Pakistan cricket team became the first team from Group 2 to qualify for the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2021 following their win against Namibia in Abu Dhabi. They won all the four games they have played in the tournament so far.
Going into the chase, Pakistan had an opportunity to tick off some boxes before the semi-finals and the Men in Green shirts did exactly that by opting to bat first, putting on a total of 189 runs, and then defending the target with ease.
This win of 45 runs over Namibia, has now confirmed Pakistan’s place in the final four, leaving only Scotland in their path to a 100% group-stage win rate.
It was the first time that the Pakistan cricket team was asked to bat first in the ongoing tournament. Babar Azam played a captain’s role once again as he gave a powerful performance scoring a 49-ball 70. His opening partner Mohammad Rizwan once again stole the show with his bat as he played a knock of 79 runs. Apart from this, an all-around bowling effort saw them cruise to victory.
The Pakistani bowlers tied down the Namibia batters and didn’t let them score big runs throughout their innings, eventually restricting them to chase down the target.
Meanwhile, as soon as the Pakistani cricket team defeated Namibia to qualify for the semi-finals, social media was already flooded with reactions from Twitterati on this. From cricketers, experts to fans, everyone took to Twitter and lauded the performance of the Babar Azam-led side.
Here, check out the reactions of Twitterati on this:
Officially qualified for semi finals! All of The Hard work by the Boys has finally bore fruit!
Babar and Rizwan become 1st opening pair in T20I Cricket with Five 100+ partnerships congratulations to them#pakistan #PAKvsNAM #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/IAqskjVOJA
— Saeed Ajmal (@REALsaeedajmal) November 2, 2021
Pakistan were semi finalists of the World T20 in the first 4 editions from 2007 to 2012. Missed out in 2014 & 2016, and now back in the semis once again.
Most by any team in the history of World T20s.
— Gurkirat Singh Gill (@gurkiratsgill) November 2, 2021
Just for the record… Namibia (on 2 points while India are yet to get on board) also keep their NRR just above India’s with this solid performance today. #T20WorldCup
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) November 2, 2021
First time in 9 years Pakistan have reached the semi-finals stage of any World Cup.
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) November 2, 2021
Pakistan becomes the first team to make it to 5 Men’s T20 World Cup semifinals. #PAKvNAM
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) November 2, 2021
https://twitter.com/grumpycrickfan/status/1455590677660774412?s=20
And more wonderful reading if your team is #Pakistan #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/KEzzc7HDG7
— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) November 2, 2021
Pakistan have so far ticked all the boxes and with someone like Asif Ali down the order they go into the semis with momentum and confidence. They are looking the second best team this World Cup but the semifinal onwards will be a different ask anyways #PAKvsNAM
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) November 2, 2021
Pakistan qualify for the semi-finals of the T20I World Cup 2021, winning 4 out of 4. Babar 70 with a strike-rate of 142.85 and Rizwan (79*) top scored with a fantastic strike-rate of 158.00 as a tribute to India’s 158 all-out in the CT17 final against Pakistan. ?? #Cricket
— Daniel Alexander (@daniel86cricket) November 2, 2021
PAKISTAN ZINDABAD! We are having an amazing #T20WorldCup campaign?? Well played team specially @iMRizwanPak and @babarazam258. Keep going?? #PAKvsNAM pic.twitter.com/HAKVSdWXVj
— Wahab Riaz (@WahabViki) November 2, 2021
Pakistan have been so consistent in T20 WC
2007 – Runners up
2009 – Champions
2010 – Semifinalist
2012 – Semifinalist
2014 – Group Exit
2016 – Group Exit
2021 – In Semi-finals
They’re the only team to qualify for semi-finals 5 times in this tournament..SL/WI – 4 times— JSK (@imjsk27) November 2, 2021
Mohammad Rizwan is the Man of the Match!
He won his first MOTM award in December last year against New Zealand. Since then, no player has won more MOTM awards than Rizwan in T20Is.#T20WorldCup | #PAKvNAM | #Cricket pic.twitter.com/XW0UYt2E5r
— Grassroots Cricket (@grassrootscric) November 2, 2021
Mohammad Rizwan “All of the boxes have been ticked so far and I request all our fans to stay positive and remember us in their prayers. We are working very hard and the rest is up to the Almighty” #T20WorldCup
— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) November 2, 2021
Congratulations team Pakistan ?? wonderful batting @iMRizwanPak @babarazam258 & @MHafeez22 #PAKvsNAM Proud of you all….hard luck Namibia #WCT20
— Kamran Akmal (@KamiAkmal23) November 2, 2021
