India set Pakistan 152-run target to win the high-octaneGroup 2 match in Super 12 of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup being held DubaiInternational Stadium here on Sunday.
It seems like Shahid Afridi warning has proved true and India really underestimated Pakistan.
Virat Kohli (57 off 49 balls) and Rishabh Pant (39 off 30balls) were instrumental in carrying India to 151/7 in 20 overs againstarchrivals Pakistan in their opening match, however, Afridi’s stunningdeliveries got Pakistan off to a flier, after Babar Azam won the toss and optedto bowl first.
Shaheen Shah Afridi at the start of the match had set thestage for Pakistan as he knocked off the Indian openers – Rohit Sharma and KLRahul. Virat Kohli was holding the ground for team India, but his innings toocame to an end at the hands of Afridi, who was at his best today.
Now, after his stupendous show – fans on social media arecomparing him to the legendary Wasim Akram.
Experts had earlier quoted Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi,threat for team India. Shaheen is a wonderful left-arm seamer and it waspredicted he will eye more and more Indian wickets.
Pakistan is said to be really good on UAE tracks. Theyhave a good bowling line-up with Shaheen Afridi in the side. They have a solidbatting line-up with Babar Azam in the side. They have all the basics covered.
Brief scores: India 151/7 in 20 overs (Virat Kohli 57,Rishabh Pant 39, Shaheen Afridi 3/31, Hasan Ali 2/44) against Pakistan
Playing XIs:
India: Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli (captain),Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja,Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakravarthy
Pakistan: Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper),Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan,Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf and Shaheen Shah Afridi