Afghanistan stun Pakistan to reach cricket final

[Admin Khan]

GUANGZHOU: Afghanistan beat Pakistan by 22 runs on Thursday to reach the final of the Asian Games cricket tournament as the war-torn nation’s battling team continued their fairytale rise in the sport.
In the first meeting between the two sides, Afghanistan scored 125-8 in their 20 overs before limiting Pakistan’s flamboyant batsmen to a just 103-7.
Afghanistan’s score did not look enough as Pakistan made a lightning start to their reply, racing to 30 off just three overs.
Opening batsman Sharjeel Khan set the tone, hitting 12 off the first over bowled by Sahpur Zadran before he was lbw to Mirwais Ashraf for 23 off 16 balls with four boundaries and a six.
But Afghanistan managed to apply the brakes in mid-innings.
As tensions rose there was a verbal exchange between Pakistan batsman Khalid Latif and wicketkeeper Mohammad Shahzad before Mohammad Nabi trapped Latif lbw for 26.
Naeemuddin Qazi was then run out to leave Pakistan on 60-3 and two wickets in the same over by Karim Sadiq left Pakistan struggling at 68-5.
Naeem Anjum then holed out as Pakistan tried in vain to find the boundaries that would ease the pressure.
Earlier, Afghanistan made a steady start through openers Sadiq (19) and Shahzad (17). They reached 35 without loss but a flurry of wickets left them struggling on 55-4.
A partnership of 46 between Noori, who hit a quickfire 35 off 30 balls, and Asghar Stanikzai (10) gave impetus to the innings but wickets continued to fall at regular intervals.
Afghanistan will face either Sri Lanka or Bangladesh in Friday’s final.


Afghanistan stun Pakistan to reach cricket final – The Express Tribune

[drona]

This is astonishing .. Check out the score card !
http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engin...ch/485182.html

Congratulations ! Afghanistan will win Silver medal for sure, maybe even Gold.

[Sher Malang]

Congratulations to all Afghans

[KhalsaWarrior]

Congratulations to Afghanistan. This is well deserved.

Now you guys have the bragging rights!

[Nokia_Apridy]

Ahemmmmmmmm Keday shi ISI warta pa ZOOR match warkray wi

Walay chay sa hem keday shi

bya hem dar kha

[KhalsaWarrior]

As an afterthought, in pure cricketing terms this victory must be seen in the correct light. Pakistan cricket is in doldrums right now and its B team is playing in South Africa. That leaves its not good enough players to go and play in the Asian Games. These players might have been less experienced than the Afghan team who have been playing regular international (second rung) cricket for quite sometime now.

I do not mean to be disparaging about Afghanistan's victory. I do hope they go on to win the gold medal. It surely confirms that Afghan cricket is in its ascendancy now.

If nothing else, I hope it works the way Iraq's victory lifted the country when they won the Olympic football gold medal in Beijing.

[AnGaaR]

Hurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaa


congrats to all Afghans and a Middle to all haters


Now for sure i will celebrate their triumph over pakiz.

[BLS_1919v2.0]

Dder kha our graan hewad won.

[fzpz]

Does it still count since the coach is Paki? And he used Islam to give his players the edge? And most of the players learned cricket in Pakiland, and like Pakis?

[Shehbaz Khan]

Congratulations of Afghanistan

[Feroza_Banu]

^no it doesn't count... its their own hardwork and dedication, All the credit to the team members.... NO ONE ELSE.... May God save them from the disease of match fixing and corruption that pakiz have. aameen.

[Feroza_Banu]

This is astonishing .. Check out the score card !
http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engin...ch/485182.html

Congratulations ! Afghanistan will win Silver medal for sure, maybe even Gold.

Congratulations to Afghanistan. This is well deserved.

Now you guys have the bragging rights!

Congratulations of Afghanistan

Thank you guys for wishing us Afghans... it means a lot

its certainly a happy day for all of us... i feel like i waited all my life to see this happening, by that i mean Afghanistan's name in sports world... we having a team of our own in different sports. I am sure you guys can guess how emotional it is for us Afghans. We thought we will all die and take this wish to our grave with ourselves. This is a reason for every Afghan citizen to be proud!

[Feroza_Banu]

Does it still count since the coach is Paki? And he used Islam to give his players the edge? And most of the players learned cricket in Pakiland, and like Pakis?

ta kho mata da forum kum current member khkarai, dasai khkari che zar zar de da account jorr ko che dagha post wokai!... tobah! hahaha

dont hate... be happy for us

[pir_Rokhan]

Pakistani team whether A or B is no doubt talented so it is encouraging news for the Afghans to have won the match.

This is the same conviction I have about other fields too. My underlying assumption is that Afghans need a a break from international intervention and anti progressive elements and this nation will rise to the skies of excellence.

[Manzareh]

Wow thats like the Football equivelant of Romania beating Brazil..Congratulations to the Afghan team (exept farsiwans), looking forword to seeing them on the sports map..Taekwondo and Cricket prospects look good, i reckon theyl be ace at hockey too.