Pallekele: Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha heaped praise on England skipper Harry Brook after his breathtaking century powered England to a two-wicket win in the Super 8 stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Brook’s sensational 100 off 51 balls single-handedly dismantled Pakistan’s bowling attack and sealed England’s passage into the semi-finals, leaving Pakistan’s campaign hanging in the balance.
“It Always Feels Like It’s Harry Brook”
Reflecting on the defeat, Salman acknowledged Brook’s match-winning brilliance and even expressed hope that the England captain continues his form against New Zealand — a result that could indirectly benefit Pakistan’s qualification chances.
“It always feels like it’s Harry Brook. Whenever we lose, it seems he is the one making the difference. But credit where it’s due — he batted brilliantly today. Hopefully, he has saved some runs for the match against New Zealand,” Salman said after the game.
Pakistan’s semi-final hopes now hinge on England defeating New Zealand in the upcoming fixture.
Where Pakistan Fell Short
Salman admitted that Pakistan failed to capitalize on a decent platform.
“We started well with the bat but couldn’t finish the way we wanted. Sometimes you have to give credit to the opposition batter. I think Harry played exceptionally well. Our total was slightly under par, and then Brook took the game away from us. We threw everything at him.”
Match Summary: Brook Steals the Show
At the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pakistan posted 164/9 in their allotted 20 overs. Despite a disciplined bowling effort early on — highlighted by Shaheen Afridi’s impressive figures of 4/30 — England chased down the target in 19.1 overs, finishing at 165/8.
Brook’s innings included 10 boundaries and 4 sixes, anchoring the chase after early setbacks. Will Jacks contributed a steady 28 off 23 balls to support the captain.
The defeat leaves Pakistan with just one point from two Super 8 matches, following their rain-affected game against New Zealand.
The Road Ahead
With England already through to the semi-finals, Pakistan must now rely on favorable results in other Group 2 fixtures to stay alive in the tournament. Ironically, the same player who shattered their hopes — Harry Brook — could yet become an unlikely ally if he delivers again against New Zealand.
For now, Pakistan are left to regroup quickly — and hope cricket’s unpredictable nature works in their favor.
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