Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi shakes hands with England captain Harry Brooke after fielding him during the T20 World Cup cricket match in Pallekele, Sri Lanka. (AP) TimesofIndia.com in Kandy: As Pakistan’s T20 World Cup campaign teetered on the brink, one moment captured both the pain of defeat and the spirit of the game. When Shaheen Shah Afridi finally dismissed Harry Brooke for a sublime century, the Pakistan fast bowler walked past and shook hands with the England captain in a show of genuine respect.“He deserved it because he had world-class innings in his life,” Shaheen said later. “I think it’s the best innings. Anyone who plays like that should appreciate it.”“Harry and I had a very good friendship,” he said. “We played together in the PSL. Anyone who plays an innings like that should appreciate it,” he added.
T20 World Cup: Shaheen Shah Afridi Press Conference after England vs Pakistan
Brook’s hundred in Pallekele wasn’t just a match-winning knock. It was a captaincy innings played under pressure on a heavy surface and it went straight to the detriment of Pakistan’s semi-final ambitions. England’s win sealed their place in the last four, while Pakistan now need results elsewhere to keep their campaign alive.“These things happen in cricket,” said Shaheen, who took 4 for 30 against England. “But we’re still in the tournament, anything can happen. We think we’ll get this one chance. First of all, we should win this game. I hope New Zealand lose their game.”However, the reality is cruel. Pakistan’s margin for error evaporated and Shaheen acknowledged that their own shortcomings, particularly with the bat, played a role in the defeat.
Shaheen Shah Afridi celebrates Phil Salt’s wicket during the T20 World Cup cricket match between England and Pakistan in Pallekele, Sri Lanka. (AP)
“I feel you need a partnership on a wicket like that and you need someone as a batsman who can bowl the middle overs,” he said. “But unfortunately we lost back-to-back wickets and that’s why we didn’t go for the score of 180 to 190.This contrast was evident in Brook’s innings. As Pakistan struggled to string together a partnership, Brook anchored England’s chase with clarity and control.“If you see one side, Harry Brook, the way he was going, the wickets were falling, but he was still in the crease,” Shaheen said. “He was rotating the strike and building partnerships. I think we missed that opportunity.”Shaheen praised Brook’s preparation and shot selection, noting that the England captain succeeded where others struggled.
England captain Harry Brook celebrates his century during the T20 World Cup cricket match between England and Pakistan in Pallekele, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
“I have never seen a batsman (batsmen) like him,” he said. “Today he was properly prepared for every ball to hit him. He was well prepared for us.”Admiration was not born overnight. Shaheen and Brook share a bond formed during their time together in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) with the Lahore Qalandars. Shaheen recalled watching Brook long before he became an England mainstay.“When we picked him in PSL Lahore, I don’t think he was playing for England at that time,” Shaheen said. “He was just playing county cricket. But he was playing Asian wickets and he improved a lot. He came in at number three today. You need a leader who can take charge in big matches.”Brook’s promotion through the ranks didn’t surprise Shaheen, but the way he accepted the responsibility stood out.“It didn’t surprise me actually, but the way he took the responsibility as captain, it was the best innings he played,” Shaheen said. “It was the captain’s shift.
Shaheen Shah Afridi celebrates a wicket during the World Cup T20 Super Eight match against England. (Getty Images)
For Shaheen himself, the match was also personal. After being dropped for two games earlier in the tournament, he returned with a fiery opening spell that gave Pakistan early hope.“Yes, you said I was dropped,” Shaheen said. “But I’ve been focusing on bowling, getting back and keeping things normal so I can bowl well.He dismissed any talk of having to prove anything.“I don’t need to prove it to anyone,” he said. “My job is to go and give 100 percent for my team whenever I get a chance.”Shaheen attacks Hesson
Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson (R) with Shaheen Afridi during a training session. (PTI)
Shaheen, who is Pakistan’s ODI captain, also mocked coach Mike Hesson’s obsession with having more all-rounders in the squad. “Look, he has the mindset, he’s the head coach. I think he knows better than us how to lead the team. And he’s responsible for that,” he said.Shaheen explained that his emphasis on consistent bowling length was a conscious decision based on the conditions.“If a wicket depends on length, why not go for long balls?” he said. “They were fighting and I was just trying to mix the same length.His early success, including his first goal, helped him settle in quickly. “Whenever I play, my job is to take wickets early,” he said. “That’s why I’m a first bowler. Today I was just planning how I can take wickets.”Despite Shaheen’s blast and Pakistan’s promising start, Brook ensured the game drifted away. His innings revealed the fine edges that now define Pakistan’s campaign. Missed partnerships, light dismissals and an inability to control the middle left them relying on permutations rather than performances.The fate of Pakistan’s World Cup now rests partly in the hands of others. For England, and for Harry Brook, the night in Pallekele can be remembered as the moment when a leader really made himself known, even to those he had left behind.
