Pakistan and Afghanistan are squaring off in a crucial warm-up match before the start of their respective T20 World Cup campaigns. Pakistan lost their first warm-up match to England and have plenty to focus on in the ongoing fixture. Afghanistan have not been able to replicate their bilateral series’ success in ICC events and they will look forward to learn from this fixture before entering the Super12.
Pakistan won the toss and opted to bowl first in the warm-up match. Shaheen Afridi was ready with the new ball and bowled a fiery first over. Hazratullah Zazai ran a single on the 4th delivery and it was time for Rahmanullah Gurbaz to face Shaheen.
The left-arm pacer did what he does best and bowled a toe-crushing yorker to trap the batsman in front of the stumps. The yorker seemingly injured Gurbaz and he was in pain after being hit on his left boot. He wasn’t able to walk and had to be carried off the field by his teammate. The video of Shaheen’s unplayable yorker is already viral on different social media platforms.
Shaheen, who made his comeback in the first warm-up match against England, bowled 2 overs in the powerplay and only spent 2 runs. He dismissed both Afghanistan’s openers.
Courtesy of his opening spell, Afghanistan were reeling at 11/2 at one stage. The Mohammad Nabi-led side is struggling against the Men in Green and has breached the 100-run mark at the loss of 6 wickets.
Shaheen has proven his fitness by bowling in two warm-up matches and looks set to bowl with the new ball against India on October 23.
India and Pakistan will open their T20 World Cup campaign on October 23. The Rohit Sharma-led side, which defeated Australia in its first warm-up match, will take on New Zealand in another practice match today (October 19).
