PAK vs AFG Highlights, World Cup 2023: Afghanistan players celebrate after winning the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 match against Pakistan, at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, Monday, Oct. 23, 2023. (PTI)Pakistan vs Afghanistan World Cup 2023 Highlights: With openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran scoring half centuries from up front, Afghanistan scripted a historic eight-wicket win against Pakistan at Chepauk on Monday.
Opting to bat, Pakistan scored 282 for 7. Captain Babar Azam top-scored with 74 off 92 deliveries while opener Abdullah Shafique contributed 58. Shadab Khan and Iftikhar Ahmed made 40 each down the order to take the score past 280. Noor Ahmad was the most successful Afghan bowler with figures of 3/49 while Naveen-ul-Haq chipped in with 2/52. Earlier Pakistan have won the toss and opted to bat first against Afghanistan at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
Our senior cricket reporter Venkata Krishna B will be at the venue for this match. Follow all the action from the Cricket World Cup 2023 on our special World Cup section. You can also find the latest stats, upcoming World Cup fixtures and the points table on the site.
Pakistan captain Babar Azam has won the toss and without any hesitation opted to bat first against in their must-win match against Afghanistan in the ongoing 2023 ODI World Cup at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
Pakistan have made once change from thwir last match as vice-captain Shadab Khan returns in the playing XI. Meanewhile, Afghanistan have added another spinner in Noor Ahmad.
Scroll down for Pakistan vs Afghanistan highlights
Pakistan
282/7 (50.0)Afghanistan
286/2 (49.0)Afghanistan beat Pakistan by 8 wickets
(From left): Mural of Pakistan team on victory lap at MA Chidambaram Stadium; Pakistan team in practice before match against Afghanistan. (Express Photo/PTI)
Against Australia, Pakistan captain Babar Azam looked out of ideas and his shoulders were dropping, says Intikhab Alam.
Pakistan's captain Babar Azam inspects the pitch during a practice session ahead of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup match between Afghanistan and Pakistan in Chennai, India. (AP)
Babar Azam: "We had a good total, but in bowling, we were not up to the mark because we weren't taking wickets in the middle overs. In a World Cup, if you are not good even in one department, you lose. We started well while bowling, but we couldn't take wickets. All credit to Afghanistan. We are not playing good cricket, [especially] in bowling and fielding. The pitch was helping the spinners even in the second innings. There was no pressure on their batsmen."
Hashmatullah Shahidi: This win tastes nice. The way we chased was very professional. Looking forward for the other games. The way we chased today, we'll do it again. We have been playing quality cricket, the belief was there when we played the Asia Cup as well. First was England, today Pakistan, looking forward to the other games. We'll try to play positive cricket and do a lot for out country. The spin bowling deprogramming was very good. Noor showed his talent. Gurbaz and Ibrahim gave the momentum and confidence. The game was in our hand from the beginning till the end.
Mohammad Nabi: "Big moment for the whole of Afghanistan. We have played eight games against Pakistan, and won in a big event. It's a lovely moment today. We beat England as well, and now Pakistan. The team is confident now. [Earlier] in the last moments, we used to lose the game [to Pakistan]. We thought it was the same wicket like against New Zealand, but it was totally changed. Noor bowled brilliantly, in the good areas. A lot of close games, and this is a fantastic feeling. We shouldn't have lost against Bangladesh. But now half the tournament is gone. We gave a lap of honour at the ground, and hopefully in Pune also they will support us."
Ibrahim Zadran: I wanted to go out there (during the run chase) with a positive mind and positive intent, and I did it. We (Gurbaz and himself) have played a lot of cricket with each other, we have good communication while running between the wickets, right from the Under 16 days. The way Gurbaz supported me (in that opening partnershijp) - that helped me and we got the momentum in our favour. I am feeling great for myself and my country.
Hashmatullah Shahidi, the Afghan skipper, whips Shaheen Afridi aside to wrap things up in style. Afghanistan have defeated Pakistan for the first time in a World Cup, and how!
