Shaheen Afridi, a fast bowler on Pakistan’s national team, is sure that the Green Shirts would have won Saturday’s Asia Cup match between Pakistan and India if it hadn’t rained. The 23-year-old also said that the team did very well in the games as a whole. But for India to get to the Super 4 round of the Asia Cup, they must avoid losing to Nepal in their last group-stage game.
Shaheen Afridi: ‘Match was in hands’ after India match wiped out
During the ICC World Cup 2023 in India, these two teams will also play each other. He said he was Shaheen Afridi, a fast bowler on Pakistan’s national team, is sure that the Green Shirts would have won Saturday’s Asia Cup match between Pakistan and India if it hadn’t rained. The 23-year-old also said that the team did very well in the games as a whole.
But for India to get to the Super 4 round of the Asia Cup, they must avoid losing to Nepal in their last group-stage game. During the ICC World Cup 2023 in India, these two teams will also play each other. He said he was trying to hit from the front, but the ball wasn’t going where he wanted it to.
“The match didn’t happen — if it had, the result was in our hands,” Shaheen remarked. “But we can’t do anything about the weather,” he added.
The left-arm fast bowler further said that the team had managed to secure what they wanted.
“We took two important wickets first. In the partnership that followed, Hardik Pandya’s wicket was important at that time.”
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“The combination of in-swing and out-swing proved to be quite helpful, Shaheen said, adding that it was this combination that helped him take the first two wickets.
The national side player further remarked that they were trying to hit more dot balls to put pressure on India.
Furthermore, Shaheen praised Virat Kholi, terming him a “great player” with more runs against Pakistan.
“Virat Kohli’s wicket was the most important for us as he is the backbone of the Indian batting line-up. However, I will give full credit to the team because it is a team game,” Shaheen remarked.
He added that Pakistan’s men’s cricket team Director Mickey Arthur always says that fast bowlers win tournaments and the Pakistan team’s bowlers tried to play in partnership,
“Haris Roof’s role is to scare the next team with his pace and bouncers, while Naseem Shah and I try to go higher on the swing,” he remarked.
“Harris, Naseem and I try to get the team out for as few runs as possible so that it becomes easier for our team,” he said, adding that playing in front of your own people was a different kind of fun.
Expressing confidence in the team’s skills and performance, he added: “Hopefully, the Gaddafi Stadium will be a house full, and the fans will come to support us.”
While Saturday’s match left the fans disappointed since it was washed out due to rain, Pakistan and India could face each other twice, Super 4 and the final, in the remaining matches of the Asia Cup.
Upcoming Pakistan-India matches
- September 10 – Asia Cup Super Four – Colombo – 2:30pm (PST)
- September 17 – Asia Cup Final – Colombo – 2:30pm (PST)
- October 14 – ICC World Cup 2023 – Ahmedabad – 1:30pm (PST)
