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Saturday January 25, 2025

Pakistan become no 1 ODI team after whitewashing Afghanistan

Chasing a target of 269 runs, Afghanistan were dismissed for 209 runs in 48.4 overs

By Sports Desk
August 26, 2023
Pakistan´s captain Babar Azam (2L) celebrates with teammates after the dismissal of Afghanistan´s Hashmatullah Shahidi (not pictured) during the third and final one-day international (ODI) cricket match between Pakistan and Afghanistan at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on August 26, 2023. — AFP
Pakistan´s captain Babar Azam (2L) celebrates with teammates after the dismissal of Afghanistan´s Hashmatullah Shahidi (not pictured) during the third and final one-day international (ODI) cricket match between Pakistan and Afghanistan at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on August 26, 2023. — AFP

Pakistan on Saturday thrashed Afghanistan in the final one-day international (ODI) to clean sweep the series and emerge as the top-ranked side on Saturday.

Chasing a target of 269 runs, Afghanistan were dismissed for 209 runs in 48.4 overs.

Leg-spinner Shadab Khan was the pick of the Pakistan bowlers with figures of 3-42 in 10 overs.

Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf and Shaheen Afridi claimed two wickets each.

Earlier, Pakistan set a target of 269 runs for Afghanistan in the third match. 

The Men in Green chose to bat first after winning the toss in the final match of the series. Pakistan finished at 268-8 in 50 overs. Mohammad Rizwan (67) and Babar Azam (60) scored fifties for the Men in Green.

Ahead of the match today, Pakistan skipper Babar Azam remarked that the first 10 overs would be tough.

"We will increase the pressure on the Afghan team by setting a huge target," he said, adding that four changes had been made to the playing eleven.

He added that Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf and Mohammad Wasim Jr are playing today in place of Usama Mir, Iftikhar Ahmed, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf.

On the other hand, Afghanistan suffered a blow when all-rounder Azmatullah Umarzai was ruled out of the third ODI match due to side strain.

All-rounder Gulbadin Naib has been brought in to replace Azmatullah, the Afghanistan Cricket Board said.

During the last match, both sides went head-to-head in an intense clash; however, Pakistan won by one wicket.

The Men in Green continued their superb form, even as the match seemed lost at one point. However, Naseem Shah — who led Pakistan to a victory against the same opposition in Asia Cup 2022 — once again guided Pakistan to a thrilling victory in the last over, helping the side score the much-needed 11 runs off 6 balls.

Playing XI

Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (captain), Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Shaheen Afridi.

Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Gulbadin Naib, Riaz Hassan, Shahidullah Kamal, Mohammad Nabi, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi


This is a developing story and will be updated soon...