The bowlers had set them up nicely but it was the opening stand between Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran that put them in a good position to chase 283 down. And then, captain Hashmatullah Shahidi and Rahmat Shah finished it in Chennai.
Hasan Ali goes with a length ball outside the off stump and Rahmat Shah trumps down the wicket and hits him for a straight six down the ground. Seven come off the over and Afghanistan are a boundary away from the win.
Shaheen Shah Afridi looks all out of options as Rahmat Shah's blade takes a thick edge and runs down the short third boundary for four. Afghanistan are powering their way to a second big win at this World Cup and you just can't take your eyes off them.
Usama Mir has the right to go, 'What have I done wrong here?'
He deceives Shahidi, who looks to come down the wicket and edges the ball but it takes off the keeper's glove and runs down the short third boundary for four. 11 runs come off the over and that's put the Afghans in the firm seat here in Chepauk.
250 up for Afghanistan.
Shaheen Shah Afridi with a good one here in the death overs. Just the five runs off it. But Afghanistan still have the equation in their favor. A run a ball from here with 30 runs needed off the last 30 balls.
Jeez, that's a poor over from Haris Rauf. No boundaries conceded but he concedes a couple of extras at a stage where Pakistan can't afford to offer any. One of the two induces a caught behind appeal from Rizwan. Babar goes for a review once again as the umpire gives nothing. Ultraedge confirms it wasn't worth it as the ball brushed off the pads.
"Catch it," shouts Shadab Khan as Hashmatullah Shahidi reverse sweeps one close to the fielder at point but it falls safe and brings him four runs. Good haul that from the Afghan batters, who also run three doubles from the over.
Right, this will go all the way down the wire but Afghanistan wouldn't want to leave it for too late. They've had a late twist in the tale in this format not that long ago - Asia Cup group stage game against Sri Lanka. Usama Mir gives away just the four runs off his seventh over. 54 runs needed off 48 deliveries.
Rahmat Shah nudges one in front of square on the off side and gets to his fifty. A crucial knock this despite the fact that the two openers had put Afghanistan in a firm position for a win.
STAT ALERT: This is the first time three Afghanistan batters have scored a fifty in a World Cup match.
Shaheen Shah Afridi comes round the wicket and angles one in onto Rahmat Shah's pads. A loud lbw appeal but the umpire ain't interested. After some consultation with the bowler and the keeper, Babar goes upstairs. Not a successful one as it's going down leg. Six runs from the over.
Haris Rauf back in the attack, in what should be his final spell of the night. Shah and Shahidi negotiate four runs on his return. 68 needed off the last 66 deliveries.
Shadab Khan tosses the ball up and Rahmat Shah plants his front foot out to launch the ball straight down the ground for six. What a shot that to get the juices going!
Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi take the attack to Shadab Khan. A boundary each for the two and Afghanistan bring their 200 up. The slowest fifty so far in the game and they can't afford another phase as this.
Maiden over from Hasan Ali and the pressure mounts further on Afghanistan. "Hashmatullah will have to play a captain's knock from the strike rate perspective as well."
And just like that, the run rate is bound to take the hit. Hashmatullah Shahidi, whose strike rate is less than 70, is known to take his time before going for boundaries. Can Pakistan force their way back into the game?
Hasan Ali strikes!
Just as we said Pakistan need one, they have sent the danger man back in the hut. Ibrahim Zadran teased with one outside the off stump. A thick edge and Rizwan makes no mistake.
An economical over from Hasan Ali, just the one run off it. Pakistan however need wickets at this stage to stand any chance in their defence of 283. The top three have been the heartbeat of this Afghanistan batting lineup and have scored the major chunk of their ODI runs. A couple of wickets and this may open up nicely.
Right then, those consecutive boundaries were enough for Babar Azam to turn elsewhere. But even Iftikhar Ahmed can't control the flow of runs as Rahmat Shah pockets another boundary behind square on the off side.
Hasan Ali replaces Haris Rauf. Pakistan's decision to bat first doesn't look as good as it would have at the toss with no dew at the MA Chidambaram Stadium so far.
