Pakistan vs Namibia: 7 Bold Facts From Their T20 Rivalry
In every meeting so far, Pakistan vs Namibia has ended the same way — Pakistan has won both times they’ve faced off, first at the 2021 T20 World Cup and again at the 2026 T20 World Cup, and Namibia has yet to register a win against them.
Disclaimer: This blog is compiled from publicly available cricket scorecards, match reports, and official tournament coverage as of July 2026. Where records were unclear or unavailable, such as claims of a 2022 fixture or bilateral series, this has been clearly flagged rather than presented as confirmed fact. Readers are encouraged to verify match details through official ICC records or verified cricket statistics platforms before citing them elsewhere.
Pakistan Vs Namibia: Quick Head-to-Head Stats Table
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Matches Played | 2 (both T20 Internationals) |
| Pakistan Wins | 2 |
| Namibia Wins | 0 |
| Format Played | T20I only (no bilateral ODI series played) |
| First Meeting | November 2, 2021 (T20 World Cup, Abu Dhabi) |
| Latest Meeting | February 18, 2026 (T20 World Cup, Colombo) |
| Pakistan Vs Namibia 2021 World Cup Result | Pakistan won by 45 runs |
| Pakistan Vs Namibia 2026 World Cup Result | Pakistan won by 102 runs |
| Highest Pakistan Score | 199/3 (2026) |
| Highest Namibia Score | 144/5 (2021) |
| Lowest Namibia Score | 97 all out (2026) |
| Top Run-Scorer (H2H) | Sahibzada Farhan, 100* (2026) |
| Best Bowling Figures (H2H) | Usman Tariq, 4/16 (2026) |
Note: Pakistan and Namibia have only ever met in T20 World Cup fixtures. There is no recorded bilateral T20 series, ODI, or standalone “1st T20″/”2nd T20” series between the two teams as of this writing.
Pakistan Vs Namibia: A Rivalry Built Entirely on World Cups
Here’s something that might surprise casual cricket fans. Pakistan vs Namibia isn’t some long, dramatic rivalry stretching back decades. In fact, these two teams have only crossed paths twice — and both times, it happened on the biggest stage possible: the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
No bilateral tours, no random tri-series in some neutral country, just two high-stakes World Cup clashes, five years apart. And honestly? Both matches turned out to be pretty one-sided affairs. Let’s walk through exactly what happened each time.

Pakistan Vs Namibia 2021 World Cup: The First-Ever Meeting
Let’s rewind to November 2, 2021. This was the very first time these two nations had ever faced each other in international cricket, and it happened during Pakistan vs Namibia 2021 World Cup group-stage action in Abu Dhabi.
Pakistan walked into that match on a hot streak, having already won their first three games of the tournament. Namibia, on the other hand, had a win and a loss under their belt, sitting just above India on the points table — which, looking back now, is a pretty wild stat to think about.
Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat first. Mohammad Rizwan anchored the innings with an unbeaten 79 off 50 balls, while Babar Azam chipped in with a well-made 70. Together, they powered Pakistan to 189 for 2 in their 20 overs. Namibia’s chase never really got going, and they were restricted to 144 for 5, handing Pakistan a comfortable 45-run win.
Pakistan Vs Namibia 2021 World Cup: Match Snapshot
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Venue | Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi |
| Pakistan Score | 189/2 (20 overs) |
| Namibia Score | 144/5 (20 overs) |
| Result | Pakistan won by 45 runs |
| Player of the Match | Mohammad Rizwan (79* off 50) |
| Significance | Confirmed Pakistan’s spot in the semi-finals |
That win didn’t just extend Pakistan’s winning streak — it locked in their semi-final spot with a game to spare, making it one of the more important, if underrated, wins of their entire 2021 campaign.
Pakistan Vs Namibia T20: Building the Head-to-Head Record
Since that 2021 clash was a T20 International, it also became the foundation of the official Pakistan vs Namibia T20 head-to-head record. Before this game, these two teams had genuinely never played each other in a T20I before, which made the entire contest a bit of uncharted territory for both sides.
What made the match memorable wasn’t just the result — it was the fact that Namibia, a team that had punched above its weight all tournament, simply ran into a Pakistan side peaking at exactly the right time.
Pakistan Vs Namibia 2022: Did They Actually Play That Year?
Here’s an honest clarification, because this is a commonly searched question. Based on available match records, there’s no documented Pakistan vs Namibia 2022 fixture. After their 2021 World Cup meeting, the two sides didn’t cross paths again until the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Verification Note: If you’ve seen a claim online about a 2022 Pakistan-Namibia match, treat it with caution until it’s confirmed through an official ICC or cricket board scorecard. Our research found no verified record of such a game.
Pakistan Vs Namibia 1st T20 and 2nd T20: Clearing Up the Confusion
A lot of fans search for Pakistan vs Namibia 1st T20 or Pakistan vs Namibia 2nd T20, likely expecting a full bilateral series between the two boards. But here’s the honest answer: that series doesn’t exist. Pakistan and Namibia have never played a standalone bilateral T20I series against each other.
Both of their meetings so far have come exclusively within ICC World Cup group-stage matches — first in 2021, then again in 2026. So if you’re hunting for a “series” between these two teams, what you’re actually looking for is their World Cup head-to-head record, not a separate bilateral tour.
Pakistan Vs Namibia ODI: Has It Ever Happened?
