ABU DHABI: Powerful half-centuries by Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam lifted Pakistan into the T20 World Cup semifinals with a convincing 45-run victory over inexperienced Namibia on Tuesday.
Rizwan smashed an unbeaten 79 off 50 balls and Babar made 70 off 49 deliveries as Pakistan batted first for the first time in the tournament and put on a strong total of 189-2.
Namibia always looked second best after its impressive 10 overs with the ball on the field to end at 144-5 and lose its second match in Group 2.
Pakistan’s fourth successive win puts it atop the table with eight points. It could go unbeaten into the semifinals as its last group game is against Scotland, another inexperienced team.
“It was a different plan today, wanted that opening partnership to go deep and it worked for us,” said Babar, who has been in sublime form and recorded his third half-century in four group games.
In-form Rizwan and Babar were tested by tall leftarm paceman Ruben Trumpelmann early on as Namibia gave away only 59 runs in the first half of Pakistan’s innings with Trumpelmann starting by bowling a maiden over to Rizwan.
Rizwan also successfully overturned on review an lbw decision off JJ Smit when he was on just 2 as Namibia conceded just four boundaries in the batting powerplay.
But both batsmen cut lose against the rest of the seamers and the legspin of Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton to raise a 113-run stand. Babar hit seven fours, mostly his trademark cover drives, before he holed out off a knuckle ball from David Wiese (1-30) in the 15th over.
Pakistan’s faith in Mohammad Hafeez’s struggling batting form finally paid off as the experienced middle-order batsman smashed 32 off just 16 balls. But it was Rizwan’s clean hitting that provided Pakistan a perfect finish as he hit Smit for 24 runs in the last over that included four boundaries and a six. Smit finished with forgetful figures of 0-50.
Trumpelmann also couldn’t inspire in his return spell and after conceding just two off his first two overs, he eventually ended 0-36.
“Hafeez and Hasan Ali will be important in the next stage and it was important we ticked those boxes,” Babar said. “So far, everything has gone according to plan. We’re looking forward to the semifinals and play our cricket with the same intensity.”
Namibia never looked in the hunt against Pakistan’s pace and spin which has helped them beat archrival India, New Zealand and Afghanistan in the earlier group games.
Wiese top-scored with an unbeaten 43 off 30 balls and Craig Williams made 40 to narrow the margin of defeat. Fast bowler Hasan Ali returned to bowling form and finished with 1-22 and Haris Rauf, bowling with pace, bagged 1-25 as Pakistan registered its fourth win without making a change into its playing XI.
“We knew from the start that Pakistan are high quality, they look like title contenders,” Namibia skipper Gerhard Erasmus said. “Pakistan were outstanding with their shot selection, and their quality showed through the back end of the innings.”
Pakistan beats Namibia, advances to T20 World Cup semifinals
https://arab.news/4sjvh
Pakistan beats Namibia, advances to T20 World Cup semifinals
- Pakistan’s fourth successive win puts it atop the table with eight points
- Namibia never looked in the hunt against Pakistan’s pace and spin
E1 World Championship opens 2026 season in Jeddah with expanded field, growing global profile
- Season’s opener features record 10 teams
JEDDAH: The 2026 UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF will launch its new season in Jeddah, with the Red Sea city once again hosting the world’s first all-electric raceboat series, and champions Team Brady beginning their title defense against an expanded and competitive field.
Set against Jeddah’s Red Sea coastline, the season-opening E1 Jeddah GP 2026, which takes place over Jan. 23-24, will feature a record 10 teams racing the cutting-edge E1 RaceBirds, underlining the rapid growth of the championship and its ambitions as a global competition spanning four continents.
Team Brady are the outfit to beat, having claimed the Champions of the Water title in 2024 and 2025. However, competition is expected to be fiercer than ever, with several teams strengthening their lineups ahead of the new campaign.
Team Monaco and Sierra Racing Club join the championship for 2026, adding further depth to the grid with a mix of experienced and emerging pilots. Team Rafa, who finished just 11 points behind Team Brady last season after a title fight that went down to the final laps, are widely regarded as one of the leading contenders and will be aiming to make an early statement in Jeddah.
Team AlUla Championed by LeBron James also return to race on home waters, one year on from their E1 debut. Carrying local pride, the team will be looking to build on last season’s momentum in front of Saudi fans.
The world-class field is further strengthened by a roster of high-profile, celebrity-backed teams, including Will Smith’s Team Westbrook, DJ Steve Aoki’s Team Aoki, Team Drogba, led by football legend Didier Drogba and his partner Gabrielle Lemaire, and Team Miami, featuring Grammy Award-winning artist Marc Anthony.
Fans will be able to get close to the action across qualifying and race day, with on-water viewing available from the E1 Fan Zone. The area will give visitors the chance to see the E1 RaceBirds up close and will feature a gaming arena with simulator and virtual reality experiences, as well as a VOX cinema screening of “Zootopia 2.” Merchandise outlets and a range of food and beverage options will also be available, creating a family-friendly race-day experience.
Beyond the racing, E1’s return to Saudi Arabia reflects the Kingdom’s growing role in shaping the future of electric sport and sustainable mobility. The championship serves as a living laboratory for electric propulsion systems, accelerating innovation that can influence marine transport while also supporting broader conversations around ocean protection.
As part of its partnership with E1, Formula E’s Driving Force Presented by PIF E360 is hosting its educational program in Jeddah this week. The initiative aims to inspire students aged 8 to 18 to explore science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as sustainability, through the lens of electric racing.
The program reached more than 60,000 students globally in 2025 alone, with a further 50,000 targeted this year, taking its reach to over 100,000 young people worldwide.
On the sporting side, PIF’s commitment to excellence will again be recognized through the PIF Pilot of the Day award, presented after finals day to honor standout skill and performance over the race weekend.
Alejandro Agag, founder and chairman of E1, said: “Starting our 2026 season in Jeddah is a powerful statement for E1. The region represents ambition, innovation and a clear vision for the future, and the Red Sea provides the perfect environment as our largest grid yet of 10 teams begin their battle to be crowned 2026 Champions of the Water.”
The Jeddah race is set to deliver high-intensity competition, renewed rivalries and an early glimpse into the future of high-performance racing on water.
