Upbeat Pakistan look to overcome tricky Afghans

After an enthralling win over archrivals India, an assured Pakistan will look to ease their road to the final of the 2022 Asia Cup by beating Afghanistan in their Super four clash at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium today.

On the other hand, Afghanistan, on the back of a defeat against Sri Lanka on Saturday, would be feeling hard done by as their batsmen managed to get the runs but their bowlers and fielders let them down in crunch situations.

Pakistan had an unlikely hero claw them back into the contest in the form of all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz. The left-arm spinner first restricted the Indian batsmen with his spin and then while chasing 181, was promoted up the order ahead of right-handers Asif Ali and Khushdil Shah to tackle India’s leg-spin duo- Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravi Bishnoi with his left-handed batting.

The decision proved to be a masterstroke as Nawaz smashed 42 off 20 deliveries, including six fours and two sixes, driving Pakistan to the brink of victory.

“I was feeling the pressure, but positive pressure. Not the negative pressure. I knew I could do it. I just needed to focus on my batting and execute my skills,” Nawaz said after the match.

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam is yet to come to the party, but the most positive aspect of their batting would be the form of opener Mohammad Rizwan, who is so far leading the batting charts with 192 runs including two fifties at a strike rate of 128. He also scored a match-winning 71 off 51 balls against India on Sunday.

As for Afghanistan, they would have to pick themselves up after suffering a tight defeat against Sri Lanka. Opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz smashed 84 runs off 45 balls as he hit four fours and six sixes.

But all their effort with the bat went in vain when they came onto bowl as they unexpectedly failed to restrict the Lankans with their ace bowlers.

The spin-trio of Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Mohammad Nabi were expensive as they conceded 103 runs in 12 overs despite picking up four wickets amongst them, while their pacers had little impact.

But it was their fielders who let the match slip as they dropped two vital catches in crunch situations. Despite those mishaps, it can be expected that Afghanistan will come back with the same attitude and approach because of their simplistic game plan.

Undoubtedly, they will spear the bowling with their spinners, and rely on their big hitters up the order to get the job done with the bat.