Farhan Backs Pakistan to Stand Tall Against Archer in Crucial England Showdown

Pakistan heads into Tuesday's high-pressure encounter with England, needing a strong performance to stay alive in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup. With just one point after their opening Super Eight fixture against New Zealand in Colombo was washed out due to rain, this Pakistan vs England fixture has effectively turned into a must-win Super Eight clash.

England, meanwhile, arrives with confidence following a convincing 51-run victory over Sri Lanka at the same venue.

Farhan Unfazed by Archer Threat

The pre-match coverage has largely focused on Jofra Archer, who decisively contributed to defending 147 against Sri Lanka by getting rid of openers Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara at the beginning of the innings.

However, Farhan dismissed concerns over facing England’s pace spearhead.

“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.

He further underlined the belief within the dressing room.

“We are confident. The team has played good cricket here before, and we will give England a tough time,” Farhan stated.

Assessing Conditions in Kandy

Playing in Kandy for the first time, Farhan revealed he sought advice from senior teammates, 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.

Still, he admitted the pitch showed signs of grip during England’s previous match.

“In the last match, the ball was gripping, and the pitch looked different, so we’ll assess the conditions tomorrow,” he added.

Addressing Batting Concerns

Farhan also acknowledged Pakistan’s recent top-order collapses and stressed the need for improvement.

“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.

With qualification hopes on the line, Pakistan now look to translate confidence into performance in this high-stakes Super Eight Clash.