History was scripted at Pallekele International Stadium as Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi became the first from his nation to snag a wicket on the opening ball of a T20 World Cup match. In the 2026 showdown against England, Afridi castled Phil Salt, igniting celebrations and rewriting records.
The strike not only stunned England but crowned Afridi the leading powerplay wicket-taker with 18 scalps, edging out Kagiso Rabada’s 16. This powerplay prowess underscores Afridi’s dominance in the game’s formative phase.
Opting to bat after winning the toss, captain Salman Agha saw his team stumble early. Sam Ayub departed for 7, followed by Agha’s 5, leaving Babar Azam to anchor with 25 from 24 balls. Sahibzada Farhan’s gritty 63 off 45, featuring seven fours and two maximums, formed the backbone of the innings.
Quick contributions from Fakhar Zaman (25 off 16) and Shadab Khan (23 off 11) lifted Pakistan to 164/9. England responded with clinical bowling: Liam Dawson’s 3/24 mesmerized, Jofra Archer grabbed 2/32, and Jamie Overton took 2/26. Pakistan’s sole change—Shaheen in for Faheem Ashraf—proved inspired. As England chase, the early blow looms large in this blockbuster tie.