Naseem Shah's sixes take Pakistan to Asia Cup final

SHARJAH: Naseem Shah’s two sixes in the last over helped Pakistan secure a birth in the final game of the Asia Cup 2022 and send India packing in a low-scoring thriller.

Afghanistan had set a 130-run target for Pakistan in their 20 overs after being asked to bat first by Babar Azam.

The match appeared to be in the bag after Afghanistan were dismissed for 130, however, Mohammad Nabi and Co. gave the Green Shirts a run for their money with their exceptional bowling.

Read more: Naseem Shah's sixes remind Babar Azam of Javed Miandad

Pakistan lost Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam in the first six overs and when they lost in-form Mohammad Rizwan at the end of the ninth over with just 48 runs on the board, it seemed that the Men in Green were in trouble.

Afghanistan’s bowlers continued piling up the pressure but Iftikhar Ahmed and Shadab Khan’s 42-run partnership helped ensure that by the end of the 16th over, the target was within reach.

The tide turned in Afghanistan’s favour after the partnership was broken and Pakistan lost quick wickets cheaply.

Read more: 'True warrior,' Babar lavishes praise on Rizwan

In the last two overs, Pakistan needed 21 off 12 balls and had just three wickets in hand. In the second last over, Fareed Ahmad took two wickets, including the crucial wicket of Asif Ali.

By the end of his over, Pakistan needed 11 off 6 balls and just had their numbers 10 and 11 — Naseem and Mohammad Hasnain — on the crease.

However, Naseem’s two sixes from the first two balls of the penultimate helped Pakistan snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. The one-wicket win meant that Pakistan will now take on Sri Lanka in the final of the Asia Cup.

Afghanistan’s innings

Afghanistan were off to a flying start and looked set to set a big score once their openers started to hit the ball over the park.

However, Haris Rauf dismissed the explosive Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the fourth over and Mohammad Hasnain removed Hazratullah Zazai to bring two new batsmen to the crease.

Once the openers were dismissed, Babar brought in Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab who put pressure on Afghanistan with their tight bowling.

The pressure eventually got to Karim Janat and Ibrahim Zadran who were struggling to middle the ball. In the 12th over, Nawaz dismissed Janat to put Afghanistan three down.

Read more: Pakistan break T20 record after beating Hong Kong

From then on, regular dismissals by the bowlers and tight bowling by the Men in Green put Afghanistan in check.

It was only two boundaries by Rashid Khan in the last over that pushed Afghanistan to 129-6 and helped them set a 130-run target for Pakistan.

For the Men in Green, Haris ended up with two wickets while Nawaz, Shadab, Hasnain, and Naseem took one wicket each.

For Afghanistan, Ibrahim Zadran was their highest run scorer who ended up with 35 runs off 37 balls.

Playing IX

Pakistan: Babar Azam (capt), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain

Afghanistan:  Mohammad Nabi (capt), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Hazratullah Zazai, Ibrahim Zadran, Najibullah Zadran, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fareed Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi 

Live updates of the match will appear below:

Pakistan won the toss and asked Afghanistan to bat first.

Pakistan 131/9 in 19.2 overs

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Naseem Shah: SIX!

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Naseem Shah: SIX!

Pakistan after 19 overs: 119/9

Naseem Shah 2/Mohammad Hasnain 0

Fareed Ahmad to Naseem Shah: 1 run

Fareed Ahmad to Asif Ali: OUT!

Fareed Ahmad to Asif Ali: SIX!

Fareed Ahmad to Naseem Shah: 1 run

Fareed Ahmad to Naseem Shah: WIDE!

Fareed Ahmad to Haris Rauf: OUT!

Fareed Ahmad to Asif Ali: 1 run

Pakistan after 18 overs: 109/7

Asif Ali 9/Haris Rauf 0

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Khushdil Shah: OUT!

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Asif Ali: 1 run

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Khushdil Shah: 1 run

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Asif Ali: 1 run

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Khushdil Shah: 1 (leg bye)

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Mohammad Nawaz: OUT!

Pakistan after 17 overs: 105/5

Asif Ali 7/Mohammad Nawaz 5

Rashid Khan to Asif Ali: No run

Rashid Khan to Mohammad Nawaz: 1 run

Rashid Khan to Asif Ali: 1 run

Rashid Khan to Asif Ali: SIX!

