SHARJAH: Riding high on their undeniably thrilling victory over India, Pakistan will hope to get a spot in the Asia Cup last with a success over Afghanistan here on Wednesday.
Pakistan’s victory over India in their Super Four opener on Sunday vindicated their loss to their chief opponents in the gathering stage and one more triumph over Afghanistan, hurting after their loss to Sri Lanka, will put Babar Azam’s men in Sunday’s last with a game in excess after Sri Lanka’s success over India on Tuesday.
Pakistan have won both their Twenty20 Internationals against Afghanistan and are floated by the arrival of pacer Shahnawaz Dahani, who passed on the India match subsequent to experiencing a side strain in Pakistan’s triumph over Hong Kong in their last gathering game.
All the more critically, wicket-manager Mohammad Rizwan — whose 71-run thump was key in the triumph over India — is additionally doing fine subsequent to experiencing knee torment during his innings on Sunday.
Rizwan went through a prudent MRI examine on Monday and has been cleared by the group the board to keep his place both as an opener as well as behind the wickets.
“Rizwan and Dahani are fine now,” Babar told journalists during a news meeting on Tuesday. “I addressed Rizwan before and he is feeling much improved.”
With an original capacity crew to look over, Pakistan lead trainer Saqlain Mushtaq is sure his side would have the option to keep up with their ideal record against Afghanistan.
“Afghanistan are a decent side and they have shown that occasionally, yet we are certain to get a full go-around of triumphs on Wednesday,” Saqlain told the PCB site.
“The circumstances in Sharjah will be reasonable for spinners, yet on the off chance that a hitter invests sufficient energy in the center, there will be a great deal of runs on offer in the last option part of the innings with more limited limits.”
Afghanistan, in the mean time, will be hoping to recapture their initial structure at the competition when they beat both Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in the gathering stage to arrive at the Super Four.
They will shift focus over to their twist threesome of Rashid Khan, Mujib ur Rahman and skipper Mohammad Nabi to disturb’s serious areas of strength for Pakistan line-up on the more accommodating Sharjah pitch.
Triumph for Afghanistan would toss the Super Four phase totally open with Pakistan then requiring triumph over Sri Lanka in their last match while it would likewise continue to protect champions India in the blend.
Furthermore, it could all around boil down to net run rate assuming Pakistan lose both their last two matches beginning Wednesday gave India win against Afghanistan in their last apparatus.
It subsequently vows to be a saltine in Sharjah in a represent the moment of truth match for the two sides.
