Phil Salt Scores Golden Duck as Pakistan Dominates T20 World Cup
In a surprising turn of events, Phil Salt scored a golden duck as Pakistan dominated England during the Super 8 stage of the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup. The match took place at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, where Pakistan posted a total of 164 runs for the loss of 9 wickets.
Phil Salt’s Dismissal
Opening the innings for England, Phil Salt faced Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi on the very first ball. Afridi, known for his skillful left-arm seam bowling, delivered an outswinger that moved away from Salt, resulting in an edge caught by wicket-keeper Usman Khan. This marked an unfortunate start to the innings for Salt.
Shaheen Afridi Makes History
- Shaheen Afridi became the first Pakistan bowler to take a wicket on the first ball of a T20 World Cup game.
- The seamer conceded only three runs in his first over.
Significance of the Golden Duck
This golden duck for Salt was particularly noteworthy as it represented his sixth duck in T20 Internationals. Interestingly, this was also the first time he has failed to score in T20 World Cup history. Previously, he had a match-winning performance with a score of 62 against Sri Lanka on the same pitch.
Match Summary
Pakistan’s decision to bat on a tricky wicket paid off, leading to a solid score that set the tone for the match. As the game progressed, England’s batting lineup faced challenges, beginning with the unexpected dismissal of Salt.
With this stunning performance from Shaheen Afridi and the overall team effort, Pakistan remains a strong contender in the ongoing T20 World Cup.