Rashid Khan to Shadab Khan: OUT!

Rashid Khan to Shadab Khan: SIX!

Pakistan after 16 overs: 91/4

Shadab Khan 29/Mohammad Nawaz 4 

Fareed Ahmad to Mohammad Nawaz: No run

Fareed Ahmad to Mohammad Nawaz: No run

Fareed Ahmad to Mohammad Nawaz: 4 runs!

Fareed Ahmad to Iftikhar Ahmed: OUT!

Fareed Ahmad to Shadab Khan: 1 run

Fareed Ahmad to Iftikhar Ahmed: 1 run

Pakistan after 15 overs: 85/3

Shadab Khan 29/Iftikhar Ahmed 30

Rashid Khan to Iftikhar Ahmed: 1 run

Rashid Khan to Iftikhar Ahmed: No run

Rashid Khan to Iftikhar Ahmed: No run

Rashid Khan to Shadab Khan: 1 run

Rashid Khan to Shadab Khan: No run

Rashid Khan to Iftikhar Ahmed: 1 run

Pakistan after 14 overs: 82/3

Shadab Khan 28/Iftikhar Ahmed 28

Fareed Ahmad to Iftikhar Ahmed: 1 run

Fareed Ahmad to Shadab Khan: No run

Fareed Ahmad to Shadab Khan: 1 run

Fareed Ahmad to Shadab Khan: No run

Fareed Ahmad to Shadab Khan: No run

Fareed Ahmad to Iftikhar Ahmed: 1 run

Pakistan after 13 overs: 79/3

Shadab Khan 27/Iftikhar Ahmed 25

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Shadab Khan: No run

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Shadab Khan: No run

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Shadab Khan: SIX! 

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Shadab Khan: No run

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Shadab Khan: No run

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Iftikhar Ahmed: 1 run

Pakistan after 12 overs: 72/3

Shadab Khan 21/Iftikhar Ahmed 24

M Nabi to Shadab Khan: 1 run

M Nabi to Shadab Khan: 4 runs!

M Nabi to Shadab Khan: No run

M Nabi to Shadab Khan: SIX!

M Nabi to Iftikhar Ahmed: 1 run

M Nabi to Shadab Khan: 1 run

Pakistan after 11 overs: 58/3

Shadab Khan 8/Iftikhar Ahmed 23

Azmatullah Omarzai to Shadab Khan: 1 run

Azmatullah Omarzai to Iftikhar Ahmed: 1 run

Azmatullah Omarzai to Iftikhar Ahmed: No run

Azmatullah Omarzai to Shadab Khan: 1 run

Azmatullah Omarzai to Iftikhar Ahmed: 1 run

Azmatullah Omarzai to Iftikhar Ahmed: 2 runs

Pakistan after 10 overs: 52/3

Shadab Khan 6/Iftikhar Ahmed 19

Mohammad Nabi to Shadab Khan: 2 runs

Mohammad Nabi to Iftikhar Ahmed: 1 run

Mohammad Nabi to Iftikhar Ahmed: No run

Mohammad Nabi to Shadab Khan: 1 run

Mohammad Nabi to Shadab Khan: No run

Mohammad Nabi to Shadab Khan: No run

Pakistan after 9 overs: 48/3

Shadab Khan 3/Iftikhar Ahmed 18

Rashid Khan to Shadab Khan: 1 run

Rashid Khan to Shadab Khan: 2 runs

Rashid Khan to Mohammad Rizwan: OUT!

