Pakistan’s T20 Semi-Final Fate Uncertain After Defeat to England: Shaheen Afridi

Following Tuesday’s two-wicket victory over Pakistan in the T20 World Cup Super Eight match, Pakistani bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi admitted that his team no longer controlled its destiny.

Pakistan needs to win their final game and pray for other favorable outcomes in order to have any chance of making it to the semi-finals, as they have only one point from their two Super Eight games.

“We know our fate is not in our hands,” he confessed, continuing, “But we need to beat Sri Lanka in our last match on Saturday and then hope other results go our way.”

“It’s not ideal, but it’s like this,” following the game, Shaheen stated at a press conference.

In the match against England, he also praised Harry Brook’s century, calling it a “world-class knock.”

With five balls remaining, England exceeded their 165-run goal to win by two wickets, and Brook reached his first T20 International century from 50 balls with four sixes and ten fours.

Before Brook produced the ideal captain’s innings to lead his team home, Afridi shocked the England top order with a burst of three wickets.

“This will be the best innings of his life, in my opinion,” Afridi told reporters. “He took the game away from us, even though it wasn’t an easy pitch to bat on.”

After speaking with England coach Brendon McCullum in the morning and being promoted to number three, Brook entered the game after Afridi removed Phil Salt with the opening ball of the innings.

After that, Afridi dismissed Jacob Bethell and Jos Buttler, leaving England struggling in the power play at 35-3.

Brook remained steadfast, adding 52 with Will Jacks for the sixth wicket and 45 with Sam Curran for the fifth.

His century was the first by a team captain and the second fastest in T20 World Cup history.

Chris Gayle, a legend of the West Indies, was the only player to reach three figures faster against England in the 2016 T20 World Cup. It only took him 47 balls.

Brook sped through the “nervous nineties” in two balls, reaching from 90 to 100 before lifting his bat, and Afridi was hammered for a six and a four.

In an amazing display of cricket sportsmanship, the towering paceman dismissed Brook with a yorker the next ball, but instead of celebrating loudly, he walked straight to congratulate the England captain.

“Brook played proper cricketing shots and he desreved a handshake, so I went to him and shook his hand in appreciation,” Afridi claimed.