Afghanistan vs Pakistan HIGHLIGHTS, T20 World Cup 2021: Asif Ali hits four sixes in 19th over, PAK beats AFG for third win
AFG vs PAK HIGHLIGHTS, T20 World Cup 2021: Get the score updates, highlights of the T20 WC Super 12 match between Afghanistan and Pakistan from Dubai International Stadium.
Published : Oct 29, 2021 16:58 IST
Hello and welcome to Sportstar 's coverage of T20 World Cup 2021 match between Afghanistan and Pakistan from Dubai.
Babar Azam: We started well with the bowl, got a lot of wickets like we planned. Maybe gave away 10-15 runs too many at the end. With the bat, we couldn't capitalise the powerplay as we wanted to. At the end, with Malik and Asif Ali, we knew they could do the job. He (Asif Ali) is known for this and I was confident pre-tournament itself that he would deliver when needed. We planned our strategies well with the ball, and also ensured that he kept the uneven boundary dimensions in mind while bowling. Spinners were getting some grip from the track, Afghanistan have quality bowlers too and I was trying to take it as deep as possible. Unfortunately I couldn't finish things off but credit to Asif Ali.
Asif Ali, Player of the Match: I would like to congratulate Pakistani and all our fans. I was confident of finishing it off from this end and that's what I told Shoaib Malik before he got out. I look at the situation of the match, and I target the bowlers accordingly. I was talking to Shoaib when I walked in to bat and I told him that I was confident enough of getting 20-25 in one over against Karim Janat, which I did.
Pakistan's UAE streak remains intact! Five years and 14 T20Is on and no team has managed to dislodged it from crossing the finish line. Afghanistan came close and they began with a bold move by electing to bat first. However, the first half of its innings never had the same grit as the top-order crumbled in a haste. Nabi and Naib's partnership propelled it to a decent total and despite a watchful start from Pakistan, Afghanistan's bowling made an even match out of it. Mujeeb and Rashid Khan operating in either half of the Pakistan innings kept Babar's men at bay and the nerves were on display until the 19th over where an icy cool Asif Ali went hammer and tongs against Janat Ali. Pakistan is three in three and all but through to the semifinals! What a night in Dubai!
PAK 148/5 in 19 overs: Janat to Asif. SIX! Smoked over long-off first ball! What a shot this is from Asif, that's why he wanted the strike. A dot to follow as Janat hits the wide blockhole. Janat pushes it short next and Asif whacks it over mid-wicket for another SIX! Is that the game, right there? Another dot with a yorker. Asif follows up with another SIX! Goodness me, the power of his blade. Stands deep in his crease and swings it straight over the bowler for a beautiful maximum. Pakistan another six away! BAAAAANG! Asif Ali, what a man! Janat is whipped over long-off for another SIX and Pakistan cruises home by five wickets and an over to spare.
24 needed off 12.
PAK 124/5 in 18 overs: Naveen to Malik! OUT! Back-to-back beauties and he gets his man! Malik is absolutely flummoxed by the slower-ball pearler from Naveen. He rolls in a Bumrah-like inward slower-one and Malik has to defend his pads. Naveen rolls it wide outside off-stump next up and Malik has a tame push at it. The ball clips the edge and Shahzad takes the catch. What a moment! Shadab is the new man. Naveen rolls in the off-cutter and Shadab tucks it to the on-side. He runs down halfway but Asif Ali turns him down, he certainly wants the strike for the next over. Shoaib Malik c †Mohammad Shahzad b Naveen-ul-Haq 19 (15b 1x4 1x6)
Right, 26 needed from three! Naveen's up with the ball.
PAK 122/4 in 17 overs: Rashid goes length and Malik pummels him for a massive SIX over long-on! Pakistan's perennial finisher still getting the job done. Babar on strike. A leading edge and dropped by Naveen at point! Rashid gets the leg-break to pick the edge and Naveen slips it through his hands as he dives. He cannot believe it. Malik gets a single and Babar's back on strike for the last ball. BOWLED HIM!!! Rashid Khan, you beauty! Tosses it outside off and gets some vicious turn inward. Babar misses the slog and the balls zips into smash the leg-stump. This game is alive and how! B abar Azam b Rashid Khan 51 (47b 4x4)
Rashid Khan to bowl out!
PAK 110/3 in 16 overs: Fifty for Babar! He plays his customary role with ease and gets to another half-century. What a batter he's turning out to be in the format. Malik finds the fence with a much-needed boundary. Janat fends short outside off and Malik creams it past point for FOUR in a flash. PAK needs 38 in 24 balls.