Rashid Khan to Mohammad Rizwan: No run

Rashid Khan to Iftikhar Ahmed: 1 run

Rashid Khan to Mohammad Rizwan: 1 run

Pakistan after 8 overs: 43/2

Mohammad Rizwan 19/Iftikhar Ahmed 17

Mohammad Nabi to Mohammad Rizwan: 1 run

Mohammad Nabi to Iftikhar Ahmed: 1 run

Mohammad Nabi to Iftikhar Ahmed: No run

Mohammad Nabi to Mohammad Rizwan: 1 run

Mohammad Nabi to Mohammad Rizwan: No run

Mohammad Nabi to Iftikhar Ahmed: 1 run

Pakistan after 7 overs: 39/2

Mohammad Rizwan 17/Iftikhar Ahmed 15

Rashid Khan to Iftikhar Ahmed: 1 run

Rashid Khan to Iftikhar Ahmed: No run

Rashid Khan to Mohammad Rizwan: 1 run

Rashid Khan to Mohammad Rizwan: No run

Rashid Khan to Iftikhar Ahmed: 1 run

Rashid Khan to Mohammad Rizwan: 1 run 

Pakistan after 6 overs: 35/2

Mohammad Rizwan 15/Iftikhar Ahmed 13

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Iftikhar Ahmed: No run

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Mohammad Rizwan: 1 run 

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Iftikhar Ahmed: 1 run

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Iftikhar Ahmed: No run 

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Mohammad Rizwan: 1 run (leg bye) 

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Mohammad Rizwan: No run 

Pakistan after 5 overs: 32/2

Mohammad Rizwan 14/Iftikhar Ahmed 12

Fareed Ahmad to Iftikhar Ahmed: 4 runs!

Fareed Ahmad to Mohammad Rizwan: 1 run

Fareed Ahmad to Mohammad Rizwan: No run

Fareed Ahmad to Iftikhar Ahmed: 3 runs

Fareed Ahmad to Iftikhar Ahmed: 4 runs!

Fareed Ahmad to Iftikhar Ahmed: No run 

Pakistan after 4 overs: 22/2

Mohammad Rizwan 13/Iftikhar Ahmed 1

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Mohammad Rizwan: No run 

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Iftikhar Ahmed: 1 run 

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Iftikhar Ahmed: No run 

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Mohammad Rizwan: 1 run 

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Mohammad Rizwan: No run 

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Fakhar Zaman: RUN OUT!

Pakistan after 3 overs: 18/1

Mohammad Rizwan 12/Fakhar Zaman 5

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Mohammad Rizwan: 4 runs!

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Mohammad Rizwan: No run

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Mohammad Rizwan: No run

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Mohammad Rizwan: SIX!

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Mohammad Rizwan: No run

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Mohammad Rizwan: No run

Pakistan after 2 overs: 8/1

Mohammad Rizwan 2/Fakhar Zaman 5

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Mohammad Rizwan: 1 run

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Mohammad Rizwan: No run

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Fakhar Zaman: 1 run (leg bye)

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Fakhar Zaman: No run

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Fakhar Zaman: No run

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Fakhar Zaman: No run

Pakistan after 1 over: 6/1

Mohammad Rizwan 1/Fakhar Zaman 5

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Fakhar Zaman: 1 run

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Fakhar Zaman: No run

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Fakhar Zaman: 4 runs!

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Fakhar Zaman: No run

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Babar Azam: OUT!

Fazalhaq Farooqi to Mohammad Rizwan: 1 run

Pakistan begin batting

Afghanistan after 20 overs: 129/6

Azmatullah Omarzai 10/ Rashid Khan 18

Haris Rauf to Rashid Khan: No run

Haris Rauf to Rashid Khan: No run

Haris Rauf to Rashid Khan: 4 runs!

Haris Rauf to Rashid Khan: SIX!

Haris Rauf to Rashid Khan: No run

Haris Rauf to Rashid Khan: No run

Afghanistan after 19 overs: 119/6

Azmatullah Omarzai 10/ Rashid Khan 8

Naseem Shah to Azmatullah Omarzai: No run

Naseem Shah to Rashid Khan: 1 run

Naseem Shah to Rashid Khan: No run

Naseem Shah to Azmatullah Omarzai: 1 run

Naseem Shah to Azmatullah Omarzai: 4 runs!

Naseem Shah to Azmatullah Omarzai: No run

Afghanistan after 18 overs: 113/6

Azmatullah Omarzai 5/ Rashid Khan 7

Mohammad Hasnain to Azmatullah Omarzai: 1 run

Mohammad Hasnain to Rashid Khan: 1 run

Mohammad Hasnain to Azmatullah Omarzai: 1 run

Mohammad Hasnain to Rashid Khan: 1 run

Mohammad Hasnain to Rashid Khan: No run

Mohammad Hasnain to Rashid Khan: 4 runs!