Back to back boundaries Rahmat Shah off Usama Mir. Afghanistan's highest run scorer in the ODIs latches on the short length and creams it left of backward point before lofting it over mid wicket for four. 171/1 after 29 overs.
Haris Rauf from the other end, keeps amping up the pace. His last delivery is 148/3 clicks, jeez! It has not been daunting at all though for the Afghans, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz having put the Pakistan speedster under the pump in his opening spell. 161/1 after 28 overs.
Usama Mir replaces Shadab Khan. Has a couple of good moments outside the off stump as he deceives Zadran on the flight but it whiskers past the outside edge. Just as the over is done, he goes down with a cramp once again. It's pulsating out there in Chepauk. 158/1 after 27 overs.
Haris Rauf replaces Shaheen Afridi to follow up on a nightmarish first spell that saw him spill 33 runs off four overs. Starts off well, just the four runs come off that over.
Afghanistan bring their 150. Shadab Khan with another over and there are still one too many short balls on offer for the Afghan batters. At halfway stage, the score reads 152/1.
Shaheen Shah Afridi continues from the other end. Even when they are not getting the boundaries, Afghanistan have easy pickings to nab and Pakistan are running out of ways to defend 283. Seven runs negotiated from that over. 148/1 after 24 overs.
The breathless deception of Bishan Singh Bedi began with him adjusting his turban, the colour getting brighter with the years and the wickets. He would roll the kada on his right hand upwards, as though it would disrupt his rhythm. He would toss the ball from one hand to the other, and would embark on his six-step diagonal run-up, with all the sweet time in the world, without fuss or haste, as though he floated to the crease. The movements were relaxed and graceful, leisurely and hypnotic. From the deep edge of the crease, he released the ball like a loose-limbed yogic, every cell choreographing and culminating in that action of gods. It was later that he developed the whiskey waistline. The pivot was a pirouette, the follow-through is so smooth you wonder whether he had one at all.
Read Sandip G's beautiful tribute to the late Indian captain.
Despite the fall of wicket, Zadran refuses to change gears. A crunching back foot punch drive for four off Shadab Khan. No turn, too short and wide outside the off stump. 141/1 after 23 overs.
Shaheen Shah Afridi strikes and Pakistan finally have a wicket.
Gurbaz looking to go big again but this time miscues the short ball to Usama Mir at short third, who takes a good catch. Much more in contrast with Pakistan's entire eve so far. 135/1 after 22 overs.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz steps out and launches one into the orbit. This one's gone a few rows back over long off and Iftikhar has to hurt his neck tracking it from after the run up. 128/0 after 20 overs.
Shadab Khan back into the attack, offers too much room to Ibrahim Zadran, who latches onto it with a cut shot in front of square on the on side. Hasan Ali however, could have done better at sweeper cover. Hello fielding, Pakistan's old enemy at world tournaments. 120/0 after 19 overs.
Wow here's a stat for you. This is the first time both Afghan openers scored 50+ in the same innings in a World Cup match. Aghanistan are cruising their way to 283, and Pakistan seem to be running out of answers. 113/0 after 18 overs.
And now, it's Gurbaz who gets to his fifty. For him, a second half century in this ODI World Cup. We all remember what happened in the last game he did so. He sure does enjoy playing against Pakistan - the team he has his highest ODI score against. Coincidentally, he's also the only keeper batter to have scored a 150 against the men in green in 50-overs cricket.
What a partnership this is turning out to be for Afghanistan. Just when Gurbaz looks to be taking the spotlight, out comes another neatly manufactured shot from Zadran through covers for four. He gets his first World Cup fifty. This one off Usama Mir. Both of them, starring in this exquisite start in Chepauk.
Gurbaz and Afghanistan continue the onslaught. Haris Rauf isn't backing away from bowling quick and the flamboyant opener isn't giving in either. A quick, back of a length delivery that is pulled with disdain behind square on the on side for four. 89/0 after 14 overs.
