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Sports

Afghanistan send Pakistan crashing to shock World Cup defeat

  • Afghanistan record first ODI win over Pakistan, clinch one-sided game by 8 wickets
Published October 23, 2023

CHENNAI: Afghanistan put on a superb batting and bowling display to hand Pakistan a stunning eight-wicket defeat in the ICC World Cup 2023 on Monday.

Chasing a 283-run target, Afghanistan were lifted by Ibrahim Zadran (87), Rahmat Shah (77 not out) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (65) as they scored 286-2 in 49 overs.

Pakistan had made 282-7 in their 50 overs with 74 from skipper Babar Azam and 58 from opener Abdullah Shafique but the total did not prove tough enough for a clinical Afghanistan.

Skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi, with a 45-ball 48 not out, hit the winning boundary as Afghanistan improved upon their highest ODI chase of 274 against the UAE in Dubai in 2014.

The win is Afghanistan’s first-ever over Pakistan in eight ODIs and came eight days after their shock victory over defending champions England in Delhi.

“This win tastes nice,” said Shahidi. “The way we chased was very professional and the way we did that will help us going into our other games now.

“We are playing quality cricket. We have always had belief and at the start of the tournament I told my team I wanted to make it a historic one for our country and our people. We did that against England and now today against Pakistan.”

The defeat leaves Pakistan’s World Cup campaign in disarray with three defeats in five games and a formidable South Africa to face at the same venue on Friday.

In contrast, Afghanistan’s campaign is slightly revived with two wins in five matches and struggling Sri Lanka as their next opponents in Pune on Sunday.

“That really hurt us. We got a good total. Our bowling is not up to the mark,” said Pakistan skipper Babar Azam.

The win was greeted with celebratory gunfire, cheers and fireworks across the Afghan capital Kabul for at least 15 minutes after the match concluded.

The victory for Afghanistan comes at a time of tense political and diplomatic relations between the two neighbours.

Pakistan were sloppy in the field as they conceded easy boundaries with openers Zadran and Gurbaz taking their side to 100 in the 16th over.

The pair put on 130 by the 22nd over and it was only a miscued shot from Gurbaz off Shaheen Shah Afridi that brought Pakistan their first wicket.

Gurbaz hit nine boundaries and a six in his 53-ball knock while Zadran scored 10 boundaries off 113 deliveries before handing a catch behind off Hasan Ali with 93 still needed.

Rahmat and Shahidi ensured Afghanistan did not collapse.

Rahmat hit five fours and two sixes in his 84-ball stay at the crease.

Earlier, Babar Azam hit a stylish half-century to guide his team to a fighting total after he won the toss and batted first.

Azam’s 92-ball knock was complemented by Shafique’s 75-ball 58 while Shadab Khan and Iftikhar Ahmed scored a valuable 40 runs apiece.

On a spin-friendly Chidambaram Stadium pitch, Afghanistan fielded four slow bowlers with 18-year-old left-armer Noor Ahmad grabbing a career best 3-49 on his World Cup debut.

Noor shines on debut

Shadab added a rapid 73 runs with Iftikhar for the sixth wicket as Pakistan took 61 off the last five overs, with Shadab falling off the last delivery.

Iftikhar cracked four sixes and two fours while Shadab’s innings featured a six and a four.

Pakistan enjoyed a strong start with a 56-run stand before Azmatullah Omarzai dismissed Imam-ul-Haq for 17 in the 11th over.

Ahmad struck his first blow when he trapped Shafique for 58 in the 23rd over.

Shafique hit two sixes and five fours in his third half-century of the World Cup.

Ahmad then dismissed Pakistan’s top scorer in the World Cup, Mohammad Rizwan, caught sweeping in his next over to leave Pakistan on 120-3.

Azam also fell to Ahmad when the Pakistan skipper played a tennis-like shot to a delivery that was seemingly out of his reach, ending up hitting it straight into the hands of Mohammad Nabi at extra cover.

Azam added 43 with Saud Shakeel who made 25.

Afghan spinner Rashid Khan went wicketless in his 10 overs but conceded just 41 runs, while pacer Naveen-ul-Haq took 2-52.

Comments

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Ash Chak Oct 23, 2023 09:39pm
Babar needs to step down. Horrible captain, great batsman.
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CricDude Oct 23, 2023 09:42pm
Green shirts beaten yet again .. by men in blue ! Way to go Afghanistan, full-on 'jazba'.
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Shaheen My Captain Oct 23, 2023 09:49pm
Kick Azam out now before we start loosing to associate cricket teams. Worst captain ever.
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Fawad Alam Oct 23, 2023 10:08pm
Fun fact: Afghanistan beat Pakistan in Asian games too
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Fawad Alam Oct 23, 2023 10:09pm
Babar Azam : loosing unstoppable
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Fawad Alam Oct 23, 2023 10:09pm
Worst captain in the history of Pakistan cricket.
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KU Oct 23, 2023 10:24pm
There is nothing humiliating about losing, it's a game. The team which played well won. The rumor-mongering and critique were not justified when the captain of our team was not allowed to select the team initially. The current method of selection is by everyone but the captain, so what do you expect?
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zh Oct 23, 2023 10:50pm
Let us face it: the better team won. Pakistan spent almost all its funds on cricket at the cost of other sports (hockey, squash, etc.). The funding policy should change. Funding for cricket should be capped at 30% or less.
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Dexter Oct 24, 2023 12:24pm
Well, Pakistan cricket team's performance reflects the condition of the country, which is pathetic in every possible way. Just like we faded in other sports, like hockey, squash, snooker, cricket is next. Doesn't come as a surprise to me. Everything's politicized and controlled. This nation has lost passion and patriotism for the country, personal interests are kept above everything else. Cricket team is no different.
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