In the opening one-day match of the series between Pakistan and Afghanistan, Pakistan’s national cricket team managed to score 112 runs while losing 5 wickets in 28 overs.
During the game held in Hambantota, Pakistani opener Fakhar Zaman was dismissed early, contributing only 2 runs, whereas the team’s captain, Babar Azam, was also sent back to the pavilion without scoring any runs. Among the other players, middle-order batsman Muhammad Rizwan was out after making 21 runs, Iftikhar Ahmed scored 30, and Agha Salman struggled, scoring just 7 runs from 29 balls. Imam-ul-Haq remained at the crease with a score of 45 runs.
On Afghanistan’s side, Mujeeb Ur Rahman secured 2 wickets, while Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, and Fazl Haq Farooqui each took one wicket.
Prior to the match, Babar Azam, the captain of the Pakistani team, won the toss and chose to bat first. Hashmatullah Shahidi, the Afghan team captain, expressed confidence in their balanced team and their determination to improve their record against Pakistan.
Both teams are engaged in the series as part of their preparations for major upcoming events like the Asia Cup and the World Cup. The entire series of three matches is being hosted by the Afghan cricket board in Sri Lanka.
Historically, Pakistan and Afghanistan have clashed in 4 ODIs, with Pakistan emerging victorious in all 4 encounters.
Here are the team line-ups:
Pakistan Squad:
- Captain: Babar Azam
- Players: Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Muhammad Rizwan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Agha Salman, Shadab Khan, Osama Mir, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf.
Afghanistan Squad:
- Captain: Hashmatullah Shahidi
- Players: Rehmanullah Garbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rehmat Shah, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazl Haque Farooqui, Umar Zai, Abdul Rehman, and Ikram Ali.