Hopes have been sky-high, however they got here crashing down as Pakistan misplaced the high-voltage match towards arch-rival India — the primary encounter after armed battle. Regardless of flashes of resistance, the Pakistani unit by no means fairly clicked, and the strain solely mounted additional as soon as the chase unfolded, leaving followers heartbroken.
Followers have been fast to argue that Pakistan’s much-talked-about “intent” lacked steadiness. One observer wrote that unleashing aggression with out sensibility is a curse, including that such an method solely results in chaos and self-destruction.
Others identified the irony of Pakistan’s collapse, noting that Shaheen Shah Afridi ended up because the group’s highest run-scorer, whereas opener Saim Ayub was their most profitable wicket-taker. For a lot of, this highlighted how badly the batting and bowling items underperformed of their major roles.
The group’s shot choice additionally got here below sharp criticism. Supporters questioned whether or not “intent and aggression” meant abandoning rotation of strike and swinging blindly at each supply. With no sharp flip within the pitch and little help for bowlers, followers argued {that a} smart but optimistic method might have helped Pakistan publish a aggressive complete.
All of it started with heartbreak as Pakistan’s star opener — hailed by some cricket gurus because the “subsequent Babar Azam” — fell for a golden duck. Mohammad Haris adopted quickly after, leaving each openers again within the pavilion throughout the first two overs, with simply six runs on the board.
Mohammad Haris didn’t final lengthy both — Jasprit Bumrah had him nicking off for simply three. Two down inside two overs, and the scoreboard confirmed a depressing six.
Fakhar Zaman then walked in to affix Sahibzada Farhan, attempting to regular a sinking ship. For some time, it regarded like they’d issues below management. The pair stitched collectively 39 runs, with Fakhar discovering some rhythm.
However simply as Pakistan started to breathe, Axar Patel struck within the eighth over, sending Fakhar again for 17.
That wicket opened the floodgates. What adopted was a middle-order collapse that left Pakistan reeling. Wickets saved tumbling, and earlier than anybody might blink, the rating had nosedived to 64 for six within the thirteenth over. Farhan, the lone warrior holding issues collectively, lastly mistimed one off Kuldeep Yadav and departed within the seventeenth over. He top-scored with a preventing 40 off 44, adorned with one 4 and three towering sixes.
When it regarded like Pakistan would fold meekly, Shaheen Shah Afridi determined to throw his bat. And boy, did he join. A fiery cameo of 33 off simply 16 balls, together with 4 large sixes, gave the innings a much-needed push. Followers have been fast to react to his brief however actually superb knock.
Faheem Ashraf (11) and Sufiyan Muqeem (10) chipped in late, however it was by no means going to be sufficient towards India’s bowling assault.
Kuldeep Yadav was the star, weaving his magic to assert three wickets for simply 18 runs. Bumrah and Axar backed him up with two apiece, whereas Varun Chakravarthy and Hardik Pandya bagged one every.
India started their chase in explosive trend. Regardless that Shubman Gill walked again early within the second over, Abhishek Sharma got here out swinging, smashing 4 boundaries and two sixes in a whirlwind 31 off simply 13 balls. His cameo had Pakistan on the again foot immediately, earlier than Saim Ayub eliminated him within the fourth over.
Tilak Varma and skipper Suryakumar Yadav steadied India’s chase with a 56-run stand, earlier than Saim Ayub struck once more to take away Varma for a run-a-ball 31. From there, Suryakumar took full management, ending unbeaten on 47 off 37 balls — his highest rating towards Pakistan in T20Is — to information India dwelling with 25 balls to spare.
‘Babar, Rizwan missed’
A piece of followers turned their anger in the direction of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), criticising the choice to go away out former captain Babar Azam and senior batter Mohammad Rizwan from the Asia Cup squad. Many argued that the batting collapse towards India might have been prevented had the skilled pair been within the lineup.
Supporters additionally identified that Babar and Rizwan’s capability to anchor innings and rotate strike might need prevented the reckless shot-making that triggered Pakistan’s downfall.
Some even accused the PCB of short-term considering, saying the transfer was extra about “making statements” than constructing a successful mixture.
Saim Ayub — Pakistan’s shock wicket-taker
It turned out to be a bittersweet day for Saim Ayub. After bagging a golden duck with the bat, the left-hander made an unlikely influence with the ball, ending as Pakistan’s solely wicket-taker within the match. His part-time off-spin claimed all three Indian wickets as they chased down the 128-run goal.
Whereas the remainder of Pakistan’s bowling assault struggled to make inroads, Saim’s breakthroughs at the very least delayed India’s march to victory. His scalps included key batters, giving followers a quick glimmer of hope amid an in any other case one-sided contest.
Social media was fast to react to the weird scorecard, with many mentioning the irony of a specialist batter ending up because the group’s lone wicket-taker. For some, it was a second of satisfaction that Saim confirmed battle with the ball, however for others, it underlined Pakistan’s obvious bowling points within the high-voltage conflict.
