ACC Asia Cup 2023 Archives

Asia Cup 2023: Pakistan squad to depart from Colombo today

COLOMBO: Pakistan squad is set to depart for Pakistan via Dubai today, after getting knocked out of the ongoing ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2023 yesterday.

Captain Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Iftikhar Ahmed and Saud Shakeel departed for Dubai in the morning, from where they will reach Pakistan to their respective hometowns.

Meanwhile, other squad members will fly to Dubai from Colombo in the evening. They will then depart for their respective destinations from Dubai later.

Bowling coach Morne Morkel and batting coach Andrew Puttick will fly to Australia and South Africa.

Pakistan team was knocked out of the Asia Cup 2023 yesterday after losing to Sri Lanka in the last-ball thriller by two wickets.

Sri Lankan while chasing a revised target of 252 in the reduced 42 overs, needed to chase eight runs off Zaman Khan, bowling the final over, and amassed the total when Charith Asalanka chipped one down to the square leg on the final delivery.

Pakistan’s final Super 4 group match became a virtual quarter-final after Pakistan’s net run rate suffered a major nosedive due to their heavy 228-run loss against arch-rivals India in their second Super 4 match of Asia Cup 2023.

Star batters Virat Kohli and KL Rahul scored unbeaten centuries after the match was forced into the reserve day due to the heavy rain in Colombo. Kuldeep Yadav, then wreaked havoc on the Pakistani batting line-up as he picked five wickets to book Pakistan to a meagre 194 while chasing a mammoth 357.

Prior to that, Pakistan powered to a resounding seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh in their first Super 4 match at Lahore, thanks to a combined effort by both batters and bowlers.

Haris Rauf picked four wickets in the first innings to rattle Bangladesh, which was followed by half-centuries by Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Rizwan in the pursuit of Bangladesh’s 193.

READ: Injured Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah still in World Cup 2023 contention

Asia Cup 2023: Pakistan team reaches Colombo

COLOMBO: The Pakistan cricket team touched down at Colombo airport on Thursday via a chartered flight from Lahore to participate in the remaining Super 4 stage matches of the ongoing ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2023.

Pakistan team will take a rest today, as well as tomorrow before hitting the practice nets on Saturday, September 9 to prepare for their next Super 4 stage match.

Pakistan will play their second match of the Super 4 stage against arch-rivals India on Sunday, September 10 in Colombo.

The teams of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka also reached Colombo along with the Pakistan team.

Asia Cup 2023’s remaining Super 4 stage matches, as well as the final, are scheduled in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo.

Pakistan hosted a total of four matches in the ongoing tournament including the ongoing Super 4 fixture between Pakistan and Bangladesh.

The Asia Cup 2023 featured six teams, divided into two groups, with the top two teams from each group qualifying for the Super 4 stage.

Hosts Pakistan and their arch-rivals India qualified from Group A with three points after both teams defeated Nepal and shared a point each due to the match between them being washed out. Meanwhile defending champions and co-hosts Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh qualified from Group B, after Afghanistan missed out on a Super 4 berth by the barest of margins in their final group-stage match against Sri Lanka.

This year’s Asia Cup kicked off with host Pakistan defeating Asia Cup first-timers Nepal in the curtain raiser on August 30 in Multan. Meanwhile, the final of the tournament will be played on September 17 in Colombo

The Asia Cup 2023 is being played in the ODI format and is serving as an opportunity for the Asian teams to bolster their preparations for the upcoming ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023 in India.

READ: Netherlands name squad for ICC ODI World Cup 2023

Asia Cup 2023: Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh to depart for Colombo tomorrow

LAHORE: The teams of Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will depart for Colombo in a chartered plane tomorrow to participate in the Super 4 stage of the ongoing ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2023.

The broadcasters and other officials will also accompany the teams on the chartered plane.

Asia Cup 2023’s remaining Super 4 stage matches, as well as the final, are scheduled in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo.

Pakistan hosted a total of four matches in the ongoing tournament including the ongoing Super 4 fixture between Pakistan and Bangladesh.

The Asia Cup 2023 featured six teams, divided into two groups, with the top two teams from each group qualifying for the Super 4 stage.

