‘Pakistan were not prepared against Afghanistan’

Former wicketkeeper batter Kamran Akmal on Monday opened up on Pakistan’s historic defeat to Afghanistan in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 fixture at Chennai’s Chepauk Stadium.

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Pakistan suffered its first ODI defeat against Afghanistan as they lost their ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 fixture by eight wickets.

Green Shirts scored 282-7 in their half-century courtesy of captain Babar Azam and opener Abdullah Shafique’s fifties. The former led from the front by top-scoring with 74 off 92 deliveries with four boundaries and a six.

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Abdullah Shafique struck five boundaries and two maximums on his way to 75-ball 58. They put on a 54-run partnership on the second wicket.

Shadab Khan (40) and Iftikhar Ahmed (40) chipped in with a 74-run stand at the death stage.

Afghanistan registered a historic win as they successfully chased the 283-run target in the 49th over, courtesy of half-centuries by Rahmanullah Gurbaz (65), Ibrahim Zadran (87), and Rahmat Shah (77).

Pakistan’s poor bowling and fielding also helped Afghanistan’s cause.

 

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Former Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal, speaking about the team’s performance in the ARY News show ‘Har Lamha Purjosh’, said Pakistan did not make the necessary changes in its playing 11. He added that the side have been playing with the same players, with some being out of form, for the past three years.

Kamran Akmal said that Pakistan batters, especially Iftikhar Ahmed and Imad Wasim, batted well but couldn’t score ample runs in at the start. He said that captain Babar Azam and wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan gifted their wickets by playing bad shots.

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He lauded Afghanistan for its performance, cruising at the run rate and keeping wickets in hand.

Speaking about the side’s bowling performance, the former cricketer added that the star pacer Naseem Shah’s injury has harmed the side. He said a bowler can never be a good performer unless they play in the longer formats.

 

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