Afghanistan beat Pakistan by eight wickets in another World Cup upset
Chennai (PTI): A spirited Afghanistan team continued its giant-killing spree to literally push Pakistan on the brink of elimination with a eight-wicket victory in a World Cup game on Monday.
On a challenging Chepauk track, a target of 283 was certainly not the easiest of chases but Kolkata Knight Riders' Rahmanullah Gurbaz (65 off 53 balls) teed off in style while his partner Ibrahim Zadran (87 off 113 balls) dropped anchor at the other end in an opening stand of 130 which laid the perfect platform.
While experience is worth its weight in gold in these kind of games, Afghanistan did well enough to chase down the target in 49 overs, exposing the frailties of Pakistan bowling unit which just didn't turn up on the day.
Having lost seven ODIs against Pakistan, Afghanistan was missing out on that finishing touches which was required and all the four batters did play their parts to perfection in what was their highest run-chase in history of 50 over format.
This is Afghanistan's second win after beating defending champions England in New Delhi and with four points are now placed sixth in mid-table muddle.
Pakistan, for time being, stay put on fifth place but after a hat-trick of defeats, another loss against South Africa later this week, will in all likelihood shut the knock-out doors for the 1992 champions.
Seasoned Rahmat Shah (77 not out off 84 balls), whose straight six down the ground off Hasan Ali was a visual treat, showed admirable situational awareness even as Pakistan bowlers did put pressure on him during the second phase of the chase. He repeated the same shot off the same bowler to put Afghanistan within sniffing distance of victory.
He got good support from skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi (48 not out, 45 balls), who reverse swept an off-colour Shadab Khan against the turn during crucial juncture which spoke volumes about his temperament. The duo added 96 runs for the third wicket in some of the most difficult batting conditions. The sense of happiness and elation after hitting the winning boundary was there for everyone to see.
The 21,000 odd sporting crowd at Chepauk also gave the team a nice standing ovation.
The match that was played on the same track as the India versus Australia game had both grip and turn on offer but 282 for 7 by Pakistan was by no means a poor effort if one takes quality spin bowling unit that Afghanistan possesses.
If spin is Afghanistan's strength, it is certainly Pakistan's biggest weakness as bowlers of Shadab (0/49 in 8 overs) and Usama Mir (0/55 in 8 overs)'s quality don't win World Cups.
In Indian domestic cricket, there are better wrist spinners than these two and one of the best in the world, Yuzvendra Chahal hasn't got a look-in in this Indian team.
When Afghanistan started chase, Gurbaz, who hit nine fours and a six, wasn't overawed by Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hasan or Haris Rauf.
The Pakistanis bowled too many boundaries in the first 15 overs as Gurbaz took the likes of Rauf and leg-spinner Usama Mir to the cleaners and also hit off-spinner Iftikhar Ahmed for his only six.
Strong on the off-side, Gurbaz repeatedly peppered the point and backward point region as Pakistani bowlers bowled short and wide outside the off-stump.
In one Rauf over, eighth of the innings, Gurbaz got four boundaries and save the last one, which was a streaky inside edge, three were cuts or slashes through point region.
Pakistan's fielding was rubbish to say the least as most fielders tried putting blame on others in full public view, including skipper Babar Azam, who lost his cool after failing to stop overthrows.
Earlier Babar struck a composed half-century before useful cameos by lower-order batters guided Pakistan to a reasonably good total if one takes the track into account.
Opener Abdullah Shafique made 58 off 75 balls and Babar got 74 off 92 balls, but had it not been for the efforts of Iftikhar Ahmed and the returning Shadab Khan, Pakistan would have finished with far less than what they eventually achieved.
While Iftikhar smashed his way to a 27-ball 40, Shadab contributed a breezy 40 in 38 deliveries.
Expecting a slow pitch, the Afghans moved in with four spinners. However, the track turned out to be better than expected.
The Pakistani openers Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq (17) began on a cautious note and managed a 56-run stand.
While they brought up the side's 50 by the eighth over, Shafique was targeting pacer Naveen-ul-Haq.
Also, spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman was expensive in the first 10 overs of the powerplay.
The first delivery of the second powerplay saw the Afghans earn the first breakthrough, with Imam falling to speedster Azmatullah Omarzai off a short ball.