Janat is back
PAK 101/3 in 15 overs: Rashid to Hafeez. OUT! Taken at long-on! Attempts the slog and gets a top-edge on it. Gulbadin sets up easily underneath the ball and takes an excellent catch. The crowd is in delirium! Malik joins Babar. He gets off the mark with a single to mid-wicket. Mohammad Hafeez c Gulbadin Naib b Rashid Khan 10 (10b 1x4)
PAK 97/2 in 14 overs: Babar attempts to drill Nabi down the ground for four but falters with the timing and gets two runs. Seven runs come off it and well the game hangs in the balance even as Pakistan needs 51 in 36 balls.
PAK 89/2 in 13 overs: The Rashid-Babar battle continues! Another wrong'un thuds Babar's pads and slides down leg. A couple of words exchanged between the PAK skipper and Rashid at the non-striker's. Babar aims to take control over the tussle with a rash heave to mid-wicket but finds two runs instead. Rashid squares him up with a beautiful leg-break! Goodness me, that nearly carries to Nabi at first-slip. But instead trickles past him and to the boundary. Agonising for Rashid after weaving his magic throughout the over.
PAK 81/2 in 12 overs: Nabi to Fakhar. OUT! And there's another review. This time not for Pakistan's avail as three reds light up on the screen. Nabi absolutely wafts this one and Zaman completely misreads the pace on the ball. He misses the cross-batted heave and the ball crashes into the stumps. Hafeez in at 4. He gets off the mark with a cheeky late cut to the boundary down third as Nabi offers a hint of width.
Fakhar Zaman lbw b Mohammad Nabi 30 (25b 2x4 1x6)
PAK 75/1 in 11 overs: Rashid to Babar. OUT! The umpire raises his finger! Will Babar opt for a review? Yes, he does. WICKETS MISSING on replay! The wrong'un spins a bit too much and plenty of 'ooohs' in the Afghan huddle. Babar had a long chat with Fakhar before going up for it and it turns out to be a fine review.
Rashid Khan is here, here we go!
PAK 72/1 in 10 overs: No Rashid yet as Janat walks in to bowl his second. Maybe Nabi is keeping him in the bank, to be used when a new batsman walks in; the wrong'un can inflict some serious damage against a right-hander. Meanwhile, Babar takes full advantage of a short ball to guide it to the fence.
PAK 62/1 in 9 overs: Babar breaks the shackles with a couple of boundaries. Naveen overpitches and Babar flakes it behind point for FOUR and follows up with another behind short third.
PAK needs 99 runs from 72 balls.
PAK 49/1 in 8 overs: Excellent start from Janat as he gives no width to both Babar and Fakhar. Pakistan is content by ticking the board frequently with singles.
Janat into the attack
PAK 44/1 in 7 overs: What a spell this has been from Mujeeb. He builds the early pressure on Pakistan by taking away four overs at the expense of just 14 runs! Afghans would have loved a couple of more wickets but this is an intriguing phase that's being built here.
Mujeeb to bowl out
PAK 38/1 in 6 overs: Naveen fires the ball in the block-hole and misses his mark later with a loose delivery onto Fakhar's pads. Fakhar whips him behind fine leg to fetch FOUR runs and Pakistan's rather sedate Powerplay comes to an end.
Naveen-ul-Haq into the attack
PAK 31/1 in 5 overs: Mujeeb keeps it tight onto the stumps. Fakhar and Babar play him out with poise and gets two singles.
PAK 29/1 in 4 overs: Zaman delight! Nabi wafts one in and Fakhar picks the bones out of it with a dazzling slog over long-on for a mighty SIX! Pakistan continues to maintain just the right tempo in the chase, a wicket will hardly shake them given the form they are in.
PAK 15/1 in 3 overs: Mujeeb to Rizwan. OUT! In the air and GONE! Rizwan picks the square leg fielder. Short from Mujeeb and Rizwan attempts to tuck him over the fence for a biggie. The skiddy pace springs a tad up onto the blade and flusters his timing. Mohammad Rizwan c Naveen-ul-Haq b Mujeeb Ur Rahman 8 (10b 1x4)
PAK 11/0 in 2 overs: Babar and Rizwan rotate strike with singles throughout the over as Nabi attacks the stumps and takes the ball away from the batters from around the wicket. He errs by bowling short off the last ball and Rizwan easily sweeps him behind square for FOUR.
Mohammad Nabi from the opposite end
PAK 3/0 in 1 over: Mujeeb keeps the bowl short onto Rizwan and Babar. They take a watchful approach first up and easily churn out three singles off the back-foot.