The Asia Cup 2023 is being played in the ODI format and is serving as an opportunity for the Asian teams to bolster their preparations for the upcoming ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023 in India.

READ: Afghanistan squad reaches Lahore for Asia Cup 2023

Haris Rauf becomes joint-third fastest to 50 ODI wickets for Pakistan

LAHORE: Fast bowler Haris Rauf became the joint-third fastest Pakistani bowler to pick 50 ODI wickets today during the ongoing match against Bangladesh in the Super Four Stage of Asia Cup 2023.

Haris Rauf achieved this feat in his 27th ODI match, equaling legendary fast bowler Waqar Younis’s record. He got his 50th wicket when Bangladesh’s opening batter attempted a pull shot but the ball ballooned up with a top edge and landed in the hands of the bowler.

Haris Rauf also holds the record for the highest strike rate in ODI by a Pakistani bowler.

Meanwhile, the record for the fastest to take 50 ODI wickets for Pakistan belongs to Hasan Ali, who reached the milestone in 24 matches, followed by Shaheen Afridi who achieved it in 25 matches.

Haris Rauf helped Pakistan book Bangladesh for a meagre 193 inside 40 overs. He ended the innings with impressive bowling figures of 4-19 in six overs, including the wicket of Bangladesh’s top scorer Mushfiqur Rahim.

Bangladesh had a dismal start to their innings in the first Asia Cup 2023 Super 4s fixture as they were reduced to 47/4 inside the first powerplay as the Pakistan pace trio ran through their top order.

Following the slump, captain Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim launched an astonishing recovery as they put together a brilliant 100-run partnership with the former bringing up his half-century.

The pair appeared to have settled down and was looking to take the game away from Pakistan before Faheem Ashraf struck in the 30th over.

Following Shakib’s dismissal, Mushfiqur Rahim was joined at the crease by Shamim Hossain and the pair could add 27 runs for the sixth wicket before Pakistan’s trump card Iftikhar Ahmed got rid of the latter.

Haris Rauf then further dented Bangladesh’s march with twin strikes in the 38th over which included the prized scalp of wicketkeeper batter Mushfiqur.

Mushfiqur Rahim top-scored for Bangladesh with 64 in 87 balls, laced up with five boundaries.

Haris’s twin strikes forced Bangladesh to slip to 190/8 before Naseem Shah emulated the feat in the next over by removing Afif Hossain and Shoriful Islam to wrap up the visitors’ innings.

READ: PCB unveils schedule of domestic cricket season 2023-24

‘Pakistan is the host of the Asia Cup, it was our duty to come here,’ Rajeev Shukla

LAHORE: Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Roger Binny and Vice-president Rajeev Shukla shared their feelings of camaraderie with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after the BCCI delegation reached here for their historic two-day visit to Pakistan today.

The BCCI delegation visited Pakistan for the first time since 2008 and was welcomed by the Chairman of the PCB Management Committee Zaka Ashraf.

“Pakistan is the host of the Asia Cup 2023, it was our duty to come here,” Rajeev Shukla said while talking to the media. “PCB and BCCI share very good cricketing relations, we will take good memories from this trip,”

“There are interesting matches going on in Asia Cup 2023, enjoy the ongoing tournament for now, we will talk about the rest of the things later,” he further added.

“It is my first visit to Pakistan since 2005, I feel good to be here and will take great memories with me,” BCCI President Roger Binny shared.

Meanwhile, Zaka Ashraf showed gratitude for the Indian delegation visiting Pakistan.

“We are thankful to the BCCI delegation for visiting Pakistan on our invitation, this visit will further improve the relationship between PCB and BCCI,” said Zaka Ashraf.

The BCCI delegation will discuss matters of mutual interest with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials before watching the Asia Cup 2023 fixture between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan at the picturesque Gaddafi Stadium.

The delegation will also be attending an official dinner at the Governor’s House.

READ: ICC Men’s World Cup trophy to reach Pakistan on September 5

‘Plan was to not allow Indian batters to score freely,’ says Naseem Shah

Pakistan’s young fast bowler Naseem Shah made Indian batters dance to his tunes as he exhibited a brilliant display of swing bowling in the high-octane Asia Cup 2023 clash between the arch-rivals on Saturday at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.

