Pakistan save face with bronze

Afghan fairytale ends in final against Bangladesh.

GUANGZHOU:

Captain Khalid Latif smashed an unbeaten 53 off 42 balls as Pakistan won the cricket bronze medal at the Asian Games with a six-wicket win over Sri Lanka.

Latif, whose five one-day internationals made him the only capped player in his young team, hit four sixes and two fours to lift Pakistan past Sri Lanka’s 135 all out with two overs to spare. Three of those sixes came in one over from leg-spinner Malinga Bandara, boosting the total after Pakistan had lost four wickets for 85 runs.

With the win, Pakistan made amends for the 22-run defeat in the semi-final against Afghanistan, who lost the final to Bangladesh later in the day.

Bangladesh clinch historic gold

Bangladesh cricketers won their nation’s first ever Asian Games gold medal by ending Afghanistan’s dream run in the inaugural final. Mohammad Ashraful’s men ensured their place in history with a five-wicket victory in front of 2,000 excited spectators.

The Afghan bravehearts fought till the end despite being restricted to 118 for eight after they won the toss and elected to bat. Bangladesh were reduced to 75 for five by the 16th over, before the sixth-wicket pair of Naeem Islam and Mohammad Shabbir put on an unbeaten 44-run partnership to secure a memorable win.

“I had a good talk with Naeem before the 19th over and we went for it,” said Shabbir. “Luckily, it came good. There was no pressure on me, but I am sure my teammates in the dressing room were tense.”

Ashraful admitted he had given hope towards the end.

“I was feeling a bit low but then Shabbir came and did the job for us,” said the Bangladesh captain. “It is thrilling to be part of a gold medal winning team. There was pressure because Afghanistan is a very good side and this was our first major final.”

Pakistan blast India over Games no-show

Pakistan reopened old wounds with India by insisting their bitter rivals were wrong to snub the Asian Games by refusing to send a cricket team.

Pakistan coach Sadiq Mohammad insisted that more pressure should have been put on India to respect the Guangzhou tournament.

“India said they would come and they said cricket should be in the Asian Games,” said Mohammad. “God knows why they are not here. Somebody should have put added pressure on them.”

India snubbed the Asian Games because of international commitments faced by their team with a home series against New Zealand and an eagerly-awaited tour of South Africa about to get underway.

“India said they had to play New Zealand, but our main team had matches to play against South Africa. India should have taken part in the Asian Games because this would have been a great opportunity for the young players to gain experience.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 27th, 2010.