Pakistan's players celebrate their win in the T20 cricket match of Asia Cup against Afghanistan, in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)Pakistan vs Afghanistan Asia Cup 2022 Highlights: Pakistan beat Afghanistan by one wicket in their final Super 4 match of the Asia Cup on Wednesday. The result meant that India and Afghanistan are out of reckoning for the final to be played on Sunday as they are winless from two matches. With four points each, Pakistan and Sri Lanka qualified for the title clash.
Invited to bat, Afghanistan posted 129/6 with Ibrahim Zadran top-scoring with a 37-ball 35. Pakistan chased down the target with four balls to spare, reaching 131 for 9 in 19.2 overs. Shadab Khan top-scored for Pakistan with 36 while Iftikhar Ahmed made 30.
Follow PAK vs AFG Highlights below
Match EndedAsia Cup, 2022 - Super Four - Match 4
Pakistan
131/9 (19.2)vs
Afghanistan
129/6 (20.0)Match Ended ( Day - Super Four - Match 4 )
Pakistan beat Afghanistan by 1 wicket
Pakistan beat Afghanistan by 1 wicket
Live Blog
When he left Pakistan for the Asia Cup, Naseem Shah promised his mentor Sulieman Qadir, son of Abdul Qadir, that he would do his best to be a super star of Pakistan cricket. Sulieman had told him if he does well in the next six months, he can be the superstar like Shaheen Afridi. It was expected that the stardom would come with the ball, which he did rattling India in their first game, but on Wednesday night, he smashed two sixes that he would never ever forget in his life. Neither would Pakistan fans. Or Afghanistan fans. Or the Indians, for that matter, who saw their hopes snuffed out.
Until the last over Pakistan held the upper hand. And just when it seemed for the first time that Afghanistan held the advantage, Naseem Shah stepped up to hit two sixes that no one who watched will forget. Admittedly, they slipped out as full tosses from Fazalhaq Farooqui’s hand. Until then, Farooqui had bowled like a superstar, trapping Babar Azam in the first over and returning later to stop runs and pick wickets to drag Afghanistan back.
But just when history was calling, he couldn’t answer its call. Pressure. Sweaty fingers. And full tosses. Still, not everyone can put them away for consecutive sixes, especially a batsman down the order. But Naseem Shah walloped them both and dashed off on a manic run to nowhere. And when his team-mates caught up with him, the adrenalin was still flowing. He ripped the helmet off his head and flung it down and it took a while and lots of hugs to calm him down.
Eight years ago Fareed Ahmed ran through Pakistan with a seven-wicket haul in a U-19 encounter at Gaddafi stadium in Lahore to burst into imagination back home. Today, he tattooed himself in their brains for ever with a double-wicket over, especially that of the superb finisher Asif Ali. Even though they lost, Fareed vs Asif Ali would be giffed, talked, memed, and stay long in memory.
He was just hit for a six and responded with a slower bouncer that Asif top-edged to short fine-leg.
He found himself right in the path of Asif as he pumped his fist and roared. Clearly unimpressed with how close the bowler had come and celebrating right in front of his face, Asif stood and glared. Fareed didn’t budge. He stared back. Asif then shoved him off, and Fareed still kept staring. Asif then raised his bat as if he would strike, triggering memories of Javed Miandad and Dennis Lillee and in some ways this was even more dangerous. Luckily, the Afghan players swooped in to defuse the situation.
Naseem Shah - Remember the name! Two big sixes off the first two balls of Fazalhaq Farooqi and its game over! WOW! Pakistan win by 1 wkt.
Asif Ali hits Fareed Ahmad for a six and then is out on the next ball. Score after 19 overs, PAK: 119/9 | Pakistan need 11 off the last over
Fazalhaq Farooqi clean bowls Khushdil! In the next over, Fareed Ahmad knocks over Haris Rauf! The stadium ERUPTS! "What is going on," says Waqar Younis on air! This is shocking from Pakistan ! PAK 110/8 in 18.2 ovs | Pakistan need 20 runs in 10 balls
WICKET! Farooqi grabs a wicket on the first ball of his over. The slower one does the trick and the batter is caught plumb in front! Crucial wicket at crucial time! PAK: 105/6 after 17.1 ovs | They need 25 off 17
That's Six and Out! Looking to go for another big hit but this time Rashid Khan gets the better off, Shadab Khan! This is turning out to be another cracker of a game in the Asia Cup 2022. If Pakistan win India go out and Pakistan play Sri Lanka in the final. If Afghanistan win India still have a chance of reaching final. Meanwhile, Rashid ends with figures of 4-0-25-2. PAK: 105/5 in 17 overs | Pakistan need 25 runs in 18 balls
He might be struggling but that is not stopping the right-hander from taking on Rashid Khan and he smashes him for a maximum! Pakistan edging towards the three-figure mark
The heat is probably getting to him and Shadab is getting a bit of treatment to his leg.
