Pakistan vs Afghanistan first T20I Archives

Bowlers script Afghanistan’s first-ever triumph over Pakistan

SHARJAH: Afghanistan bowlers wreaked havoc to restrict Pakistan to a meagre 92/9 before Mohammad Nabi’s sensible 38-run knock powered the hosts to their maiden victory over Pakistan in the first T20I here at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Set to chase a modest 93, Afghanistan comfortably sailed over in the 18th over with six wickets to spare, thanks to Nabi’s unbeaten 38.

Earlier, the openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran started off well for Afghanistan in the run chase as the pair raised 23 runs in just four overs.

Making his debut, Ihsanullah wasted no time in announcing himself on the international level as the Pakistan Super League (PSL) bowling sensation struck on the first delivery of his international career to remove Zadran on nine.

The young pacer then struck again on the third delivery of his career as Gulbadin Naib fell for a two-ball duck.

Ihsanullah’s twin strikes ignited the young Pakistan side with momentum as Naseem Shah struck in the next over to draw third success for the green shirts as he outdid Gurbaz with a short-pitch delivery, who could score 17 off 16.

With Afghanistan reeling at 27/3, Karim Jannat joined experienced Nabi in the middle and looked to anchor the run chase with a brief partnership before Imad Wasim castled the former. He could score seven off 16 deliveries.

Jannat’s dismissal resulted in Afghanistan slipping to 45/4 in the 10th over, needing a further 48 runs when Najibullah Zadran joined Nabi in the middle.

The pair soaked the pressure put on by Pakistan bowlers and kept pushing towards the pursuit before Nabi finally smoked one off Ihsanullah in the 18th over to register Afghanistan’s first-ever triumph over Pakistan in international cricket.

The seasoned all-rounder top-scored for Afghanistan with a run-a-ball 38 that featured three boundaries and a six while Zadran remained undefeated with his 23-ball 17.

Ihsanullah led the bowling attack for Pakistan with 2/17 while Naseem and Imad could pick up a wicket each.

Opting to bat first, the young Pakistan side could accumulate 92/9 in their allotted 20 overs as they seemed clueless against a disciplined bowling attack put on by spirited Afghanistan.

The green shirts were off to a dismal start to their innings as their young opening pair of Mohammad Haris and Saim Ayub could only add 17 runs to the total before Fazalhaq Farooqi dismissed the former on six.

Abdullah then joined Saim with their side in heaps of trouble and he too, could not get going as the right-handed batter fell victim to Azmatullah Omarzai for a two-ball duck.

Saim continued his brief resistance with a cautious 15-ball 17 before Naveen-ul-Haq castled him at the brink of the first powerplay. He smashed two boundaries and a six amid his fighting knock.

Pakistan then endured another setback on the first delivery of the seventh over as Tayyab Tahir, who looked to turn the tables with his aggressive knock, fell victim to Rashid Khan. Tayyab could score 16 off nine deliveries, hitting three boundaries.

Making his return to the national side after a gap of almost two years, Azam Khan had a comeback to forget as the wicketkeeper batter bagged a two-ball duck, resulting in Pakistan slipping to 41/5 in the eighth over.

Following the slump, skipper Shadab Khan and Imad Wasim looked to anchor the innings with a gritty partnership.

The pair looked determined to settle things down by bringing their experience into play but Mujeeb Ur Rahman trumped Shadab to break the budding partnership. Shadab could score 12 off 18.

The green shirts then again began to lose wickets at regular intervals after Shadab’s dismissal and Imad, who was hanging in there for his side, also fell in the 18th over after a fighting 32-ball 18.

Pakistan’s batting tail – Zaman Khan and Ihsanullah – added crucial runs in the death overs but that was not enough as the green shirts could finish at a paltry 92/9. Zaman and Ihsanullah remained unbeaten for eight runs each.

Farooqi, Mujeeb and Mohammad Nabi led the bowling attack for Afghanistan with two wickets each while Rashid Khan, Naveen and Omarzai struck out a batter apiece.

Pakistan win toss, elect to bat first against Afghanistan in first T20I

SHARJAH: Pakistan have won the toss and elected to bat first against Afghanistan in the first T20I of the three-match series.

PLAYING XIs

Pakistan: Shadab Khan (c), Mohammad Haris, Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Azam Khan, Imad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Zaman Khan, Ihsanullah.

Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Jannat, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan (c), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveen ul Haq.

HEAD TO HEAD (T20Is)

Matches 3, Pakistan 3, Afghanistan 0

Ihsanullah, Saim, Tayyab and Zaman to debut in first Afghanistan T20I

SHARJAH: Pakistan have named a dynamic XI which includes four debutants for the first of the three T20Is against Afghanistan at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday.

Opener Saim Ayub, middle-order batter Tayyab Tahir and right-arm quicks Zaman Khan and Ihsanullah will make Pakistan debuts. Top-order batter Abdullah Shafique, all-rounders Faheem Ashraf and Imad Wasim, and Azam Khan mark their returns to the Pakistan side.

These eight players were named in the 15-member squad for this T20I series after a string of impressive performances in the domestic circuit and the recently-concluded HBL Pakistan Super League 8. The series comes with an opportunity for these players to carry their form in international cricket.

