Shoaib Malik special takes Pakistan to narrow three-wicket win over Afghanistan in the Asia Cup

[Hbomb00]

Cricket basics- Rotate the strike every run matters

 

[PerfectionPersonified]

need 3 fours

 

[Hasan2K8]

Pk doing quite well here. Taking in Aftab, targetting others. Good way to go if you’re not gonna get 40+runs from Mujeeb and Rashid. Have to be wise and use your head, the others are not mystery spinners so take them on, smash one of the pacers for 60+. Something the daft weak minded BD players didn’t do and it’s all about being good match wise player.

 

[msb314]

Babar has to do better here

 

[Humza_Razzaque]

Babar clearly suggesting to everyone that he always needs 10-15 balls against every new bowler to settle in.

The guy is gifted but a bit too slow for modern cricket standards

Thats not true he did way better in the last game against a way tougher opposition i think the field placement is the problem ,afghanistan has placed the field exectly where babar enjoys playing his strokes so he keeps finding the fielders

 

[Slim]

Loud noises of Pakistan zindabad. [MENTION=131678]Madplayer[/MENTION] happy?

 

[GoUgandaCranes]

Wasn't Ahmed Shahzad like banned for six months or so for being high etc? Who is letting him play the match? Where's the JIT on this?

Conspiracy.

 

[JibranAnsari]

Thats why babar azam will never be as good as kohli , root or williamson. Very poor display so far today.

 

[Ned Flanders]

This is the type of pitch where even 4 runs an over up until the 35th over is great.

This is a typical 90s pitch and Pak needs to play like they would in the 90s.

For all you wrist slitters that means Babar has to play slow and Imam has to play at 70 minimum strike rate

 

[Slim]

Wasn't Ahmed Shahzad like banned for six months or so for being high etc? Who is letting him play the match? Where's the JIT on this?

Conspiracy.

In all seriousness, he should never have been banned. He would have saved our butt on these pitches.

 

[Madplayer]

Loud noises of Pakistan zindabad. [MENTION=131678]Madplayer[/MENTION] happy?

Yes but need to win

 

[Wonderwoman]

Babar Azam is playing a test match. Will get out after scoring a 50 something in some 90 balls and add pressure on incoming batsmen. A purely selfish batsman.

 

[Pete Rose]

Not one of these Pakistani players looks happy. It’s like they don’t want the battle.

 

[Ned Flanders]

Thats why babar azam will never be as good as kohli , root or williamson. Very poor display so far today.

Because he's settling and adhering to his coaches orders for the match?

Yeah no, fans like you don't deserve a Root/Kohli/Williamson anyway.

 

[Usman Chadda]

This is the type of pitch where even 4 runs an over up until the 35th over is great.

This is a typical 90s pitch and Pak needs to play like they would in the 90s.

For all you wrist slitters that means Babar has to play slow and Imam has to play at 70 minimum strike rate

They have played at a RR of 2.2 In the last five overs. Babar needs to get a move on, don’t want to leave too much to do for later.

 

[Ned Flanders]

Babar Azam is playing a test match. Will get out after scoring a 50 something in some 90 balls and add pressure on incoming batsmen. A purely selfish batsman.

It's a different pitch.

That's exactly what we need from him, to stay on the pitch.

 

[Wonderwoman]

This is the type of pitch where even 4 runs an over up until the 35th over is great.

This is a typical 90s pitch and Pak needs to play like they would in the 90s.

For all you wrist slitters that means Babar has to play slow and Imam has to play at 70 minimum strike rate

Babar is playing for his stats thats all. A minnow basher and nothing batsman and real level.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

That was the slowest delivery I've seen by a seamer

 

[Ned Flanders]

They have played at a RR of 2.2 In the last five overs. Babar needs to get a move on, don’t want to leave too much to do for later.

T20 has ruined the fans thinking.

Chill out. They have enough time, goal should be to not lose wickets.

 

[Asif321]

Good going boys

 

[YousafTheBeast]

Afghanistan giving us false hope, until rashid rips through our middle order

 

[Something]

I don't understand all the hate Imam gets on this forum. He's playing much better than the overrated Babar

 

[Ned Flanders]

Babar is playing for his stats thats all. A minnow basher and nothing batsman and real level.

Give me proof.

