In the Super Four of the T20 Asia Cup 2022 on Wednesday night, Pakistan won a thrilling one-wicket victory over Afghanistan and confirmed their place in the final. Chasing a winning target of 130 runs for victory, Pakistan finished losing 9 wickets in 19.2 overs.
Pakistan needed 11 runs in the last 6 balls to win. Naseem Shah hit Fazalhaq Farooqui for two consecutive sixes to give Pakistan an unforgettable victory.
But in the 19th over, there was a fight between Pakistan’s batsman Asif Ali and Afghanistan’s fast bowler Farid Ahmed. Pakistan needed 21 runs off the last 12 balls to win. After Asif Ali hit Farid Ahmed for a six in the fourth ball, 12 runs were needed in 8 balls.
Farid bounced the fifth ball. Asif took an edge and was caught out by Karim Jannat at fine leg. Jannat is the third bowler in the T20 World Cup last year. Asif Ali hit four sixes in the 19th over to win the match. Asif Ali’s wicket was considered decisive for Afghanistan. So that happiness was more than other wickets. Farid celebrated that happiness.
Presenting aggressively, Farid approached Asif and celebrated. The fight started after Asif celebrated in front of him while returning after getting out. After celebrating in front of him, Asif was removed by hitting Farid with his hand.
That shock hit Farid’s neck. Then Farid became angrier and approached Asif. Asif went towards the pavilion but Farid went toward him. After Asif took four steps forward, Farid was about to hit him with the bat when he went behind him shouting. Asif was restrained and did not leave the bat.
After getting out, he got angry and then there was a further fight for some time. Running from mid-on, Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai tried to stop the fight between Asif and Farid. The umpire also went towards it. Afghanistan’s young wicketkeeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz grabbed Farid and asked him not to fight.
The Afghan team prevented Farid from further fighting. Asif was still angry and went ahead showing the bat. Hasan Ali, who was on Pakistan’s bench, also approached Asif and asked him to be restrained.
The whole atmosphere of the game went to Afghanistan. India began to celebrate as the mathematical probability of a small number remained. On the last ball of this over, Naseem Shah scored a run. Both young fast bowlers Naseem Shah and Mohammad Hasnain were at the crease. Farooqui came to bowl. Farooqui turned the game around by dismissing Mohammad Nawaz and Khushdeel Shah in the 18th over, costing only four runs.
Faruqi took 3 wickets for 19 runs in 3 overs and not only brought Afghanistan closer to a historic victory but also raised India’s hope for the final. With Naseem Shah and Hasnainan at the crease, many predicted Afghanistan’s victory. But Naseem became a hero and hit two consecutive sixes.
Farooqui bowled the first ball full to the tune of a yorker. Naseem hit a beautiful six at long-off and needed five runs in five balls. Even though Pakistan scored one run in every ball, they were in a position to win the match. But there was no wicket in hand. Although Farooqui attempted a yorker on the second ball, Naseem hit a six and confirmed his place in the final.
In the first inning of this match, there was a beautiful moment between the players of Afghanistan and Pakistan. The sportsmanship shown by fast bowlers Haris Rauf and Rashid Khan also received good reviews. Haris Rauf and Rashid Khan showed sportsmanship by hugging in the last over. Haris Raufal’s ball was expected to bounce, but Rashid missed when the slower came. Meanwhile, Rauf had fun with Rashid.
Probability of Action:
Pakistan’s Asif Ali is likely to be prosecuted. Discipline has always been the priority in cricket. In this situation, there is a high possibility that Asif Ali, who fought against the spirit of the game, will be prosecuted. Farid can also be punished. What kind of action to take depends on the decision of the umpire and the match referee. It seems that Asif will be punished more and Farid less.