Nevertheless, the Men in Green barely panicked as Shafique joined forces with skipper Babar and put up a 54-run partnership for the second wicket.
At this point, spinners Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Kahn operated in tandem to keep things under control, not allowing the two batters in the middle to free their arms.
In the meantime, Shafique brought up his third ODI half-century, while Babar looked to mix aggression with caution.
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Our actions were just a trailer, will show the full picture if need be: Rajnath on Operation Sindoor
Bhuj (Guj), May 16 (PTI): India on Friday pressed the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to reconsider its USD one billion assistance to Pakistan, saying Islamabad could use a large part of it to fund the terrorist infrastructure.
In an address to air warriors at Gujarat's Bhuj Air Force station, Singh confirmed use of the 'BrahMos' supersonic missiles in the Operation Sindoor and said the weapon showed Pakistan the "light of day in the darkness of night".
Sending a clear and firm message to Islamabad, the defence minister made it clear that the operation is not yet over as the current ceasefire means that India has kept Pakistan on "probation" on the basis of its behaviour.
"If the behaviour improves, it is fine; but if there is any disturbance, harshest punishment will be given," he said.
"Our actions were just a trailer, we will show the full picture, if need be. Attacking and eliminating terrorism is the new normal of new India," he said.
Under Operation Sindoor, India on early May 7 destroyed nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir (PoK) in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack.
All subsequent retaliations by Pakistan were carried out under the operation. The two sides reached an understanding on cessation of hostilities on May 10 after four days of confrontations.
In his remarks, Singh said Pakistan has again started trying to rebuild the terror infrastructure destroyed by India last week and that Islamabad will "spend the collected from the common citizens of Pakistan to pay around Rs 14 crore to Masood Azhar, the head of the terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad" and a UN designated terrorist.
The Bhuj air force base was one of the military installations that Pakistan targeted during the four-day confrontation between the two militaries.
Singh cautioned against providing financial support to Pakistan saying any such assistance would be no less than terror funding.
In its board meeting in Washington on May 9, the IMF cleared a USD one billion tranche for Pakistan as part of its USD 7-billion funding programme for the country.
"The Pakistan government has announced financial assistance to rebuild the terror infrastructure of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed located in Muridke and Bahawalpur," Singh said.
"Certainly, a large part of IMF's USD one billion assistance will be used to fund the terror infrastructure. Will this not be considered indirect funding by IMF, an international organisation?"
"Any financial assistance to Pakistan is no less than terror funding. The funds India gives to IMF should not be used, directly or indirectly, to create terror infrastructure in Pakistan or any other country," he said.
The defence minister said India would like the IMF to reconsider USD one billion support to Pakistan and refrain from giving any kind of assistance in future.
He commended the "effective" role played by the Indian Air Force (IAF) in Operation Sindoor which he said is being appreciated by the world.
Lauding the air warriors for eliminating the terror camps in Pakistan and PoK in just 23 minutes, he said "when missiles were dropped inside the enemy territory, the world heard the echoes of India's valour and might."
He added that IAF spearheaded this campaign against terrorism, and during the operation, it not only dominated the enemy, but decimated them.
Singh highlighted that India's fighter jets are capable of striking every corner of Pakistan without crossing the border. "The world has witnessed how IAF destroyed terror camps and later Pakistan's airbases. The IAF gave the proof that India's war policy and technology have changed."
"They conveyed the message of New India that we are not just dependent on weapons and platforms imported from aboard, but Made in India equipment have become a part of our military power. The weapons manufactured in India are also impenetrable," he said.
Singh added that Pakistan has itself accepted the power of the 'BrahMos' missile. This Made in India missile showed Pakistan the light of day in the darkness of night, he said, noting India's air defence system, including assets like Akash missile systems have played a tremendous role.
On his interaction with the brave Indian Army soldiers in Srinagar on Thursday and the air warriors and soldiers in Bhuj on Friday, Singh said he is, once again, convinced that India's borders are completely safe.
"I've witnessed the highest level of enthusiasm and patriotism among the soldiers on both the fronts. What our forces did during Operation Sindoor has filled the country with pride," he said.
"The effective role played by the Indian Air Force in Operation Sindoor is being appreciated not only in this country but also in other countries." "In this operation, you have not only dominated the enemy but have also succeeded in decimating them," he said.
