Afghanistan shock Green Shirts in Lahore U-19 friendly

KABUL in a 45 overs friendly game in Lahore, Pakistan’s cultural capital in Punjab province, on Friday.

Invited to bat first at the Gaddafi Stadium, Afghanistan set Pakistan a 267 runs target, with Hashmatullah Shaheedi hammering an unbeaten ton.

Usman Ghani struck a half century, falling on 52. Other major runs contributors to the side were Ihsanullah with 34, Yunus Ahmadzai 28 and Nasir Ahmadzai 33 run, said Farid Hotak, the Afghanistan Cricket Board spokesman.

In response to the target, the Pakistani under-19s succumbed to Malak’s fierce bowling attack, sending 7 batsmen back to the pavilion off 21 runs in his seven overs spell that earned him the man of the match award.

The Pakistanis perished at 52 runs, 214 runs short of the target, in the 18th over, with Ziaur Rahman grabbing two wickets and Sharafuddin one. Afghan captain Nasir Jamal praised Farid Ahmad and Shaheedi for their outstanding performance.

The Afghan under-19 cricket team has been in Lahore to play friendly mataches with the Pakistani counterparts as part of their preparations ahead of next month’s ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup, beginning on February 14 in the United Arab Emirates.

ma/rm

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