ISLAMABAD: The Afghanistan Cricket side is no longer a minnow and is emerging as a key threat to major teams, particularly after defeating the defending champion England a few days back. On Monday, while facing Pakistan, the Afghanistan spin attack managed to restrict Pakistan to 282 runs in the ICC World Cup contest being played at Chennai.
Afghanistan team included four spinners against Pakistan, including the young Noor Ahmad, who put an impact for his team while taking 3 crucial wickets. However, in the end, Shadab and Iftikhar contributed valuable quick runs to take their side to a fighting total.
Earlier, winning the toss, Pakistan decided to bat first. Both the openers, Abdullah Shafiq and Imamu-ul-Haq, took a decent start and managed to maintain 5 runs per over in the first 10 overs without losing a wicket. However, in the 11th over, Afghanistan succeeded in taking the first wicket when Azmatullah Omarzai caught Imam on a typical short-pitch delivery, which mostly proved lethal for Imam. He scored 17 on 22 balls. Imam was replaced by Babar who along with Abdullah Shafiq, drove the innings ahead by 100 runs. But in the 23rd over, Abdullah Shafiq was removed by the newcomer Noor Ahmad. Abdulah went on 58 on 75 balls.
From the second dismissal, Afghan spinners started dominating against Pakistan, particularly Nabi and Noor Ahmad. In the 25th over, Noor Ahmad took his second wicket while removing the inform Muhammad Rizwan on 8 when the total reached 120. Meanwhile, Babar also completed his half-century. However, after a few overs, Muhammad Nabi removed Saud Shakil on 25. At the stage, Pakistan were 163 for 4 in 34 overs.
Saud was replaced by Shadab who along with Babar, accelerated the inning. But in the 42nd over, Noor Ahmad removed Babar Azam when on 74 the total reached 206. Babar innings included 1 six and four boundaries. Babar was replaced by Iftikhar, who, along with Shadab, knocked some good strokes to further accelerate the inning.
Shadab and Iftikhar managed to push the run rate over 5 and then further improved it while smashing some fine sixes and fours in the last 5 overs. Shadab scored 40, while Iftikhar also added 40 runs to the total after he was removed by Naveen in the final over. Iftikhar inning included 4 sixes and 2 boundaries. Pakistan scored 282 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in 50 overs.
From Afghanistan, Noor Ahmad was the most successful bowler, taking 3 wickets while conceding 49 runs in his 10-over spill. Naveen got two wickets, while Azmat and Nabi took one wicket each.
Pakistan Squad
Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan †, Saud Shakeel, Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Usama Mir, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hasan Ali and Haris Rauf
Afghanistan Squad
Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Ikram Alikhil †, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, and Noor Ahmad
