Advertisement
Advertisement
KANDY: Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan has brushed aside concerns over Jofra Archer’s pace threat ahead of Tuesday’s high-stakes Super Eight encounter against England in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
England enter the contest with momentum on their side after a commanding 51-run victory over Sri Lanka at the same venue on Sunday.
Pakistan, meanwhile, have a solitary point in their Super Eight group after their opening fixture against New Zealand in Colombo was washed out due to persistent rain.
Archer played a pivotal role in England’s win, producing a fiery spell while defending 147 and removing Sri Lankan openers Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara to set the tone early.
However, Farhan made it clear during the pre-match press conference in Kandy that Pakistan are not intimidated.
“It’s not that big a deal to face Jofra Archer. We also have bowlers who clock 140-plus, and they have come prepared. We’ve done our preparation as well,” he said.
The opener stressed that confidence within the Pakistan camp remains intact despite the circumstances.
“We are confident. The team has played good cricket here before, and we will give England a tough time,” Farhan stated, adding that tactical calls such as opting to bat or bowl rest with the captain and coaching staff.
Playing in Kandy for the first time, Sahibzada Farhan revealed he sought insights from senior players, including Babar Azam.
“I have never played here, but our senior players have. I spoke to Babar Azam, and he said the ball comes nicely onto the bat here. The other boys who have played here are saying the same, that these are batting-friendly tracks,” he noted.
At the same time, he acknowledged that conditions in the recent England-Sri Lanka match suggested some variation.
“In the last match, the ball was gripping, and the pitch looked different, so we’ll assess the conditions tomorrow,” he added.
Farhan also addressed Pakistan’s recent struggles with the bat, admitting that the top order must shoulder greater responsibility.
“We have been collapsing in batting, and we need to think about that. We have to carry the innings deeper from the top order. We are working on it, and there will be improvement,” he said.
READ: ECB warns The Hundred franchises amid concerns over Pakistan snub