Six runs from the last two overs and the pressure was building up on the Pakistan batters. Something had to give and Iftikhar Ahmad went for the big hit over mid-wicket! Fareed Ahmad's pace probably did not allow him to connect properly and he is holed out. Ahmad is for 30. PAK: 87/4 after 15.3 overs | REQ: 9.56 | Pakistan need 43 runs in 27 balls
Mujeeb to Shadab Khan and the batter goes for the hoick but cannot connect. But what follows is a hilarious moment!
The slog connects and Nabi is out of the ground! That's gone 97 meters. Score after 12 overs, PAK: 72/3
At the halfway mark, Pakistan are stumbling as Indian hopes flicker. Drinks are on the field now. This match is delicately poised. Afghanistan are certainly not letting down on their intensity. Shadab Khan and Iftikhar Ahmed have a job to do for Pakistan. Afghanistan's bowlers doing a fantastic job, especially spinners! Interesting end ahead. Score after 10 overs, PAK: 52/3
Just as we were saying Rashid Khan strikes and removes the dangerous Mohammad Rizwan. The batter goes for the review and the impact was in front of middle and ball-tracking shows it to be hitting leg-stump. This is a massive moment in the game and the pressure is building on Pakistan. Score after 9 overs, PAK: 48/3
Iftikhar and Rizwan hold fort for Pakistan after they lost 2 early wickets inside the powerplay. There's plenty of energy in the field by Afghanistan but they know Rizwan is the key wicket. Rashid Khan, right-arm leg break, comes into the attack. Score after 6 overs, PAK: 35/2
Zaman wanted a quick run after defending it in front of cover but Najibullah was quicker on his feet and and hit the bulls eye at the bowler's end. Score after 4 overs, PAK: 20/2
Fazalhaq Farooqi traps Babar in front. The ball kept a bit low. Babar Azam falls early for a golden duck. This is the fourth time in a row he has been out early! Pakistan suffer an early blow.
130 should be an easy chase for Pakistan unless the Afghanistan spinners can pull off something special. Rizwan and Babar Azam are at the crease. Rizwan is on strike. Fazalhaq Farooqi will open the attack
Pakistan restrict Afghanistan to 129/6 | A clinical bowling display from Pakistan led by Haris Rauf!
FOUR! An attempted yorker from Naseem Shah, lands as a low full-toss, just outside off, Azmatullah slices with an open face wide of backward point and beats sweeper cover too. 10 balls to go
The Afghanistan fans and especially Najibullah Zadran’s would have gone into a flashback mode when Zadran walloped the legspinner Shadab Khan for a six over square-leg. Almost an action replay of what transpired in the last T20 world cup. A googly, full and on the leg stump line, was swept for a six. Then and now.
But Shadab had a few tricks up the sleeve, aided by memory perhaps. Back then, he had slipped a googly around the off and middle line and had Zadran edging a poke to the keeper.
He went for the same ball again and almost had his man, caught by the keeper Mohammad Rizwan again, but the ball just about missed the edge.
Immediately he began to crank up the pace on his googlies and leg breaks and the troubles continued for Zadran. The pace kept increasing - alternating from 80’s to 90’s. Then off the final delivery of the over came a 111kmph full ball that had Zadran hole out to long-on. Shadab raised his arms up and looked up to the skies. Deja-vu in Dubai.
-Sriram Veera
GONE!!! Getting bad to worse for Afghanistan as their captain has to depart for a golden duck. The Naseem Shah delivery goes straight through him. Not the 100th game Nabi would have envisioned. AFG 91/5 after 14.1 overs
That's a six!!!! First six of the innings. Najibullah poses exactly that kind of a threat. Pakistan need to be wary. Shadab Khan gets hit for his first 6 of the tournament. And that's gone!!!! Najibullah goes for another big one and holes out to Fakhar Zaman. AFG 91/4 after 14 overs
Nawaz strikes again as Janat goes for a big shot which gets the elevation but not the required distance. Fakhar Zaman is underneath and it lands safely in his palm. AFG 79/3 after 11.3 overs
Haris Rauf in to bowl the 11th and is promptly pushed for a boundary by Zadran. Just the restart Afghanistan wanted after the break. Just 1 from the remaining 5 balls though. Pakistan won't complain. AFG 77/2 after 11 overs.
On to the 10th over and Nawaz will bowl this one. 3 runs from the first 4 balls. Another single from trhe fifth and the last ball is slashed by Janat for a 4. AFG 72/2 after 10 overs
Nawaz again to bowl the 8th over as Zadran and Janat struggle for boundaries. Just dots and singles at the moment. In search of a partnership now. At last a boundary by Zadran to end this over. AFG 61/2 after 8 overs.