Afghanistan after 17 overs: 105/6

Azmatullah Omarzai 3/ Rashid Khan 1

Haris Rauf to Rashid Khan: 1 run

Haris Rauf to Rashid Khan: No run

Haris Rauf to Rashid Khan: No run

Haris Rauf to Ibrahim Zadran: OUT!

Haris Rauf to Ibrahim Zadran: No run

Haris Rauf to Ibrahim Zadran: No run

Afghanistan after 16 overs: 104/5

Azmatullah Omarzai 3/ Ibrahim Zadran 35

Shadab Khan to Ibrahim Zadran: 1 run

Shadab Khan to Azmatullah Omarzai: 1 run

Shadab Khan to Ibrahim Zadran: 1 run

Shadab Khan to Ibrahim Zadran: SIX!

Shadab Khan to Azmatullah Omarzai: 1 run

Shadab Khan to Ibrahim Zadran: 1 run

Afghanistan after 15 overs: 93/5 

Azmatullah Omarzai 1/ Ibrahim Zadran 26

Naseem Shah to Ibrahim Zadran: 1 run

Naseem Shah to Ibrahim Zadran: No run

Naseem Shah to Ibrahim Zadran: No run

Naseem Shah to Azmatullah Omarzai: 1 run

Naseem Shah to Azmatullah Omarzai: No run

Naseem Shah to Mohammad Nabi: OUT!

Afghanistan after 14 overs: 91/4

Mohammad Nabi 0/ Ibrahim Zadran 25

Shadab Khan to Najibullah Zadran: OUT!

Shadab Khan to Najibullah Zadran: No run

Shadab Khan to Najibullah Zadran: No run

Shadab Khan to Najibullah Zadran: No run

Shadab Khan to Najibullah Zadran: SIX!

Shadab Khan to Najibullah Zadran: 2 runs

Afghanistan after 13 overs: 83/3

Najibullah Zadran 2/ Ibrahim Zadran 25

Mohammad Hasnain to Ibrahim Zadran: No run

Mohammad Hasnain to Najibullah Zadran: 1 run

Mohammad Hasnain to Ibrahim Zadran: 1 run

Mohammad Hasnain to Ibrahim Zadran: No run

Mohammad Hasnain to Najibullah Zadran: 1 run

Mohammad Hasnain to Ibrahim Zadran: 1 run

Afghanistan after 12 overs: 79/3

Najibullah Zadran 0/ Ibrahim Zadran 23

Mohammad Nawaz to Najibullah Zadran: No run

Mohammad Nawaz to Najibullah Zadran: No run

Mohammad Nawaz to Najibullah Zadran: No run

Mohammad Nawaz to Ibrahim Zadran:  1 run

Mohammad Nawaz to Karim Janat:  OUT!

Mohammad Nawaz to Ibrahim Zadran: 1 run

Afghanistan after 11 overs: 77/2

Karim Janat 15/ Ibrahim Zadran 21

Haris Rauf to Karim Janat: No run

Haris Rauf to Karim Janat: No run

Haris Rauf to Ibrahim Zadran: 1 run

Haris Rauf to Ibrahim Zadran: No run

Haris Rauf to Ibrahim Zadran: No run

Haris Rauf to Ibrahim Zadran: 4 runs!

Afghanistan after 10 overs: 72/2

Karim Janat 15/ Ibrahim Zadran 16

Mohammad Nawaz to Karim Janat: 4 runs!

Mohammad Nawaz to Ibrahim Zadran: 1 run

Mohammad Nawaz to Karim Janat: 1 run

Mohammad Nawaz to Ibrahim Zadran: 1 run

Mohammad Nawaz to Karim Janat: 1 run

Mohammad Nawaz to Karim Janat: No run

Afghanistan after 9 overs: 64/2

Karim Janat 9/ Ibrahim Zadran 14

Shadab Khan to Karim Janat: 1 run

Shadab Khan to Karim Janat: No run

Shadab Khan to Karim Janat: No run

Shadab Khan to Ibrahim Zadran: 1 run

Shadab Khan to Ibrahim Zadran: No run

Shadab Khan to Karim Janat: 1 run

Afghanistan after 8 overs: 61/2

Karim Janat 7/ Ibrahim Zadran 13

Mohammad Nawaz to Ibrahim Zadran: 4 runs!