Pakistani pace bowlers booked India on 266 in the first innings after Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya’s half-centuries before persistent rain denied the second innings’ play, hence, washing out the match between India and Pakistan.

Shaheen Afridi led the bowling charts in the first innings of PAK vs IND with figures of 4-35, while Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf shared three wickets each.

Naseem Shah talked to the media after the match and shared his experience of playing his first ODI game against India. Naseem Shah has previously faced India in three T20i games during last year’s Asia Cup which was played in T20i format and T20I World Cup.

“It was a new experience playing an ODI against India, thank God I bowled well,” Naseem Shah said. “ODI is a different format and it requires patience,”

He also shed light on his bowling plan against the Indian batting line-up.

“The bowling was swinging at the start, so I was trying to bowl at the right areas,” he added. “The plan was to not let the Indian batters score runs freely, so they would give wickets,”

Naseem also appreciated his fellow pacers Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf, who bowled brilliantly to bowl India out yesterday.

“Shaheen Afridi bowled well in the beginning, while Haris Roof came in the middle and bowled very well,” said Naseem Shah.

While talking about the upcoming Asia Cup Super-Four stage match against either Bangladesh or Afghanistan on September 6 at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, Naseem Shah expressed his wish to enjoy and perform well at Lahore.

“As a child, I have played a lot of cricket in Lahore as a kid and I will try to enjoy, and perform well to win the match there,” he concluded.

Pakistan secured their spot in the Asia Cup 2023 Super Four stage as they finished their group-stage campaign with three points in two matches after a dominant victory over Nepal and a washed-out game against arch-rivals India yesterday.

Meanwhile, India next face Nepal on September 4 in a bid to join Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2023 Super 4s.

READ: Pakistan team to reach Lahore today for Asia Cup Super Four match

Pakistan team to reach Lahore today for Asia Cup Super Four match

COLOMBO: The Pakistan cricket team left for Colombo from Kandy by road this morning after playing against India in the ongoing Asia Cup match yesterday, and will reach Lahore from Colombo by a chartered flight today to play the Super Four stage match on Wednesday.

Pakistan team will take off from Colombo at 4:00 PM today, and they will relax on Monday before hitting the nets at Lahore City Cricket Association (LCCA) Ground on Tuesday, September 5 to prepare for the Super Four stage match of the Asia Cup on September 6 at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

Before the start of the training session, a squad member will hold the pre-match press conference.

Pakistan will play either Bangladesh or Afghanistan in the first Super 4 match on Wednesday, September 6, provided they qualify for the next round.

Bangladesh and Afghanistan are squaring off at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore today. If Bangladesh loses today, they will be knocked out of the Asia Cup, having lost the previous game against defending champions Sri Lanka.

Pakistan on the other side secured their spot in the Asia Cup 2023 Super Four stage as they finished their group-stage campaign with three points in two matches after a dominant victory over Nepal and a washed-out game against arch-rivals India yesterday.

Meanwhile, India next face Nepal on September 4 in a bid to join Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2023 Super 4s.

Pakistan’s pace-packed bowling attack booked India on 266 in the first innings after Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya’s half-centuries before persistent rain washed out the high-octane Asia Cup clash yesterday.

Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafique, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Afridi and Usama Mir

Traveling reserve: Tayyab Tahir

READ: Former Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak passes away at 49

Asia Cup 2023: Bangladesh win toss, elect to bat first against Afghanistan

LAHORE: Bangladesh have won the toss and elected to bat first against Afghanistan in the fourth match of the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2023.

PLAYING XIs

Bangladesh: Mohammad Naim, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Shakib Al Hasan (c), Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Shamim Hossain Patwary, Afif Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam

Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Janat, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD:

ODI Matches-14, Bangladesh-8, Afghanistan-6

READ: Former Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak passes away at 49

Pakistan crush Nepal to start Asia Cup 2023 on a winning note

MULTAN: Pakistan bowling unit decimated Nepal after centuries from captain Babar Azam and Iftikhar Ahmed as the host kicked off their Asia Cup 2023 campaign with a statement 238-run victory.

