Pakistan had to face a lot of difficulty to get to the 258-run target. Started the Super Four Stage with a much-needed win and now face arch rivals India in Dubai on Sunday.
Hashmatullah Shahidi missed out on a maiden hundred by a mere three runs but still, steered Afghanistan to a challenging 257-6.Pakistan were off to a disastrous start when opener Fakhar Zaman was trapped leg-before off the sixth ball of the innings by spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman for a duck.
Imam-ul-Haq may have been the highest scorer, but Pakistan needed the experienced shoulders of Shoaib Malik to carry them through. They were heading smoothly towards the target when Imam and Babar Azam were playing their 154-run second wicket partnership. But Afghanistan looked like they were back in the game when two wickets fell in short time interval and Rashid Khan tightened the screws. Shoaib Malik, who scored an unbeaten 51, anchored his innings and carried Pakistan home.
Rashid Khan’s brilliance with the ball brought Afganistan back in the game but the effort of others were not enough to take them past victory.
