The second ODI between Pakistan & Afghanistan was no less than a thriller as the fixture went till the final over of the match. However, it was Pakistan who held their nerves & registered a thrilling one-wicket win to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series. But despite their nervy win what caught the limelight was Shadab Khan’s controversial mankad dismissal that left Pakistan fans and captain fuming with anger.
Shadab Khan’s Mankad Incident, how it all started?
Chasing a target of 301 runs, Pakistan chased the target in just 49.5 overs. But not before some drama on-field. It all began when Pakistan needed 11 runs off six balls. Fazal Farooqui was bowling the last over & on the first ball of the last over, Farooqui noticed Shadab Khan who was standing at non-striker’s end leaving the crease. The pacer showed extreme awareness & without blinking an eye he removed the bails at the non-striker’s end. Shadab Khan who was batting at 48 off 35 balls was in extreme shock after getting dismissed by Mankad. But Shadab didn’t leave the field & waited for the decision of the Third Umpire. However, as per the latest amendment in ICC rules, run-out at non-striker’s end is very much legitimate. Considering the fact, the third umpire accepted the on-field umpire decision granting him run-out.
Watch Shadab Khan’s Mankad Dismissal
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Courtesy Farooqi's 𝔾𝕒𝕞𝕖 𝔸𝕨𝕒𝕣𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕤.#AFGvPAK pic.twitter.com/Vh2q4E46QV
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Things were not over for Pakistan as Naseem Shah came to bat at No 10. And the prolific cricketer hit a boundary over the third-man region to guide Pakistan to a thrilling victory. The Mandad of Shadab Khan didn’t go well with Babar Azam as he became furious at the end of the match & lost his cool at the umpires for the controversial run-out in the last over. The visiting team captain went on to praise his teammates, especially Shadab & Naseem for their knocks in crunch-overs & guiding them to a hard-fought win.
Afghanistan went on to post 300 runs total on board
Earlier in the first innings, Afghanistan’s opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz hit a career-best 151 to lead Afghanistan to 300-5 against Pakistan. The swashbuckling cricketer scored an aggressive run-a-ball ton & stitched a massive 227 opening stand with Ibrahim Zadran. The latter too held up his sleeves & returned with scores of 80 off 101 balls.
Gurbaz’s scintillating knock comprised 14 fours & three sixes against a lethal spin attack. He displayed a similar kind of show in Afghanistan’s previous clash against Bangaldesh in Chattogram where he scored 145 runs laced with six fours & two sixes. However, it was Usama Mir who did the ritual of breaking the formidable opening stand in the 40th over by dismissing Zadran at long off. Then came Pakistan’s star pacer, Shaheen Afridi who dismissed Gurbaz in the 45th over. But the damage was already done as Afghanistan went on to post 300 runs total in the first innings. However, their efforts went in vain as despite Shadab Khan’s dismissal through Mankad, Pakistan managed to clinch the fixture & series.
Afghanistan & Pakistan will next cross swords in the third ODI which will be played on August 26 at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Also read, Pakistan announces Squad for Asian Games 2023, Check it Out
