Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of England’s Jos Buttler in Tremendous Eights stage match towards England on February 24, 2026 throughout ICC Males’s T20 World Cup 2026. — Reuters/File
Quick bowler Salman Mirza vowed on Friday that Pakistan will end the Tremendous Eights with a flourish towards already-eliminated Sri Lanka, whether or not or not they nonetheless have hopes of reaching the semi-finals.
Pakistan want England to beat New Zealand handsomely in Colombo on Friday after which submit an enormous victory of their very own towards Sri Lanka on Saturday to sneak into the ultimate 4 on internet run price.
A New Zealand win will finish Pakistan’s hopes, rendering the Sri Lanka conflict in Kandy meaningless when it comes to the event.
“It’s a critical situation as reaching the semi-final is not in our control,” Mirza advised reporters
“But if we reach the semi-final we have the capability to do better,” Mirza stated.
Pakistan’s marketing campaign began on a nervy observe with a three-wicket win in an exciting last-over end towards the Netherlands earlier than overcoming the USA and Namibia.
In between, they misplaced closely to India in a extremely anticipated conflict in Colombo.
Pakistan’s first Tremendous Eight match towards New Zealand was washed out in Colombo earlier than they misplaced to England and Harry Brook’s glowing century in Kandy on Tuesday.
“We needed to win the match against England and that defeat has given us this position,” stated Mirza.
After Brook was dismissed close to the tip of England’s run chase, Pakistan hit again with two wickets within the penultimate over.
Mirza bowled the ultimate over with three runs to defend and two wickets to take for victory however Jofra Archer hit the primary ball for 4.
“I had the opportunity to become a hero in the final over, but I couldn’t grab that one,” stated Mirza.
“Such opportunities do not come your way every day. Had I taken two wickets we would have won that match, but it was not to be.”
