Naseem Shah sends Pakistan to Asia Cup final as Afghanistan and India crash out
Naseem Shah peeled off two successive sixes off the first two balls of the final over as Pakistan broke Afghanistan’s hearts in Sharjah.
Asia Cup Sport News
Naseem's last-over sixes power Pakistan into Asia Cup final, India out
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, Sept 7, 2022 (AFP) -Tailender Naseem Shah hit two last-over sixes as Pakistan pulled off a thrilling one-wicket win over Afghanistan on Wednesday to set up an Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka, knocking out rivals India in the process.
Pakistan vs Afghanistan Highlights: Pakistan beat Afghanistan by one wicket to qualify for Asia Cup final, India out of contention
Pakistan’s ego on a Wednesday night that broke millions of Afghan hearts and knocked India out of the Asia Cup. Naseem's hefty blows may not match the Javed Miandad's last-ball six off Chetan Sharma from 1986, it would hurt Indian fans as much. India's fate in the tournament was hanging on an Afghanistan win and the Afghan bowlers, breathing fire in the cauldron of Sharjah cricket stadium, nearly ran through the Pakistan batting lineup while defending 129/7 before Naseem sealed the deal in the first two balls of the final over bowled by Fazalhaq Farooqi. Naseem's hits clinched a thriller for Pakistan with just a solitary wicket. This win has booked a place in the final for Pakistan alongside Sri Lanka, rendering the next two Super 4 matches inconsequential. As it happened: Pakistan vs AfghanistanWhen the Pakistan team walked back into the dressing room after having restricted Afghanistan to a modest 129/7, they would have fancied knocking off the runs with consummate ease. By the last six overs of the match started, the tempers started to fly on the field and the stadium turned into a deafening event arena. Asif Ali charging Fareed Ahmad with his bat after being dismissed at short fine-leg in the 19th over was just an example of the tension on the night.
Rizwan fit to play remainder of Asia Cup, says Pakistan head coach Saqlain Mushtaq
Pakistan head coach Saqlain Mushtaq has said that wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan, who had suffered an injury in his knee during the Super Four match with India, has been cleared by the medical team to play in the remaining matches of the tournament. Saqlain told the media that Rizwan is fit and a replacement is not required at the moment. "These things happen, Pakistan is not that far from UAE, if we have such a situation we can call backup but there's no need as of now.
Watch: "Maro Mujhe Maro" Guy's Reaction As India Falter Against Sri Lanka in Asia Cup
After a great run in the group stage, expectation were high from Team India at the Asia Cup 2022. However, after two straight defeats in the Super 4 stage to Pakistan and Sri Lanka, India are on brink of exit. India now have to rely on other teams' results, in order to qualify for the final. On Tuesday, India skipper Rohit Sharma's scintillating 41-ball 72 went in vain, as the Sri Lanka completed a chase of 174 with a ball to spare Needing 21 in 12 balls, Sri Lanka scored 14 runs off the penultimate over bowled by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, almost sealing it in their favour. India will be out of the tournament if Pakistan beat Afghanistan on Wednesday.
Pakistan vs Afghanistan, Asia Cup 2022, Live Updates: Pakistan Face Afghanistan, Eye A Spot In The Final
PAK vs AFG, Asia Cup 2022, Score Updates: Pakistan face Afghanistan in a crucial Asia Cup Super-4 clash at the Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium. Pakistan eye a win which will take them to the final. A defeat for Afghanistan, on the other hand, will end their journey at the Asia Cup, having already lost their opening Super-4 fixture to Sri Lanka. A Pakistan win will also end India's hopes of reaching the final. Sri Lanka and Pakistan could meet twice in the space of three days, including the final on Sunday, if Afghanistan fail to win today. (LIVE SCORECARD)
Asia Cup 2022: Out Of Sorts India Face Tricky Afghanistan
All but out of reckoning for the summit clash, a dishevelled India would like to put their house in order before facing a gutsy Afghanistan team which could prove to be a proverbial banana peel in the final Super 4 clash of the Asia Cup on Thursday. The Indian team hasn't performed to its full potential in the Super 4 stage and lack of resources and poor team selection can also be blamed for back-to-back demoralising defeats against Pakistan and Sri Lanka. What ails the current Indian team is lack of flexibility in its planning and perhaps a few fingers will be pointed at head coach Rahul Dravid.
Asia Cup 2022: Sri Lanka prove a T20 World Cup point with India win
Rajapaksa said Sri Lanka have shaken off their underdogs tag and proved they can challenge at next month's T20 World Cup, after beating India to stand on the verge of the Asia Cup final. Rajapaksa's side bounced back from a crushing opening defeat against Afghanistan to register three straight wins in the Twenty20 tournament, which was moved from Sri Lanka to the United Arab Emirates because of political unrest and an economic crisis.