Spin has been introduced in the game for the first time in the game. Usama Mir got the nod first. it was not an ideal start for him as he sprinkled in a few loose deliveries which the batters punished for boundaries. The Afghan train is continuing to roll on here. Pakistan is in desperate need of a wicket here as things are going wrong for them.The longer this partnership goes on the more tensed the Pakistan dressing room will get. It is quiet evident to see that Afghanistan has more calmly than Pakistan in this second innings.
Rauf has started with a 17-run over here. He bowled a few short ones which Gurbaz played well. It is turning bad for Pakistan pretty quickly. They would have banked to pick up early wickets which did not happen. Now this is a proper challenge for Pakistan in how they deal with it. Tempers are rising here Babar is bringing in the bowling changes which are not working either. Their bowling lengths have been really poor in the first few overs and the batting has been exceptional as well.
There have been plenty of misfields from Pakistan early in the piece. Hasan Ali is bowling a few bumpers which are troubling the batters. Zadran tried to pull the ball but he missed it however, for Pakistan fielders there was something on it and everyone started to appeal and was given out however, Zadran took the review and on ultraedge it showed nothing. This is a quite brilliant start to the run chase by the Afghans here. If they can keep their heads against spinners this chase is pretty doable for the Afghan players.
Pakistan has started sloppily here. They are giving away a few easy runs. The batters have not been put under any pressure so far in this game. They are looking a bit flat Pakistan on the field. They did not start well with the ball in the last game and almost a similar thing is happening today. Hasan Ali who started the tournament well is struggling to bowl when the wicket is not having anything for seamers. He needs to mix in a few slower ones today or Babar Azam might consider taking him out of the attack soon. Pakistan do have option of two leggies and Iftikhar who can bowl a bit of off-spin in spin department.
We are underway. Shaheen Shah Afridi started the proceedings for Pakistan he did not get much of a swing in that first over. However, he tried to pitch the ball to get something. The lengths were right he did not get his lines right as drifted one down the legside and one outside the off-stump. Pakistan has to be a bit careful here looking for swing they may end up giving one too many boundaries which may let Afghanistan off the hook of this new ball. Though it is a turning wicket Pakistan's strength is Pakistan's pace and they are the ones who need to create trouble.
Who will call me every then and now in the evening and will request me to sing a Louis Armstrong song? Who will give me compliments about my singing? Who will pull my leg about some of my random dismissals during my playing day?
I am heartbroken. I have lost a part of my heart today. I can’t express in words how I am feeling. I have lost a friend, a younger brother. Last year, around the same time, we met at the Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara. He forced me to sing Louis Armstrong’s songs, held my hand, we smiled, we cried. Those were some of the most beautiful few hours of my life. I can still recall his smiling face, waving us goodbye once he crossed the border. (Read more)
We have to be confident, it feels nice to be helping the team. We knew that the wicket will turn, they've some world-class spinners, we wanted to settle early and then kick on. Partnerships play a key role and we got a few good partnerships. We were looking for runs, we've got a good total to defend, we will try to bowl and field well.
Naveen bowled a decent final over restricting Pakistan from getting to that 300 mark. The way Iftikhar and Shadab were batting in those final overs it pretty much looked possible. Iftikhar was smoking the ball all around the park with his brute force. It is a good batting performance by Pakistan given how the wicket has played today. Afghanistan will feel once again bittersweet. They had the game in control in the middle overs but as we got to the final overs the bowlers started to leak runs. At one stage it looked like they were going to choke the Pakistan lineup but credit to for Babar the way he played in those middle overs. It will be an uphill task for Afghanistan to chase these runs but Pakistan's spin department has been short on confidence so let us see how things go stay with us for all the updates.
Shadab and Iftikhar have now put on a 50-run stand at a brisk pace. Afghanistan has lost their way here. This is quite a change in momentum in the last 30 minutes or so. Pakistan might end up scoring near the 290 mark which is hard to see how Afghanistan can get unless their openers play innings of their lifetimes. Naveen has been taken apart today to all parts of the ground. He is their designated death bowler with him going for runs the Afghan skipper doesn't have many options. Excellent innings from Shadab Pakistan would be hoping he would take the confidence to his bowling as well.
