PAK VS AFG T20I

That's all we have from this nail-biter! Pakistan and Sri Lanka have qualified for the final and the remaining two games of the Super 4 have become inconsequential. Still, this is the World Cup year and every opportunity to play an international game is a chance to fine-tune your skills and game plans. India and Afghanistan will be facing each other on 8th September (Thursday) at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT). Do join us in advance for the build-up. Until then, it's goodbye and cheers!

Shadab Khan is adjudged the Player of the Match for an excellent all-round performance. Says that it's going very good for them. Adds that they have the experience of playing here and that's why they have some extra advantage. Mentions that the pitch was a bit low but it was a good one. Admits that he got out playing a rash shot and had he not done that, this match would have gotten over early. Tells that the spinners get a lot of help in Sharjah and their plan was to bowl the dot balls. Regarding his batting position, Shadab replies that they are flexible as a team, he and Mohammad Nawaz can bat at any position and the management believes in his skills against the spinners. On Naseem's sixes, Shadab tells that it's a memorable moment and shares that their bowlers prepare a lot in the nets to hit the big ones.

Babar Azam, the victorious captain of Pakistan, says that the atmosphere in the dressing room was tense and adds that they failed to get the partnerships. He though is happy with the way Naseem Shah finished the game. Admits that it's not easy to chase in Sharjah and Afghanistan had some quality bowlers as well. Tells that they bowled very well to restrict Afghanistan but feels that they didn't execute the batting plans and that's why the game got stretched. Shares that he has seen Naseem batting like this and had the belief that he can finish the job. He wants to carry on with the momentum and avoid committing the same mistakes.

Mohammad Nabi, the Afghan skipper, says that they bowled and fielded very well but again it's the same story as they didn't finish the game. Mentions that they kept fighting and didn't leave the game at any stage. He is disappointed that they didn't finish well, both as a batting group and bowling. Shares that the plan was to bowl the dot balls and take the game deep. Also says that the plan in the last over was to bowl either the yorkers or the slower ones but Fazalhaq Farooqi didn't execute the plan. Nabi wants to play the last game against India with the same energy.

Stay tuned for the presentation...

Naseem Shah, the wonder boy of Pakistan, comes up for a quick chat. Says that he had the belief that he can hit sixes. Shares that he knew the plan that Afghanistan will bowl yorkers as the field was up. Further says that he has practised in the nets to hit the big ones and also shares that he changed his bat before the last over. States that his plan was to give Asif Ali the strike when he walked in but once Ali got out, he took the onus on himself to end the match. Tells that he will remember this match for a long time and again talks about having the belief. Adds that he knew the importance of this game and is happy that he got his side over the line and into the final.

Earlier, the Pakistan bowlers had set up the game beautifully for an easy run chase after winning the toss. The Afghani batters would be really disappointed with their effort and would have hoped for a few more runs on the board. Their bowlers tried their best to overcome the shortfall of the batting innings but were unable to get over the finish line.

Pakistan got off to a nightmarish start losing their out-of-form captain on a golden duck. Fakhar Zaman threw his wicket away, attempting a silly run and Mohammad Rizwan’s good run came to end against the wile of Rashid Khan. Iftikhar Ahmed and Shadab Khan put on a 42-run partnership and guided their team closer to the target. Both of them were dismissed in their 30s and Pakistan found themselves in a spot of bother. A mini-collapse saw them requiring 11 runs off the last over with one wicket in hand. In walked Naseem Shah who decided that he would make this his evening.

Afghanistan more than put up a fight and made life difficult for their opponents. They had a dream start with Fazalhaq Farooqi scalping the wicket of Pakistan’s skipper on his second delivery. Moments after that, Najibullah Zadran pulled off a brilliant piece of fielding to run out Fakhar Zaman. The Afghan spinners then did a brilliant job containing the Pakistan batters and their star bowler Rashid Khan picked up the wicket of the in-form Mohammad Rizwan. After that, they were unable to take wickets but were able to take the game deep. With 45 runs needed in the last five overs, Pakistan were the favourites as they had 7 wickets in the bank. The Afghanistan bowlers though picked up their game and suddenly began picking wickets in quick succession to get Pakistan down to their last wicket. The two full tosses from Fazalhaq Farooqi in the last over proved to be their kryptonite.

Naseem Shah, you beauty! What a game we have witnessed here in Sharjah! This has been an unbelievable match as it swung both ways and in the end, Pakistan prevailed and qualified for the final of the 2022 Asia Cup.

SIX! Naseem Shah has sent this one over the fence as well! The crowd erupts. Naseem is overjoyed. He is pumped up and the Pakistan players charge out to the middle. They are hugging Shah. Emotions running wild. Afghanistan are distraught. Ecstasy in one frame, agony in another. What a game! What a thrilling finish! Yet another full toss as Fazalhaq Farooqi fails to nail his yorker, Naseem Shah rocks back and pummels it over long off for a maximum. PAKISTAN WIN BY 1 WICKET! Afghanistan are knocked out, India are also done and dusted.

SIX! BANG! This game is not over! A full toss outside off, Naseem Shah gives it the full whack of his bat and towers it over long off for a biggie. 5 needed off 5 balls. It's all about keeping calm now.

Fazalhaq Farooqi to continue and he will be bowling this pressure over.

Shortish and on off, Shah drags it down to long on for one. 11 needed off the last over. What a thriller!

Mohammad Hasnain is the last batter for Pakistan.

OUT! ASIF ALI IS GONE! This is a body blow to Pakistan. Fareed Ahmad goes short this time and takes the pace off it. It's 114 kph around off and rising onto the batter who shapes up to pull. But it takes the top edge and Karim Janat takes a safe catch over his head at short fine leg. 12 needed off 7 balls with only one wicket in hand.

SIX! Colossal! Not for the first time we are seeing Asif Ali hitting a clean shot. Fullish and around off, right in the slot, Asif clears his front leg and launches it over mid-wicket for a biggie.