Pakistan qualified for the Asia Cup final after beating Afghanistan by one wicket in a thrilling game at the Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium on Wednesday. Chasing a target of 130, Pakistan needed 11 runs off the final over, with tail-enders in the middle. While it seemed that Afghanistan might edge out Pakistan, pacer Naseem hit two sixes off the first two balls sending the Pakistan dressing room into a frenzy.
Heated moments in today's match!!
😳😳#PAKvAFG #NaseemShah #asifali #afganistán pic.twitter.com/XQFdVA7XIl— Kavya (@Kavya91832474) September 7, 2022
Before those two balls, drama ensued when in the fifth ball of 19th over, Pakistan lost the wicket of Asif Ali who hit Fareed Ahmed Malik for a six in the previous ball. Not only did Fareed dismiss Asif, he went straight to confront the batter, and performed a fist pump to celebrate the wicket. However, Asif did not like Fareed’s actions, and he raised his bat, but then started walking away. Fareed also made a shoulder barge on Asif while the batter was walking back. Luckily, other Afghanistan players intervened and separated the two players.
Afghan fans become violent
This is what Afghan fans are doing.
This is what they've done in the past multiple times.This is a game and its supposed to be played and taken in the right spirit.@ShafiqStanikzai your crowd & your players both need to learn a few things if you guys want to grow in the sport. pic.twitter.com/rg57D0c7t8— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) September 7, 2022
Meanwhile, former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar shared a video of the ruckus Afghan fans created in the stadium after losing the match. He wrote: “This is what Afghan fans are doing. This is what they’ve done in the past multiple times. This is a game and it’s supposed to be played and taken in the right spirit.@ShafiqStanikzai your crowd & your players both need to learn a few things if you guys want to grow in the sport.”
India and Afghanistan are out of reckoning for the final to be played on Sunday. With four points each, Pakistan and Sri Lanka qualified for the title clash.
Invited to bat, Afghanistan posted 129 for six. Pakistan chased down the target with four balls to spare, reaching 131 for 9 in 19.2 overs.