Venkata Krishna B: There is stunned silence at Chepauk as Babar Azam departs. On what has been a challenging surface to bat on, Babar stood out from the rest. He offered the stability that Pakistan badly sought and departs as he was just beginning to cut loose.
Iftikhar is cutting loose now. There are not many hard hitters in a modern game similar to Iftikhar. He played tennis and shot to one of Naveen's slower ones which ended up in the top tier of the stadium. Afghanistan needs to be a bit careful now because runs have started to leak. Even Shadab Khan was someone who could get some quick runs. We have seen what he did against South Africa last year in Sydney. If they can get 280 or so it will be a herculean task for Afghanistan to chase down this total.
Pace has been brought back into the attack. Naveen is a good exponent of slower balls and also has an excellent yorker. However, he will be the easier one to target on this surface because he has that extra pace. The surface has gone significantly bad from the way it started. There is dust coming out of some parts of the wicket. Batting will get more difficult in the second innings of that. If there will be now dew though the Afghanistan captain was confident about chasing 250 the way the pitch is behaving it might be a bit far-fetched. Also, Pakistan has gun-pace bowling which is hard to deal with.
Just as Babar was looking dangerous he lost his wicket. A short delivery from Noor Babar tried to smash the ball on the off-side however, was caught by a cover fielder. Massive wicket for Afghanistan during an important stage of the game and Babar Azam was just looking to change gears. Now Iftikhar has walked into the middle and he has the stage set for him to take on the bowling. Shadab at the other end too is set. What a World Cup debut Noor had he looked threatening through his spell until that final over when Babar was looking in the mood but he too perished now.
Former India captain and country’s greatest ever left-arm spinner Bishan Singh Bedi passed away on Monday. Bedi played 67 Tests for India and took 266 wickets with 14 five wicket hauls and one 10-wicket haul.
He was 77 years old and was laid low by a prolonged illness. He is survived by his wife Anju, son Angad and daughter Neha. (Read more)
Saud Shakeel departs. Mohammed Nabi picks up the wicket. Shakeel tried to whip the ball on the leg-side but could not reach the pitch of the ball and gets the leading edge and the ball loops in the air for mid-wicket Rashid Khan to take a simple catch. just as the partnership was looking ominous the Afghans made a comeback into the game. And Shadab Khan walks into the middle which is a bit of a surprise given it is Iftikhar who comes into bat at this stage of the innings. But Shadab has a reputation for being a good player of spin and strike rotation.
The Pakistan run rate has continued to dip as each over is passing which Pakistan cannot allow. They still have wickets in hand and they might consider at least one of these batters to play through and the other one take chances according to the match-ups available starting now. The game has hit this middle-over phase where it is going nowhere. Neither is Afghanistan who arguably are ahead in this game not making any move with the attacking field to pick wickets nor are Pakistan batters trying anything fancy. This might be not a 300 game folks it is one of those 250 slow burners. Afghanistan too would be happy with that sort of score and pitch because predominantly they struggle to face pace than spin and Pakistan has to bowl more overs spin given the surface.
What can Pakistan defend here? The question has been raised because the scoreboard has gone static for a while now. The Pakistan batters are now struggling with strike rotation too and it will be the same for Afghans if there is no dew. The Afghan skipper said 250 is chasable at the toss which seems a bit of an overstatement the way things are panning out now. The Afghan wrist spinners are getting through their overs quickly. There is significant body language change from the Afghan players as well. The last 40-45 minutes have definitely belonged to Afghanistan here. Pakistan need to see through this period and wait for bowlers like Mujeeb or Nabi who have been not as threatening as these wrist spinners.
Once again it is the sweep shot which does the damage this time it is Rizwan. The Pakistan keeper tried to be proactive however, eventually perished he swept the ball and got the top edge and the ball went nowhere. It looped up in the air for fine leg to take a simple catch. The massive wicket Rizwan is one of the key batters in that lineup. Saud Shakeel has walked into the middle and is a good player of spin. A top-class spell from Noor as expected is exploiting plenty out of this surface. Now the pitch has started to misbehave.