Set to chase a mammoth 343, Nepal’s batting lineup failed completely and could only accumulate 104 before being bundled out in the 24th over.

The associate side got off to a poor start to the pursuit as they lost three wickets inside two overs with just 14 runs on the board.

Following the early slump, Aarif Sheikh and Sompal Kami stabilized the run chase with a gutsy 59-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

The pair frustrated the Pakistan bowlers before Haris Rauf provided a much-needed breakthrough by dismissing Aarif Sheikh, who could score 26 off 38 deliveries, hitting five boundaries.

Aarif’s dismissal sparked collapse and Nepal began to lose wickets at an alarming rate and consequently slipped from 73/3 to 104 all out.

Sompal Kami waged a lone battle for Nepal with a cautious 46-ball 28 which featured four boundaries.

Besides Sompal and Aarif, only Gulsan Jha (13) managed to make it into the double figures.

Shadab Khan led the bowling attack for Pakistan with 4/27, followed by two wickets each from Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf while Naseem Shah and Mohammad Nawaz made one scalp each.

Opting to bat first, Pakistan piled up a massive total of 342/6 in 50 overs at the back of a marathon 151-run knock by skipper Babar Azam and Iftikhar Ahmed’s maiden century.

Babar Azam scored a classy 151, while Iftikhar Ahmed wreaked havoc on Nepal bowlers with an unbeaten 109.

The hosts Pakistan had a shaky start after winning the toss with both opening batters back to the pavilion inside seven overs with only 25 runs on board.

Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan then helped rebuild the innings as they added 86 runs for the third wicket before Mohammad Rizwan perished courtesy of a direct hit. He scored 44 runs off 50 deliveries with the help of six boundaries.

Agha Salman also followed him after adding only five runs to the total, leaving Pakistan at 124-4 in the 28th over.

Babar Azam was then joined by Iftikhar Ahmed on the crease, and together they exhibited a fiery batting display against Nepal bowlers.

They added 214 runs in only 131 balls for the fifth wicket, steering Pakistan to a mammoth total.

Babar Azam’s 131-ball 151 featured 14 boundaries and four sixes, whereas Iftikhar Ahmed scored 109 runs from 71 balls with the help of 11 boundaries and four sixes.

Nepal’s Sompal Kami picked up two wickets, while Karan KC and Sandeep Lamichhane contributed with one wicket each.

READ: Anamul Haque replaces Litton Das in Bangladesh squad for Asia Cup

Nepal kick off training for Asia Cup in Karachi

KARACHI: The Nepal cricket team has started their training at the National Bank Cricket Arena for the upcoming ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2023, commencing on August 30.

The team kicked off the training session with light physical exercises at Hanif Muhammad Regional High-Performance Center.

The associate team will practice in Karachi for three days. They will play a practice match on August 26 in Karachi Gymkhana, and will subsequently leave for Multan on August 27.

Nepal is led by young all-rounder Rohit Paudel and will make their Asia Cup debut in the upcoming edition having qualified for the first time.

They will play host Pakistan in the curtain raiser on August 30 in Multan.

Nepal squad: Rohit Paudel (c), Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh, Bhim Sharki, Kushal Malla, Aarif Sheikh, Dipendra Singh Airee, Gulshan Jha, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Sandeep Lamichhane, Lalit Rajbanshi, Pratish GC, Mousom Dhakal, Sundeep Jora, Kishore Mahato, Arjun Saud

Pakistan will host a total of four matches including a Super 4s fixture, while the rest of the games including the final will be played in Sri Lanka.

The upcoming edition of the Asia Cup features six teams, divided into two groups, the top two teams from each group will then qualify for the Super 4s. The continental event will run from August 31 to September 17.

Hosts Pakistan are placed in the same group as arch-rivals India and Nepal while the other group includes defending champions and co-hosts Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

The Asia Cup 2023 will be played in the ODI format and will serve as an opportunity for the Asian teams to bolster their preparations for the upcoming ICC Men’s World Cup.

READ: Pakistan to face Australia, New Zealand in warm-up fixtures of World Cup