Mohammad Nawaz to Karim Janat: 1 run

Mohammad Nawaz to Ibrahim Zadran: 1 run

Mohammad Nawaz to Karim Janat: 1 run

Mohammad Nawaz to Ibrahim Zadran: 1 run

Mohammad Nawaz to Ibrahim Zadran: No run

Afghanistan after 7 overs: 53/2

Karim Janat 5/ Ibrahim Zadran 7

Shadab Khan to Ibrahim Zadran: 1 run

Shadab Khan to Ibrahim Zadran: No run

Shadab Khan to Karim Janat: 1 run

Shadab Khan to Karim Janat: No run

Shadab Khan to Karim Janat: 2 runs

Shadab Khan to Ibrahim Zadran: 1 run

Afghanistan after 6 overs: 48/2

Karim Janat 2/ Ibrahim Zadran 5

Mohammad Nawaz to Ibrahim Zadran: 1 run

Mohammad Nawaz to Karim Janat: 1 run

Mohammad Nawaz to Ibrahim Zadran: 1 run

Mohammad Nawaz to Karim Janat: 1 run

Mohammad Nawaz to Ibrahim Zadran: 1 run

Mohammad Nawaz to Ibrahim Zadran: No run

Afghanistan after 5 overs: 43/2

Karim Janat 0/ Ibrahim Zadran 1

Mohammad Hasnain to Karim Janat: No run

Mohammad Hasnain to Hazratullah Zazai: OUT!

Mohammad Hasnain to Hazratullah Zazai: WIDE!

Mohammad Hasnain to Hazratullah Zazai: No run

Mohammad Hasnain to Hazratullah Zazai: 4 runs!

Mohammad Hasnain to Hazratullah Zazai: No run

Mohammad Hasnain to Ibrahim Zadran: 1 run

Afghanistan after 4 overs: 37/1

Hazratullah Zazai 17/ Ibrahim Zadran 1

Haris Rauf to Ibrahim Zadran: 1 run

Haris Rauf to Rahmanullah Gurbaz: OUT!

Haris Rauf to Rahmanullah Gurbaz: No run

Haris Rauf to Hazratullah Zazai: 1 run

Haris Rauf to Hazratullah Zazai: 4 runs!

Haris Rauf to Hazratullah Zazai: 4 runs!

Afghanistan after 3 overs: 27/0

Hazratullah Zazai 8/Rahmanullah Gurbaz 17

Naseem Shah to Hazratullah Zazai: 1 run

Naseem Shah to Hazratullah Zazai: 4 runs!

Naseem Shah to Rahmanullah Gurbaz: 1 run

Naseem Shah to Hazratullah Zazai: 1 run

Naseem Shah to Hazratullah Zazai: No run

Naseem Shah to Hazratullah Zazai: No run

Afghanistan after 2 overs: 20/0

Hazratullah Zazai 2/Rahmanullah Gurbaz 16

Mohammad Hasnain to Rahmanullah Gurbaz: SIX!

Mohammad Hasnain to Rahmanullah Gurbaz: SIX!

Mohammad Hasnain to Rahmanullah Gurbaz: No run

Mohammad Hasnain to Rahmanullah Gurbaz: No run

Mohammad Hasnain to Hazratullah Zazai: NO BALL! + 1 run

Mohammad Hasnain to Rahmanullah Gurbaz: 1 run

Mohammad Hasnain to Rahmanullah Gurbaz: WIDE!

Mohammad Hasnain to Rahmanullah Gurbaz: No run

Afghanistan after 1 over: 4/0

Hazratullah Zazai 1/Rahmanullah Gurbaz 3

Naseem Shah to Rahmanullah Gurbaz: 3 runs

Naseem Shah to Rahmanullah Gurbaz: No run

Naseem Shah to Hazratullah Zazai: 1 run

Naseem Shah to Hazratullah Zazai: No run

Naseem Shah to Hazratullah Zazai: No run

Naseem Shah to Hazratullah Zazai: No run