Mujeeb up with the new ball.
Back for the chase! Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam walk out for Pakistan! Licking my lips on the prospect of watching a Babar, Rizwan clash against Rashid and Mujeeb!
AFG 147/6 in 20 overs: A stellar recovery for Afghanistan.
Shaheen's inch-perfect finish notwithstanding Nabi and Gulbadin have lifted the Afghan spirits with a massive partnership.
From 76/6 in 13 overs,
Afghanistan riding on Nabi and Naib's excellent partnership hands Pakistan a tricky chase at the Ring of Fire.
Stay tuned for the chase! It's going to be lit.
AFG 140/6 in 19 overs: Afghanistan on a roll! Nabi gets another outside edge off the short ball from Rauf and finds the boundary. Rauf bumps another one in and Nabi pumps it over mid-wicket for another FOUR! He gets a single. Rauf strays to the pads and this time Naib flicks it behind square for another FOUR to finish. 36 runs from the last two overs!
AFG 125/6 in 18 overs: What an over for Afghanistan! Naib shreds Ali through the mid-wicket region with a cracking six and follows up with two exquisite boundaries. Ali is tormented further as he dishes in a no-ball to make matters worse. 19 runs come off the over!
Hasan Ali replaces Shaheen.
AFG 104/6 in 17 overs: Rauf's skiddy pace continues to trouble the batters. Nabi and Naib manage just three singles from it.
AFG 101/6 in 16 overs: Shaheen strays to the pads and Naib whips it beautifully behind square for FOUR. 100 up for Afghanistan and Nabi's level-headed game eventually takes them to three-figures. Anywhere between 40 to 60 would be luxury.
Shaheen returns
AFG 93/6 in 15 overs: Another flourishing drive from Nabi as he picks the slower ball from Ali early. He lofts it with ease over cover for FOUR and Afghanistan slowly squeezes towards 100.
Hasan replaces Shadab
AFG 86/6 in 14 overs: Lucky edge for Nabi as it zips off the blade to the boundary past third. Rauf continues to mix up his lengths and goes full outside off. Nabi drills it over cover with an excellent lofted drive for FOUR.
AFG 76/6 in 13 overs: Shadab to Najibullah. OUT! A corker from Shadab! This is an excellent reply from the leggie after Najib wallops him for a cracking SIX over mid-wicket. Shadab bravely rolls in a sharp googly that bites the outside-edge and Rizwan does the rest with a sharp reflex. Najibullah Zadran c †Mohammad Rizwan b Shadab Khan 22 (21b 3x4 1x6)
Boom Boom in the house!
AFG 67/5 in 12 overs: A maiden for Hasan! He keeps Najib pinned to the crease with some sharp bowls angling in towards the off-stump. Najib attempts to beat the point fielder on a couple of occasions but fails to sneak past.
Hasan Ali is back
AFG 67/5 in 11 overs: The pacers knock off the fight first-up and the spinners sneak in quick overs to mount the pressure on the batters. Pakistan's simple and effective philosophy has been working well so far and Shadab continues to deliver. Just the two runs from it as Nabi ad Najib opt to bat him out.
AFG 65/5 in 10 overs: Imad to Janat. OUT! Holes out to the deep! Another floater and Janat goes the slog sweep. There's hardly any timing on that one and the ball sails just as much to reach the deep mid-wicket fielder. Nabi in at 7. No freebies whatsoever as Imad finishes his quota on a high. Karim Janat c Fakhar Zaman b Imad Wasim 15 (17b 1x4 1x6) AFG 64/4 in 9 overs: Deft play from Najibullah! Shadab attacks his pads and plays a fine reverse-sweep to good effect behind point for FOUR. He follows up with a conventional sweep and fetches another boundary to finish the over.
AFG 55/4 in 8 overs: Back-to-back tight overs for Pakistan. Imad cuts out the room for both batters who are forced to pierce the gaps for singles.
AFG 51/4 in 7 overs: Shadab keeps a flat trajectory and pins the batters with a tight line around the wicket. The fifty comes up for Afghanistan albeit at a heavy price. Najib and Janat have a massive job on their shoulders.
Shadab Khan into the attack
AFG 49/4 in 6 overs: Hasan to Rahmanullah. OUT! There goes another! This is irresponsible batting for Gurbaz as he attempts to intimidate the bowler with aggression from the onset. He premeditates the pull against Ali's bumper that gets some extra bounce on it. The ball clips the top-edge and lobs straight up and Babar has another easy grab at mid-on. Najib is in at 6 and he finishes the Powerplay with a nonchalant flick for FOUR. Rahmanullah Gurbaz c Babar Azam b Hasan Ali 10 (7b, 1x6)
Hasan Ali with the ball.