 

[desi_launda]

Required rate is now 5.81
Afghanistan in with a real chance!

 

[Hasan2K8]

Nabbi is a good off spinner but gets way too much respects shown for my liking . England, Aus, SA, won’t let others settle and in particular my number one side England, will totally try to tonk the others if they see Rashid and Mujeeb two biggest key threats - job done. Really simple as that. Play out Rashid and Mujeeb nice and fairly and come on the others can be tonked.

Pak will win this if they dont lose wickets to Mujeebur Rahman and Rashid Khan, play them out get 30-40 from RK, 30odd from Mujeeb, but target their pacers and the 5th and 6th bowlers

 

[KingKhanWC]

Babar Azam is playing a test match. Will get out after scoring a 50 something in some 90 balls and add pressure on incoming batsmen. A purely selfish batsman.

Its a 250 target not a 320 target. Babar scores 80+ with a strike rate of 85+, its a good innings in this situation. The rest can attack.

 

[Justcrazy]

for Pakistan

 

[Arham_PakFan]

50 run partnership followed by a six straight Down the Ground

 

[Justcrazy]

Babaar

 

[Messiah]

T20 has ruined the fans thinking.

Chill out. They have enough time, goal should be to not lose wickets.

If they are tuk tuking now, they ain't accelerating against Rashid later. Will slog and get out

 

[jnaveen1980]

Pakistan cruising

 

[Ned Flanders]

If they are tuk tuking now, they ain't accelerating against Rashid later. Will slog and get out

Rashid has 10 overs, not 30.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Babar why he is class, a thing of beauty .

 

[Hbomb00]

Rashid's over?

 

[babajee]

Babar seems to be learning from Malik

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

Good partnership. Pak in control.

 

[Something]

Its a 250 target not a 320 target. Babar scores 80+ with a strike rate of 85+, its a good innings in this situation. The rest can attack.

Why should the onus be on the others to attack? Why can't he pace his innings a bit better and what happens if he gets out at 30 odd with a strike rate of 50-60?

 

[Plumb]

Babar make 3(16) people bash him. He hits a six Babar you beauty

 

[mak36]

People need to chill. Partnerships at this stage are what are important.

 

[msb314]

Better by babar

 

[Plumb]

singles and boundary on bad balls. That's all...

 

[Something]

People need to chill. Partnerships at this stage are what are important.

Also what's important is to keep the scoreboard ticking.

 

[Rayyman]

Imam was 21(19) now he is 31(44).

 

[KingKhanWC]

Why should the onus be on the others to attack? Why can't he pace his innings a bit better and what happens if he gets out at 30 odd with a strike rate of 50-60?

Batsmen have their roles. It's daft for your best batsmen who can bat 50 overs to take big risks chasing 250 esp if you have others who are attackers such as Asif. But Babar can hit sixes without risk, such is his class as you have seen. Dont worry if he makes 80-100 the SR will be over 80+ and Pakistan will win, which is what is required and what counts.

 

[Hbomb00]

Afghanistan giving us false hope Lol

 

[Ned Flanders]

Batsmen have their roles. It's daft for your best batsmen who can bat 50 overs to take big risks chasing 250 esp if you have others who are attackers such as Asif. But Babar can hit sixes without risk, such is his class as you have seen. Dont worry if he makes 80-100 the SR will be over 80+ and Pakistan will win, which is what is required and what counts.

Exactly.

Thank you for having common sense.

 

[Pete Rose]

Hekmetyar is mixing his pace up well

 

[Ned Flanders]

Also what's important is to keep the scoreboard ticking.

And also to have the brain cells to realize it's a tough pitch to bat on.

Keeping wickets in hand and going at 3-4 runs an over is what is required.

 

[Rayyman]

This is a perfect time for Babar to get a 100 while chasing in a tough situation on a difficult pitch.

 

[Asif321]

Now I feel better justfont give rasheed any wicket

 

[Pete Rose]

Damn you Pakistan: making me watch every ball of this game

 

[Something]

And also to have the brain cells to realize it's a tough pitch to bat on.

Keeping wickets in hand and going at 3-4 runs an over is what is required.

lol. It didn't seem like a tough pitch to bat on when Afghanistan were batting. Suddenly, it becomes a tough pitch to bat on when its our batsmen. Imam seems to be doing fine as well. Is it only tough for Babar?