Karachi-born 20-year-old Saim will open with Mohammad Haris, who has played five T20Is for Pakistan and announced his arrival in the last ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia with his blazing strokeplay and bold intent, and has batted with him in Peshawar Zalmi during the HBL PSL 8. Saim comes into the side after a highly impressive run for Sindh and Peshawar Zalmi.

The left-hander played an integral role in crowning Sindh the National T20 champions as he made 416 runs in 12 matches at a strike rate of 155.22. He smashed 341 runs – that included five half-centuries, the joint-most in the season with Babar Azam – at a strike rate of 165.53 for Peshawar Zalmi in this HBL PSL at the top of the order.

Speaking ahead of his debut, Saim told PCB Digital: “Whatever I had done in my life was to achieve this jersey and now I want to do justice with this opportunity. There’s excitement and an element of nervousness as well as I never expected to play for Pakistan this early. But, since I have gotten this opportunity, I am going to do my best.

“It is very important to give a good start to your team in T20 cricket no matter what opposition you are playing. You have to assess the conditions quickly and make your presence count and that’s what I will be planning to do with Haris. We have been playing together in Peshawar Zalmi and we were batchmates as well. We enjoy good chemistry and our playing style is also similar – we look to dominate the opposition. So, it will be fun to play with him.”

Abdullah and Tayyab make number three and four respectively. Abdullah, who has played three T20Is with his last being in December 2020 in New Zealand, comes into the side after making 268 runs at 144.08 for champions Lahore Qalandars. He scored two half-centuries, the last being in the final against Multan Sultans.

Tayyab has been in good touch over the last year. He marked his HBL PSL 8 debut with a whirlwind 65 and made 137 runs at 144.21 and was the best batter of the Pakistan Cup, that concluded in January. He also bagged player of the final award for his match-winning 71 for Central Punjab. He made 708 runs in first-class Quaid-e-Azam Trophy at an average of 59 and recorded four centuries and one half-century.

“Whenever a cricketer starts his journey, he idolises the ones who wear the national colours and dream of doing the same,” Tayyab said. “I am grateful to Almighty that I have been provided the opportunity to serve my country. My parents are going to be very happy when they see me play.

“There will definitely be some nerves when I play for Pakistan, but I will be able to overcome them as I have been playing competitive and quality cricket at domestic level and in the HBL Pakistan Super League. I am very excited to make my Pakistan debut.”

The middle-order comprises captain Shadab Khan, Azam, Faheem and Imad.

Azam scored 282 runs at a staggering 161.14 for Islamabad United this HBL PSL. His highest score of 97 came against Quetta Gladiators at the National Stadium Karachi. This will be 24-year-old’s fourth T20I.

Faheem, Azam’s HBL PSL teammate, provided balance to the side with his contributions with bat and ball. He made 215 runs at 149.30 and took eight wickets at an economy of 9.50 – in a league that has had the best run rate (9.20) in the last one year for any major T20 tournament around the world.

Imad’s nine wickets for Karachi Kings came at an average of 28.22 and an economy of 7.93, but it was his sensational batting that turned heads as the left-hander scored 404 runs at a phenomenal average of 134.66 and a staggering strike rate of 170.46. The 34-year-old has an experience of 58 T20Is in which he has 55 wickets at an average of 23.49. His economy is 6.33.

Experienced speedster Naseem Shah will spearhead the pace attack that includes newcomers Zaman and Ihsanullah.

Zaman was outstanding with the new and old ball in the Powerplay and death overs and he is expected to execute the same role in Pakistan colours on Friday. He moves the ball in the air at the start of the innings and keep the batters guessing in death with his wily variations.

He defended 13 off the last over to help Lahore Qalandars to their second straight HBL PSL title and took 15 wickets at 23.60 runs per dismissal and an economy of 8.53 in the recent season. “It was my goal to play for my country and I am about to achieve it,” Zaman, who hails from Mirpur, said. “I am very excited and will give my best for my team. I have had a good HBL PSL 8 and that will definitely help me a great deal over here.

“The presence of Umer [Gul, bowling coach] bhai has helped me immensely. We discussed how every pitch is different and spoke in detail, about the behaviour of Sharjah wicket. He told me that hitting the hard length will be helpful. I will definitely keep that in mind.”

In Ihsanullah, Pakistan have a reliable pace bowler to carry them through the middle-overs. The right-arm pacer’s thunderbolts kept batters on backfoot throughout the HBL PSL 8 as he peppered every opposition with lethal bouncers. Ihsanullah was the first bowler in the tournament to pick a five-wicket haul and he went on to finish the tournament as the best player and best bowler for taking 22 wickets (the second most) at only 15.77 runs apiece and he leaked only 7.59 runs in the 45.4 overs he bowled, the most for a bowler with top-five wickets.

“My parents wanted me to play for Pakistan and I am delighted that their dream is coming true,” Ihsanullah, who belongs to the village of Matta in Swat, said. “Definitely my experience of the HBL PSL will come in handy. There were players from all around the world and even from Afghanistan and I learned a great deal bowling to them, so it is going to be useful.”

Pakistan XI for first Afghanistan T20I: Saim Ayub, Mohammad Haris, Abdullah Shafique, Tayyab Tahir, Shadab Khan (c), Azam Khan (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Imad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Zaman Khan and Ihsanullah