AFG 39/3 in 5 overs: Rauf to Afghan. OUT! Straight back to the bowler! Foxes the batter with a slower one and Afghan tosses a dolly for Rauf. Karim Janat in at 5. Rauf greets him with a 153kph yorker! Janat does well to drill it out before smoking a wide bouncer over third for SIX! Uses the extra pace of the bowler and opens his account in some style. Asghar Afghan c & b Haris Rauf 10 (7b 1x4 1x6)
Haris Rauf into the attack.
AFG 30/2 in 4 overs: Counter-attack in style! Imad wafts one in and Gurbaz launches a massive SIX over mid-wicket. Everything perfect about that sight. He sets himself low in the crease and wallops its handsomely into the distance. A mix-up to follow. Afghan decides against a quick single pretty late and Gurbaz is in trouble at the non-striker's. There's lot of time for Rizwan and Imad to connect to dislodge the stumps but he makes a meal of it. Babar is livid. Afghan smokes another SIX, wow! He steps down and slogs it gorgeously over cow-corner for another maximum.
AFG 13/2 in 3 overs: Shaheen to Shahzad. OUT! Slaps straight to mid-on! Babar is pumped. Shahzad's dancing shoes against Shaheen's pace has worn off. He fails to power his shot against the extra pace off the full and Babar does the rest inside the circle. A poor start for Afghanistan after putting itself in on a tacky wicket.
AFG 8/1 in 2 overs: Imad to Zazai. OUT! Top-edge and Rauf takes a fine catch at short third! Imad floats it in and Zazai attempts for a rash heave across the line. The ball clips the top-edge and goes straight behind the keeper. Rauf has some job to do as he rallies behind and holds onto the ball that dips sharply. Hazratullah Zazai c Haris Rauf b Imad Wasim 0 (5b)
Imad from the opposite end
AFG 5/0 in 1 over: Three loud shouts from Shaheen in the over! And the umpire denies him each time. Swinging in and away miles away from the stumps and the left-armer is getting a bit carried away here. Babar goes up for a review and loses it! That's poor stuff from Pakistan. Shaheen swings the ball into Zazai who keeps a guard outside the leg-stump. The ball crashes into the pads visibly down leg but Shaheen is adamant about a review and squanders it.
Afghanistan openers Mohammad Shahzad and Hazratullah Zazai at the middle. Shaheen Afridi with the new ball. Deafening noise from the crowd!
Game time in the Ring of Fire!
We jump back to Dubai - the teams have walked out for the national anthems.
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Nabi terms the wicket that seemed to be a belter as a dry track. And that's the supposed motive behind a rare 'opt to bat first' decision. Will it backfire against a deadly bowling attack?
Meanwhile in Sharjah, Bangladesh needs 13 runs in the final over against Windies!
Pakistan (Playing XI): Mohammad Rizwan(w), Babar Azam(c), Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi
Afghanistan (Playing XI): Hazratullah Zazai, Mohammad Shahzad(w), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi(c), Asghar Afghan, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Karim Janat, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman
TOSS: Afghanistan wins toss, opts to bat first - that's quite a bold move there! Both teamsunchanged. Babar Azam - The mood in the camp is good, we're in great spirits. It's a team game and I'm lucky to have a good set-up, can't write off any team, they have good spinners. We're also playing an unchanged team. Mohammad Nabi - We will bat first. It looks dry on the top, could be good for batting first, look to put a decent total on the board and then defend it. We are playing the same team. |
Toss time!
6:52PM IST: It's a charged up atmosphere in Dubai. The all-important toss hots up with a enticing contest on the cards. Babar and Rizwan vs Rashid and Mujeeb is hopefully going to be worth the wait!
Toss at Dubai in T20 WC so far: Teams winning the toss and chasing have won all four contests so far.
6:35PM IST: ' Not far away from the action as both teams get into a huddle. Very animated chat from Pak skipper Babar Azam. Afghanistan huddle lasts longer.. Both teams have disbanded and warmups have begun' - our correspondent Ayan says from a stadium that's set to be stacked tonight.