 

[The_Cricket_Devil]

This partnership is exactly what Pakistan require. As long as they keep ticking it over at one end they don't have to take any undue risks against Rashid. Even if his 10 overs go for 30-35 it is fine as long as we aren't losing wickets to him

 

[KingKhanWC]

Poor by Afghan captain, bring on Rashid when both batsmen are well in. He should have risked him a lot earlier.

 

[Rayyman]

Rashid is overrated. He won't do jack.

 

[Hbomb00]

Time for Rashid to rip through our fragile batting lineup....

 

[KingKhanWC]

Nabi cant spin it much, cant flight it much but he is very clever with his pace and line.

 

[Hamad_H]

This partnership has been great, important not to throw away. You have 50 overs, why try and chase the score in 40 overs? Good going by the boys.

 

[KingKhanWC]

I hate drinks breaks while chasing esp when a good partnership is forming.

The game is in the balance but Pak looking better atm.

 

[malik29695]

babar is useless

 

[Something]

This partnership has been great, important not to throw away. You have 50 overs, why try and chase the score in 40 overs? Good going by the boys.

The way they're playing right now they'd need 65 overs to chase this down. They might need to speed it up slightly so they can chase it down in 50.

 

[PakLFC]

We win if we bat 50 overs. Only Pak can screw it up after a good start. Fakhar should have taken the LBW decision up stairs to the third umpire. It was missing from where I was sitting. He reminds me of a young Afridi slogging across the line early on in his innings without thinking, no commonsense at all. Imam looking good and steady for a change. Also glad to see Harris back in the side. Go Pak!

 

[InziRules]

We'll win

 

[B_Positive]

Good job being done. Need to stay on wicket. Runs will keep flowing

 

[malik29695]

Rashid khan will roast them

 

[Wonderwoman]

Give me proof.

look at his stats ... 90% of his runs runs are against minnows or at utter slow pace in losing cause. Once in a blue moon might have scored something but almost always plays for averages.

 

[Something]

Rashid khan will roast them

Overrated

 

[Madplayer]

look at his stats ... 90% of his runs runs are against minnows or at utter slow pace in losing cause. Once in a blue moon might have scored something but almost always plays for averages.

Dhoni?

 

[KingKhanWC]

look at his stats ... 90% of his runs runs are against minnows or at utter slow pace in losing cause. Once in a blue moon might have scored something but almost always plays for averages.

He avg 56 v Australia.

His career is in motion, and Im sure he will score big runs against India by the time he retires.

 

[nextover666666]

Rashid Khan is not overrated but he can be dealt with just need to keep playing smart.

 

[Itachi]

Babar has a SR of 50.... Not a good sign. he'll put others under pressure.

 

[Something]

Babar has a SR of 50.... Not a good sign. he'll put others under pressure.

Golden boy is playing a pathetic knock so far. He really needs to up the ante a bit and contribute properly otherwise all this will do is add to the pressure at the end.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Rashid khan will roast them

Is there dew out there?

 

[Fineline]

People criticizing Babar here want him to do a Safaraz and get out?That will only increase our chances of losing this match a lot more.

 

[Wonderwoman]

He avg 56 v Australia.

His career is in motion, and Im sure he will score big runs against India by the time he retires.

All his 100s are against WI zim and a depleted SL and a losing cause against in Aus . Thats all he has to show in a career of 50 games. Remove all that minnow bashing inflation his average actually drops to 30s. Thats what he is.

 

[Something]

Is there dew out there?

No dew. Just humidity.

 

[austerlitz]

Defensive captaincy by afg captain.Where is rashid?

 

[InziRules]

All his 100s are against WI zim and a depleted SL and a losing cause against in Aus . Thats all he has to show in a career of 50 games. Remove all that minnow bashing inflation his average actually drops to 30s. Thats what he is.

So because we lost, runs shouldn't count? Good, how many centuries does Sachin have then out of his 100?

 

[Something]

People criticizing Babar here want him to do a Safaraz and get out?That will only increase our chances of losing this match a lot more.

No one said that. He needs to score a bit faster. Bring his strike rate up to 70/75 at least.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Babar has a SR of 50.... Not a good sign. he'll put others under pressure.

Doesnt matter if the RR is under 6. If its over yes he needs to up the tempo but so far no issues.