Shaheen Shah Afridi: Pakistan’s Failure to Build Partnerships Proved Costly Against England

Shaheen Shah Afridi believes Pakistan fell 15 to 25 runs short in their T20 World Cup defeat to England, pointing to a lack of sustained partnerships as the key factor behind their narrow loss in Pallekele.

Pakistan posted 164 for 9 on a surface that proved better for batting than earlier matches at the venue. Although England stumbled late in the chase, they eventually crossed the line with two wickets and five balls to spare, underlining that Pakistan’s total was slightly under par.

“I feel on a wicket like this you need a partnership and you need a set batter who can bat through the middle overs,” Afridi said after the match. “Unfortunately, we lost wickets back to back, which is why we did not get to 180 or 190.”

Pakistan struggled to build momentum through the middle phase, with regular wickets halting progress. Afridi highlighted England’s approach as a contrast, noting how Harry Brook anchored the chase by rotating strike and building stands. “A partnership means you have to have somebody at the crease who can go for singles and twos. Throughout a T20 innings you need those eight or nine runs an over,” he said, while also crediting Adil Rashid for controlling the middle overs.

Despite the defeat, Afridi enjoyed a return to form. Recalled on a more pace-friendly surface, he struck with the first ball of England’s innings and finished with 4 for 30, including the prized wicket of centurion Harry Brook.

“Whenever I play, my job is to take wickets early. That’s why I bowl the first over,” Afridi said. “Today I had planned how to take that first wicket.”

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