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Afghanistan eventually defeated Pakistan in an ODI
match on Monday in Chennai, ending a run of seven losses. Veteran all-rounder
Mohammad Nabi said that this victory was greater than the one against England
earlier in the competition, despite Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi’s
remarks that it “tastes sweet” after he made the victorious run.
“This win tastes nice. The way we chased was very
professional,” Shahidi said at the post-game presentation ceremony.
“The quality cricket we are playing for the last couple of years… the
belief was there when we were playing Asia Cup also. At the start of the
tournament, I said we want to make this tournament historic for our country’s
people. First was England, today Pakistan, and looking forward for the other
games.
Nabi was thrilled to finally get a win over Pakistan
in the format. “It’s a big moment for the whole team, but also whole
Afghanistan as well,” he said. “We have been waiting for the last
10-12 years. We have played around eight games against Pakistan, and we won one
game in a big event.
“It’s a big achievement for the guys. From the
last three months, we’ve been working very hard. We played a series against
Pakistan, then Asia Cup, and then come here to the World Cup. It’s a lovely
moment today. We beat England as well, and now Pakistan. The team is confident
now. And the team knows if we score around 280-290 on this kind of surface,
it’s defendable and chaseable as well.
“I think this is the favourite win, against Pakistan,
because [earlier] in the last moments, we used to lose the game [to Pakistan].
Now the way Ibrahim [Zadran] and[[Rahmanullah] Gurbaz started the game, it was
a fantastic start. The momentum from that, Rahmat Shah and the captain gave a
lovely partnership.
Pakistan scored 282 in Chennai because to
half-centuries from Abdullah Shafique and Babar Azam, but Afghanistan’s pursuit
was successfully completed by Rahmat and Shahidi after a 130-run opening stand
between Ibrahim and Gurbaz.
Ibrahim earned the Player-of-the-Match award for his
assured 87 in the chase, putting on big partnerships with first Gurbaz and then
Rahmat. In the eyes of the adjuticators, that topped Noor Ahmad’s 3 for 49, the
wickets those of Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam.