SHARJAH: All-rounder Shahid Afridi took five wickets, while Younis Khan and Imran Farhat both hit half-centuries as Pakistan beat Afghanistan by seven wickets in the day-night international here on Friday.
Afridi claimed 5-36 as Afghanistan were bowled out for 195 in 48.3 overs before Younis hit an unbeaten 70 and Farhat made 52 to help Pakistan reach their modest target in 37.1 overs in the first-ever one-dayer between the two countries.
Despite the loss, Afghanistan still put up an inspired display at Sharjah Stadium, justifying their rise in international cricket which saw them win the right to play one-dayers in 2009.
Earlier Afridi derailed Afghanistan’s progress who were set on track for a fighting total by opener Karim Sadiq (40) after they won the toss and decided to bat.
Afridi also became the second spinner with the highest number of one-day wickets (338) behind Muttiah Muralitharan (534), but surpassing India’s Anil Kumble who had 333 wickets.
Despite Afridi’s brilliance, the Afghan batsmen put up an excellent show and had they not lacked experience -- playing their first one-day international against a top nation -- they would have scored more.
Pakistan now play England in the first of four one-day internationals on Monday.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 11th, 2012.
COMMENTS (44)
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some of the comments are in very bad taste....why cant we treat the sport as what it is....just sport and can help develop friendship.
@Zeta: is ajmal the first bowler hammered.....come on...u can not always be on top.
@ahmed:
Well glad you did not disagree with the historical facts. But in your blind hatred and bias you missed that I never mentioned religion and Arabs in my earlier comment. You made asumptions. I was mentioning Ethnic and linguistic connection with Afghan population, especially East Iranian ethnic groups known as Baluch and Pashtuns, and central Asian Hazaras, who live west of Indus River in Pakistan, and are also major ethnic groups in Afghanistan. They are different not only from majority of people of Pakistan living east of Indus river but also very different from various ethnic groups in India. PS I am not Pakistani by nationality or by birth, I am Afghan but grew up in my second beloved home Pakistan and now live in Canada.
Shoaib Malik failed against minnows as well and balled poorly. I am sure this is his last series before going out completely. He is a big minus and merit-killing selection in Pakistani team.
Thanks to my PAK brothers...for this positive attitude... I am AFGHAN...but my second team is Pakistan...thanks to pakistan for thier support to AFGHANISTAN....
LONG LIVE AFG-PAK FRNDSHIP...nd finally CRICKET WON...:-)
@UK: Another apologetic "historical" answer by typical Pakistani psyche.. You did the same.."Unconscious desire to somehow attach Pakistani identity with middle east Islam and Arabs"...
Don't be intolerant.. Accept the fair criticism.... You know well what I really meant in my earlier criticism. So Pls grow up..
well done both sides :)
here is the link to live stream
http://www.webcric.com/
@abdullah rana: That is sick! Pakistan is for Punjabis, Pashtuns, Sindhis and Balochs. Pakistan is also a "second home" to all Afghans. I liked the game. I am a Punjabi and my dad was cheering for Afghanistan. It was like two brothers playing. May Allah bring peace and prosperity to Afghanistan! May Allah bring peace and prosperity to Pakistan! @kumar: Now that the lions have woken up, they will come and eat your cows :-)
welcome to cricket afghanistan and i hope afghanistan will be playing test cricket soon. the way they played they have shown england how cricket should be played.
@abdullah rana:
WOW seriously dude!!! . How old are you. Grow up.
Just to keep record straight, there are atleast 3 Pashtuns in Pakistan side. Afridi, Younas Khan and Umar Gul. Also not all in Afghan team are Pashtuns. It is about a good game, and efforts of all palyers from both sides. When it comes to county or league games all of these players are shuffled. It is a good game that is important.
It was more pashtuns against pashtuns gul took two, afridi took five and yunus ran out one.so pashtuns and cricket won today, Man of the match was pashtun, biggest six etc etc
They hate us so much, yet we are always extending the hand of brotherhood and friendship. It should be mutual and not just from our side. Afghans do not let go of one oppourtunity to bash our beloved country. I am not firing empty rounds, it has been my experience by living with Afghans and people of Afghan decent in Canada. Anyways congrats to Afghanistan on its fine show today.Maybe someday you will see us in the same light as we see you. Ameen
@ahmed: While Ansar over stated , so did you.
You said " This is called as “Identity crisis” and unconscious desire to be identified as different from Indians."
Different from what group of Indians? Dravidians, Tibeto-Burmese, Indo Aryans or Negritos of the Islands?
Both India and Pakistan are very multi ethnic and diverse. There is no such thing as "Indian ethnicity". Generally speaking most of the Invaders in Sub Continent came from the west of the region (Now days Pakistan), So Pakistan has more concentration of decedents of those invaders. Plus what is west of Indus River was part of Afghan and Persian Empires most of last 1500 years. Although most Pakistanis of Punjab and Sindh are same as people of north and western India, they still do not have very much in common with people of Indian Far East or Dravidians of the south (same as North Indians). People living west if Indus River in Pakistan are linguistically and ethnically different from rest of Pakistan itself, and much farther than various Indian ethnic groups (with few exceptions).
This link may be helpful in defusing your confusion. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EthnicgroupsoftheIndian_subcontinent
Anyhow staying with the game, great effort Afghanistan, and Congrats Pakistan.
Congratulations to our Afghan brother for a valiantly fought game by Afghanistan.
Ahmed from India, Get over the "identity crisis". For YOU to not consider Pakistanis as brothers is YOUR Identity crisis.
pakistan should't have wakn the real lions by making nises!!!!!!
pakistan shoud't have awakn the real lions!!
well played afghanistan jast in 2 years they came out to play with International team .
With the way AFG played today against PAK they proved that they can win 6 or 7 odi out of 10 from countries like bangladesh and zimbabwe and even on a good day from kiwis. I would say congrats to AFG and I am hopefull they will improve.
punjabi vs pashtuns what can you expect? Punjabis are always the winner.
one thing is for sure, Afghanis are good reverse sweepers haha
Well Played Afghanistan, Congratulations Pakistan
@Mir Baloch: *im also baloch but will not go against my country pakistan *
Great performance Afghanistan, way beyond expectations, the SIXes were tremendous, I see very bright future for them in cricket . Their enthusiasm is just unbelievable. good luck.
@Ansar: We are the sons of Nadir Shah, Zaman Shah, Abdali, Ghauri, Babur and Aurangzaib and while we are one and the same
This is called as "Identity crisis" and unconscious desire to be identified as different from Indians. And many people seems to have liked this...http://www.dawn.com/2011/09/28/the-identity-crisis-of-the-urban-middle-classes.html
Anyways, I don't want to create problem here. Congrats to pakistan. This match will help in create good public relation between Pak-Afgan people.
I hope one day we see tri-series between India,Pak and Afganistan...All the best..
Love from India...... :)
strong text well done both the teams.
Yeah thats what the region really needs: more sports.
Crickets wins :)
full marks to afghanistan.....with experience they woulb a sie to watch in very near future.
well played Afghanistan!
@Mir Baloch, Thank you and very much appreciated it. This is what true brothers do, you back me up and by Allah (swt) I back you up by the last drop of my blood!
If Pakistan wins it is great but had Afghanistan won it would also be great because we are Brothers.
Balochis support Afghanis in this match. Hope they defeat them on and off the field.
brother Vs brother :) lets see the bowling of Afghans
@asif wali: bro search on google for streaming links,
The picture caption is "hahid afridi", correct it, make it shahid afridi
i think he meant any website which streams live cricket...... if someone knows..... let me know as well.....
Afghanistan played well beyond expectations
@asif wali: cricinfo