Shoaib Akhtar, a former Pakistani fast, praised Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi for their contributions for Afghanistan Cricket. His statement came after Pakistan defeated Afghanistan for the third time in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021.
During the closely-contested match in Dubai, the Afghan cricket team gave Pakistan a run for their money. Batting first, the Afghan hitters got off to a shaky start, losing wickets on a frequent basis. However, Mohammad Nabi and Gulbadin Naib put in a valiant effort to take their team from 76/6 to 147/6 after 20 overs.
The in-form Afghan spinners kept the Pakistani batters at bay while defending the total, preventing the Babar Azam-led team from running away with the game. However, Asif Ali’s stunning triple of sixes in the 19th over propelled Pakistan to victory and dashed Afghan fans’ expectations.
“Our whole country knows about your sacrifices and the help you’re doing for Afghanistan cricket, we even know that. You are so passionate. You guys take the fan’s pressure and then go on to play. I was talking about Rashid and Nabi. Hats off to you guys.” he said
Rashid Khan
Yesterday, they put on a show against Pakistan that was nothing short of spectacular. Nabi performed a key 35* run knock with the bat before capturing the crucial wicket of Fakhar Zaman with the ball. Rashid Khan, as usual, shined with his leg-spin and finished his four overs with figures of 4-0-26-2.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board has experienced numerous challenges, particularly after the Taliban’s takeover earlier this year. The team’s valiant performance in the T20 World Cup 2021, on the other hand, demonstrated their tenacity.
Shoaib Akhtar, a former cricketer turned analyst, has also shown his support for his neighboring country. Recognizing that the Afghan side commanded by Nabi had put Pakistan to the test.
Read more: Shoaib Akhtar says “Our whole country knows about your sacrifices” in T20 World Cup 2021
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