Shaheen Afridi Admits Pakistan Missed a Set Batter Against England

Pakistan walked off at 164 for 9. Competitive, but not commanding. On a fresh Pallekele strip, the ball came nicely onto the bat.  The pitch offered few surprises and the outfield was also quick. England took that advantage and never seemed out of the chase.

After the loss in the Pakistan vs England T20 World Cup Super 8, Shaheen Afridi did not hide his frustration. He pinpointed the missing anchor. No one stayed long enough to shape the innings.

“I feel on a wicket like this you need a partnership and a set batsman who can bat through the middle,” Afridi said in his Shaheen Afridi interview. “We kept losing wickets back to back.”

That stalled the tempo. Singles dried up and boundaries became risky. Suddenly, 180 felt distant.

Adil Rashid squeezed hard through the middle phase. His spell forced false strokes and halted any rhythm Pakistan tried to build. You could sense the tension rising with every dot ball.

Brook’s Calm Hand in the Chase

England’s reply told a different story. Harry Brook stayed. He nudged, he waited, then he struck. That patience tilted the balance.

“If you see, Brook rotated the strike and built partnerships,” Afridi noted during the Shaheen Afridi interview. “In T20, you need eight or nine an over with someone set at the crease.”

England reached the target with two wickets and five balls remaining in the Pakistan vs England T20. Close on paper. Still, Pakistan never truly dictated terms.

Afridi’s Fire Returns

Shaheen Afridi struck with the first ball of England’s innings, removing Phil Salt. Later, he dismissed centurion Brook and finished with 4 for 30.

He looked sharp and hungry for wickets. Back in rhythm after quieter outings on spin-friendly tracks earlier in the tournament.

“My job is to take wickets early,” he said. “I planned that first over carefully.”

Yet cricket can be cruel. One bowler’s brilliance cannot mask a batting lapse. Pakistan left Pallekele knowing the margins were thin, and the missing set batter made all the difference.