Mohammad Nawaz to bowl the last over in the powerplay. Afganistan are a little bit under the pressure after losing both openers who had started very well. Just 5 from this over. AFG 48/2 after 6 overs
BOWLED!!!! Nice and straight and Mohammad Hasnain has cleaned up Zazai. What a ball. Hasnain comes back strongly after getting pummelled for a boundary earlier. AFG 43/2 after 4.5 overs
From working as a labourer to get money to buy bat as a school kid to unfurling two dreamy sixes against Pakistan
Two glorious shots and out, that was Afghanistan’s talented batsman Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s stay in the middle.
It was short and fast from Hasnain Mohammad but it went devilishly quicker off Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s bat over long-leg. A gorgeous pull, it was. Next ball was fuller and it was thrown back from deep square-leg boundary, this time it was just a wristy flick. He would soon fall bowled to Haris Rauf, uncharacteristically swiping across the line.
When Rahmanullah Gurbaz was a school kid and in love with cricket, he didn’t find support from his parents. He needed money to buy a cricket bat and other equipments but he knew he wasn’t going to get one from his folks. So he devised a plan. Around then, his parents were building a house and off Rahmanullah went to the contractor and stuck a deal: I will work as a labour at the house, if you give me daily wages. “So I worked for 16-17 days,” he says in a video put up by Afghanistan Cricket Board. He would go to his school in the morning with his father, but slip out and run to the home to work. With that money he bought what he wanted. When his lies were eventually found, his family was very angry but it was also the moment they realised his love for the game.
Its all happening here! Hazratullah Zazai is dropped by Naseem Shah at third man! Then one ball later Haris Rauf gets rid off Gurbaz ! Clean bowled! Score after 4 overs, AFG: 37/1
A fierce pull shot and a crisp flick for 6. Gurbaz starts off in style! Rahmanullah Gurbaz starts off where he finished against Sri Lanka, hits two sixes off Mohammad Hasnain | Afghanistan 20/0 in 2 overs
Hazratullah Zazai and Gurbaz are at the crease. Hazratullah Zazai is on strike. Naseem Shah will open the attack
Afghanistan (Playing XI): Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Ibrahim Zadran, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi(c), Karim Janat, Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Pakistan (Playing XI): Mohammad Rizwan(w), Babar Azam(c), Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Asif Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah
The coin goes up and Pakistan have won the toss and opt to bowl first against Afghanistan.
Pakistan havev one foot in the final with a victory against India in the last match. Meanwhile, after a decent start, Afghanistan have kind of lost their way and face elimination if they don't defeat Pakistan tonight.
Rashid Khan vs Babar Azam will be a key battle tonight with the wily legspinner having dismissed the Pakistan skipper 5 times in T20 matches. Can the Pak captain have an answer tonight?
India's hope hinges on an Afghanistan victory tonight to even have a chance to qualify for Sunday's final. If Pakistan win tonight, it's all over for the Men in Blue as well as the Afghanistan cricket team. The next Super 4 matches will be redundant and Sri Lanka will play Pakistan both on Friday and on Sunday's final. (READ MORE)
Sharjah exists in the past—the state’s ruler has meticulously preserved the remnants of the old port city; Dubai throbs in the future, like the skyscrapers that pierces its skies. Sharjah is laid-back: a dry state, with strict sharia laws and vigour for arts and galleries thanks to the state’s heiress; Dubai is bustling, its ambition matched only by its ceaseless quest to become the perfect globalised city-state in the world. (READ MORE)
Afghanistan Probable XI: Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Ibrahim Zadran, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi(c), Karim Janat, Rashid Khan, Samiullah Shinwari, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Pakistan Probable XI: Babar Azam(c), Mohammad Rizwan(w), Fakhar Zaman, Khushdil Shah, Asif Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah
Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan is the new No. 1 T20I batter in the ICC rankings, ending captain Babar Azam's reign at the top.
“The conditions in Sharjah will be suitable for spinners, but if a batter spends enough time in the middle, there will be a lot of runs on offer in the latter part of the innings with shorter boundaries.” - said Saqlain Mushtaq.
“The win against India has certainly lifted the morale of the team and brought to light the depth of our batting unit,” head coach Saqlain Mushtaq told PCB Digital. “T20 cricket is all about tactful maneuvering and we have the requisite individuals to make this happen at any phase of the innings. Mohammad Nawaz is a utility player and we all knew he had what it takes to deliver in pressure situations. But it is just extraordinary how this youngster went in and took the game away from India in a matter of a few overs.”
Pakistan’s Super-4 campaign in the ACC T20 Asia Cup got off to a sweet start on Sunday when they avenged their Group A loss to India in an equally thrilling contest. The result was an outcome of intelligent and smart tactical decisions, which were translated into winning performances by the batters, who, in the process, highlighted and underscored their batting depth, power and prowess.
Pakistan and Afghanistan have faced each other twice in T20Is and on both occasions, it was the men in green who emerged victorious -- in the years 2013 and 2021.
Pakistan will face Afghanistan in today's match in Sharjah in the Super Four phase of the Asia Cup Cricket Tournament. With a win already in the Super 4, Pakistan come into their encounter against Afghanistan with renewed confidence. Stay tuned for live updates