6:31PM IST: Here's what we heard from both camps ahead of the clash
"They (Afghanistan) have a wonderful bowling attack, especially their spinners. And when they go to bat, they play the way they feel it, what's in their heart, what they think. They just play fearless cricket. And I think that kind of a team can be dangerous." - Saqlain Mushtaq "To be honest, we don't have the mindset of focussing on hitting sixes. We just have to adjust ourselves to the wicket as well. As long as you go there and adjust there, it becomes easier for you, especially on these pitches. That's the kind of mindset all the batsmen have... It's not about going hard at every ball." - Rashid Khan.
6:28PM IST: Can Afghanistan counter the Shaheen threat tonight?
6:15PM IST: Ayan adds from the venue: Expecting close to 16,000 fans for tonight's match— nearly the same as the India - Pakistan match . And there are plenty more who are expected to keep the decibel levels up outside the venue.
5:39PM IST: Our correspondent Ayan Acharya points out from the ground: " Pitch looks a belter. Shorter boundaries on one side — 58 m and 64 m. Afghanistan batters will take note of that."
5:46PM IST: Here's a look at the key numbers from the game
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5:05PM IST: Our correspondent Ayan Acharya reports from the venue: Absolute scenes with a sea of Afghan fans
MATCH PREVIEW
Pakistan will look to move closer to the ICC Twenty20 World Cup semifinal when it takes on Afghanistan in a Group 2 Super 12 game in Dubai on Friday.
Pakistan has played 13 T20Is in the UAE since 2016, winning each of them. So, Babar Azam's men will start as favourites against an Afghanistan side, which began its Super 12 campaign with a crushing 130-run win over Scotland.
In the last decade, Afghanistan has risen to become a worthy T20 World Cup competitor. Its mettle was on display in its first international match since the withdrawal of US troops and the Taliban's takeover. Najibullah Zadran hit a 30-ball 50, and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, with his cocktail of off-breaks, googlies and carrom balls, finished with 5 for 20, as Afghanistan pocketed two points.
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Such was its dominance that by the time Rashid Khan, the No 3-ranked T20I bowler in the world, came on to bowl, Afghanistan was already on course for a big win.
Its batters were equally impressive, racking up a total of 190 - its highest in a T20 World Cup. The innings comprised a whopping 13 fours and 11 sixes. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Najibullah Zadran added a quickfire 87 for the third wicket. Plenty will be expected of the duo. Mohammad Shahzad's return as Hazratullah Zazai's opening partner has given the side a fillip.
| In this episode of Matchpoint Paradox, our correspondents Ayan Acharya and Amol Karhadkar review the latest from the T20 World Cup and other major updates from the world of cricket this past week. |
But against Pakistan, Afghanistan batting will have to contend with a bowling attack of outstanding T20 pedigree and variety. Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf offer swing and pace while Hasan Ali and Imad Wasim bring the control. Then there's the wily leg-spin of Shadab Khan.
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Its batting is headlined by the in-form opening pair of Babar and Mohammad Rizwan. Shoaib Malik's experience came to the fore in the chase against New Zealand, and in Asif Ali, Pakistan has a reliable finisher.
"We want to give the kind of performances where fans back home could have joy, cheer for and celebrate," Rashid said before the match. Afghanistan will hope to bring more smiles to people's faces come Friday. - Ayan Acharya
AFG vs PAK DREAM11 FANTASY TEAM Wicketkeeper – Mohammad Shahzad, Mohammad Rizwan (c) Batters – Najibullah Zadran, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman All-rounders – Mohammad Hafeez, Shadab Khan Bowlers – Rashid Khan (vc) , Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf Team Composition: AFG 4:7 PAK Credits left: 0.0 Predicted XIs Afghanistan: Hazratullah Zazai, Mohammad Shahzad (wk), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi (c), Asghar Afghan, Karim Janat, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman READ | AFG vs PAK, T20 World Cup 2021 Updates: Head-to-head stats, records Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Babar Azam (c), Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi Squads: Afghanistan: Mohammad Nabi (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Hazratullah Zazai, Usman Ghani, Mohammad Shahzad, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Asghar Afghan, Gulbadin Naib, Najibullah Zadran, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Hamid Hassan, Farid Ahmed Malik, Naveen ul Haq Reserves: Sharafuddin Ashraf, Samiullah Shinwari, Dawlat Zadran, Fazal Haq Farooqi Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shoaib Malik Reserves: Khushdil Shah, Shahnawaz Dahani, Usman Qadir |
WHERE TO WATCH TODAY'S MATCH?
The T20 World Cup 2021 match between Afghanistan and Pakistan will be aired live on the Star Sports Network at 7:30pm IST. The online live streaming will be available on Disney+ Hotstar .