The humiliating defeat also signaled their exit from the Asia Cup, with the hosts setting up a mouth-watering final against red-hot favorites India.
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By the end of the Powerplay, Hafeez and Shehzad had similar scores before the latter pulled away and raced to his fifty off 35 balls.
Former Test Cricketer Sarfraz Nawaz said he had earlier said Pakistan team would do well if Twenty20 skipper Shahid Afridi performs well in the mega event.
Actually, Afridi is never in or out of form as he showed on Wednesday. Hafeez, who was playing an anchor sort of role in the previous stand with Shehzad switching gears after getting his eyes set. The hard-hitting batsman started his assault against his Bangladesh counterpart Mashrafe with two successive boundaries followed by a massive six over square leg. He then muscled Al-Amin over long, hit Shakib for a six and a four before hammering Taskin for two successive boundaries.
One rarely seen aspect of yesterday’s innings was his desire to stay in the middle and not commit hara-kiri.
Sharjeel was bowled by left-arm spinner Arafat Sunny for 18 but that did not deter the Pakistanis though as Shehzad and Mohammad Hafeez put on 95 for the second wicket in just more than 11 overs. But I was focused on my performance because I know how important it is for me and my country.
“I love to give a chance to the other batsmen but sometimes you need extra effort in a big event”, said a beaming Afridi. “I feel Pakistan start as favourites for the game on Saturday”, Gavaskar said in an interview. The decision turned out to be ideal for the skipper as openers Ahmed Shehzad and Sharjeel Khan began milking the bowler right from the first over.
Ever since his arrival in India, Shahid Afridi had been hounded for wrong reasons.
With scores of 0, 0, 9, 38, 2, 5, 9 in provincial matches, Afridi came in at No 4 in the 14th over. That shows the character he’s got.
“It’s always pleasing to see him to come up and play shots everywhere”.
The result is particularly satisfying for Man-of-the-Match Afridi who had been under fire back home in the build-up after saying that Pakistan received more “love” from Indian fans than from supporters back home. The fielder grabbed the ball close to the boundary rope; the momentum took him over the line, so he lobbed the ball in the air, came back on to the field and completed the catch. “That performance will boost his confidence and of the whole team”, Hafeez said.
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Bangladesh got off on the wrong foot as Mohammad Amir (2-27) breached the defences of Sarkar in the very first over.
