Saturday, October 21, 2023
Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi lauded his son-in-law and Green Shirts leading pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi's performance against Australia and asked captain Babar Azam to seize the opportunity and finish in crunch matches.
Taking to social media platform X, Afridi praised Shaheen's five-wicket haul, improved line and length and the opening partnership between Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafiq.
A day earlier, the Aussies managed to restrict the green shirts to 305 runs - resulting in a 62-run loss for Pakistan - after posting a mammoth 368-run target thanks to a 259-run stand by David Warner and Mitchell Marsh.
“Improved line and length today and a great 5fer from @iShaheenAfridi Strong opening from @imabd28 & @ImamUlHaq12 but the team lost. I expect @babarazam258 to put on a show at this WC, be the world finisher that he is. #CWC23,” Afridi wrote in a post on X.
Improved line and length today and a great 5fer by @iShaheenAfridi
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) October 20, 2023
Strong opening by @imabd28 & @ImamUlHaq12 but the team lost. I expect @babarazam258 to exhibit during this WC, the world class finisher that he is. #CWC23
Pakistan visibly struggled bowling and fielding against Australia, dropping catches at key points. David Warner, shy of 163, was dismissed for 10 by Usama Mir.
The Australians managed to restrict the green shirts to 305 runs after posting a colossal target of 368 runs thanks to a 259-run stand by David Warner and Mitchell Marsh.
Pakistan got off to a great start as their opening duo of Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique put on 134 runs - the first time a Pakistani opening pair had made a century against Australia in a World Cup match.
Pakistan were 154-2 in 23.4 overs - after losing Abdullah and Imam - and badly needed a big partnership to get back into the fold, but their skipper Babar Azam was removed by Adam Zampa just after scoring 18 with a brilliant catch. by Pat Cummins.
The Green Shirts were losing wickets at regular intervals, but after the arrival of Iftikhar Ahmed, it looked like Pakistan would get back into the game as the 33-year-old started hitting boundaries.
But Adam Zampa provided the much-needed breakthrough for the Aussies, removing Iftikhar and Mohammad Rizwan in back-to-back overs.
The green shirts were bowled out for 305 runs in 45.3 overs.
Batting first, Australia put 367 runs on the scoreboard, posting the highest total against Pakistan in a World Cup.
Shaheen Afridi was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan as the 23-year-old took five wickets, his second of the World Cup