Similarly, a fair number of searches ask about a Pakistan vs Namibia ODI match. Based on the records available, there’s no documented One Day International between these two nations either. Their entire cricketing rivalry, at least at the international level, has played out purely in the shortest format, T20 cricket, and purely within World Cup tournaments.
This actually makes sense when you consider Namibia’s status in world cricket — they’re an Associate nation, and most of their marquee fixtures against Full Member teams like Pakistan come through ICC events rather than bilateral tours.

Pakistan Vs Namibia 2026 World Cup: The Rematch, Five Years Later
Fast forward to February 18, 2026, and the two sides met again — this time in Colombo, at the Sinhalese Sports Club, during the Pakistan vs Namibia 2026 World Cup campaign. The stakes were high. Pakistan had just lost to arch-rivals India days earlier and desperately needed a win to secure their spot in the Super Eight stage. Namibia, meanwhile, had lost all three of their previous matches and were playing for pride.
This one wasn’t close. Pakistan won the toss, chose to bat first, and openers Sahibzada Farhan and company put on a batting masterclass.
Pakistan Vs Namibia 2026 World Cup: Match Snapshot
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Venue | Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC), Colombo |
| Pakistan Score | 199/3 (20 overs) |
| Namibia Score | 97 all out (17.3 overs) |
| Result | Pakistan won by 102 runs |
| Player of the Match | Sahibzada Farhan (100* off 58) |
| Significance | Sealed Pakistan’s Super Eight qualification |
Sahibzada Farhan smashed his maiden T20I century, reaching triple figures off just 57 balls, and finished unbeaten on 100. His innings alone outscored Namibia’s entire total. On the bowling side, Usman Tariq delivered career-best figures of 4 for 16, tearing through Namibia’s lower order with a mix of googlies and carrom balls. This remains Pakistan’s biggest-ever margin of victory in Men’s T20 World Cup history, surpassing their previous best win against the Netherlands.
Pakistan Vs Namibia Highlights: The Standout Moments
If you’re short on time and just want the best bits, here are the Pakistan vs Namibia Highlights worth remembering from both encounters:
- 2021: Mohammad Rizwan’s composed unbeaten 79 anchoring a tricky start against disciplined Namibian bowling.
- 2021: Shaheen Shah Afridi sealing the win with the final wicket, sending Pakistan into the semi-finals.
- 2026: Sahibzada Farhan’s blistering maiden T20I century, reaching his second fifty in just 20 balls.
- 2026: Usman Tariq’s career-best 4 for 16, dismantling Namibia’s lower order with variations.
- 2026: Saim Ayub’s diving catch to dismiss Zane Green, widely praised as one of the best fielding efforts of the tournament.
Expert Insight: Why Pakistan Keeps Dominating This Fixture
Here’s an angle worth noting. Both times these teams have met, Pakistan came in under pressure — in 2021 they were managing tournament momentum, and in 2026 they were coming off a demoralizing loss to India with their qualification hopes on the line. In both cases, Pakistan didn’t just win — they responded with some of their most emphatic performances of the respective tournaments.
That pattern suggests something interesting about Pakistan vs Namibia as a fixture: rather than treating it as a routine game against a lower-ranked Associate side, Pakistan has historically used these matches to recalibrate and peak at the right moment. For Namibia, the challenge remains closing the gap against Full Member nations in high-pressure, must-win scenarios — something they haven’t quite managed yet in this particular matchup.
Conclusion
So here’s the wrap-up. Pakistan vs Namibia has been a short but decisive rivalry so far, limited entirely to two T20 World Cup meetings — 2021 in Abu Dhabi and 2026 in Colombo. Pakistan has won both encounters comfortably, first by 45 runs behind Mohammad Rizwan’s composed fifty-plus knock, then by a commanding 102 runs thanks to Sahibzada Farhan’s sensational century.
Contrary to popular search terms, there’s no confirmed bilateral series, ODI meeting, or standalone 2022 fixture between these two sides — their entire head-to-head history lives exclusively within ICC World Cup tournaments. As both teams continue developing on the world stage, future World Cup draws could easily set up a third meeting down the line.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. How many times have Pakistan and Namibia played each other?
They’ve played twice, both at T20 World Cups — once in 2021 and once in 2026.
2. Who has won more matches in Pakistan vs Namibia?
Pakistan has won both matches played so far, with Namibia yet to register a win against them.
3. What happened in the Pakistan vs Namibia 2021 World Cup match?
Pakistan won by 45 runs in Abu Dhabi, with Mohammad Rizwan scoring an unbeaten 79 to anchor their innings.
4. What happened in the Pakistan vs Namibia 2026 World Cup match?
Pakistan won by 102 runs in Colombo, powered by Sahibzada Farhan’s unbeaten maiden T20I century.
5. Has Pakistan ever played an ODI against Namibia?
No confirmed Pakistan vs Namibia ODI match exists in available records. Their rivalry has been exclusively in T20 format.
6. Did Pakistan and Namibia play a bilateral T20 series?
No. There’s no documented 1st T20 or 2nd T20 bilateral series between the two nations. Both meetings occurred within World Cup tournaments.
7. Who is the top performer in the Pakistan vs Namibia head-to-head?
Sahibzada Farhan holds the top individual score with his unbeaten century in 2026, while Usman Tariq holds the best bowling figures with 4 for 16 in the same match.
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