pallekele venue for the first time during the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2026. Farhan said he spoke to senior batsman Babar Azam about the surface and said the team will assess the conditions on match day before finalizing their approach.
Colombo’s R on Sunday. Pakistan was left disappointed as the first match of the Super 8 at the Premadasa Stadium was abandoned without a single ball being bowled. The Salman Ali Aga-led side will play their next match against England at the Pallekele International Stadium on Tuesday, February 24.
I spoke to Babar Azam… – Sahibzada Farhan on Pallekele pitch
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Sahibzada Farhan said that he is playing at the venue for the first time. He said that senior players including Babar Azam have told him that the pitch is generally good for batting. Farhan said that in the last game the ball had taken hold.
“I am playing here for the first time and also my first match at this venue. But our senior players have played here before and from what I have heard from them, it is generally a batting-friendly pitch where the ball comes to the bat well,” Farhan said.
“However, yesterday’s match felt a little different. The ball was holding and stopping a bit. But I don’t think you can prejudge that tomorrow’s wicket will be the same. From what we have seen so far, I also spoke to Babar Azam and he said the wicket is generally very good. So I think we will wait and see how the pitch behaves tomorrow and then play accordingly.”
We also have strong fast bowlers – Sahibzada Farhan on Jofra Archer
Sahibzada Farhan said that facing Joffra Archer will not be a big challenge for him. He said that Pakistan’s batsmen regularly face fast bowlers with similar pace. Farhan said that while Archer will have a plan, he is also prepared with his approach to the competition.
Farhan said, “Facing Joffra Archer is not such a big deal because we face similar bowlers in Pakistan. We also have strong fast bowlers who bowl around 145 kilometers per hour, so there is nothing unusual in it.”
“He will obviously come with a plan, but I have also come with my own plan. It is not that he is the only one who has prepared. God willing, there will be a good fight tomorrow.”
Sahibzada Farhan leads run chart after first T20 century
Sahibzada Farhan scored his maiden international century to lead Pakistan to a 102-run win over Namibia on Wednesday.
Farhan remained unbeaten on 100 off 58 balls, reaching the milestone in the final over as Pakistan posted 199 runs in a must-win Group A match at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground. His innings gave Pakistan complete control of the game.
Namibia were then bowled out for 97, ending their tournament without a win and finishing bottom of the group. Spinner Usman Tariq performed brilliantly with the ball and gave the best performance of his career by taking 4 wickets for 16 runs.
Farhan is the leading run-scorer in the tournament so far, having scored 220 runs in four matches at an average of 73.33 and a strike rate of 164.18, which included 21 fours and 11 sixes.
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