After England edged past Pakistan by two wickets in a tense T20 World Cup Super Eight clash on Tuesday, pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi admitted his team no longer controls its own destiny.
Pakistan now have only one point from two Super Eight matches. As a result, they must win their final game against Sri Lanka and depend on other results to stay alive in the race for the semi-finals. “We know our fate is not in our hands,” Afridi said after the match. He added that while the situation is far from ideal, the team remains focused on winning the last fixture and hoping for favorable outcomes elsewhere.
Afridi praises Brook’s match-winning century
Meanwhile, Afridi reserved special praise for England’s captain Harry Brook, whose blistering century turned the contest. Brook smashed his maiden T20I hundred off just 50 balls, hitting four sixes and 10 fours as England chased down a 165-run target with five balls remaining.
Earlier, Afridi had rattled the top order with three quick wickets, dismissing Phil Salt, Jos Buttler, and Jacob Bethell to leave England struggling at 35-3. However, Brook steadied the innings with key partnerships, including stands with Sam Curran and Will Jacks.
Afridi described the knock as world-class, saying it could be the best innings of Brook’s career. He noted that batting was difficult on the surface, yet Brook seized control and decisively shifted momentum.
The Pakistan pacer even displayed sportsmanship after dismissing Brook with a yorker, congratulating him with a handshake. Afridi said Brook deserved respect for playing proper cricketing shots and delivering a match-defining performance.
