Pakistan thrashed Bangladesh by 55 runs on Wednesday in their opening match of cricket’s World Twenty20, with skipper Shahid Afridi starring with bat and ball at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens stadium.
Afridi scored a blistering 49 off just 19 balls in Pakistan’s commanding total of 201 for five before then taking two wickets, including that of danger man Tamim Iqbal, as Bangladesh made 146 for six in their 20 overs.
Top reads:
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Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 55 runs
BAN 146/6 (Over 20)
M Mortaza, 15 (9) | S Al Hasan, 50 (40) | Wahab Riaz, 4-0-31-0
19.6: Wahab to Mortaza, no run. Pakistan win!
19.5: Wahab to Mortaza, no run
19.4: Wahab to Shakib, 1 run. Brings up fifty for Shakib off 40 deliveries.
19.3: Wahab to Shakib, SIX! That has gone all the way!
19.2: Wahab to Mortaza, 1 run
19.1: Wahab to Mortaza, FOUR! Smacks it on the off side!
Wahab comes in to bowl the final over of the innings.
BAN 134/6 (Over 19)
S Al Hasan, 43 (38) | M Mortaza, 10 (5) | M Amir, 4-0-27-2
18.6: Amir to Shakib, 2 runs
18.5: Amir to Mortaza, 1 run
18.5: Amir to Mortaza, (wide)
18.4: Amir to Shakib, 1 run
18.3: Amir to Mortaza, 1 run
18.2: Amir to Mortaza, FOUR! Shapes it into the gap.
18.1: Amir to Shakib, 1 run
Amir into his final over.
Ahsan Iftikhar Nagi on Shehzad’s adjustments
After an arduous Asia Cup campaign, Pakistan fans took a sigh of relief when Pakistan’s top-order gleamed in their first WT20 game against Bangladesh.
The first three batsmen scored 134 runs with Ahmed Shehzad and Mohammad Hafeez scoring convincing fifties.
Shehzad, making a comeback after being axed for the Asia Cup T20, anchored the first half of Pakistan’s innings and approached the bowlers with an entire different technique.
What was the key?
The 24-year old stood tall with his head still, considered a key trait of batsmanship, which gave him a solid foundation to strike the ball. It’s as basic as it gets but mighty effective.
Shehzad also used his feet regularly to get behind the line of the ball. On occasion, he moved across the stumps during the bowler’s stride but remained steady when executing his shot.
Another aspect that stood out was the right-hander’s consistent rotation of the strike that eased the pressure on him and allowed him to free his arms on the loose deliveries.
BAN 123/6 (Over 18)
M Mortaza, 6 (2) | S Al Hasan, 39 (35) | M Irfan, 4-0-30-1
17.6: Irfan to Mortaza, SIX! Lofts it over long on!
17.5: Irfan to Mahsrafe Mortaza, no run
17.4: Irfan to Mithun, OUT! Irfan gets his first, Bangladesh lose sixth.
17.3: Irfan to Shakib, 1 run
17.2: Irfan to Shakib, FOUR! Into the gap on the leg side.
17.1: Irfan to Mithun, 1 run
Irfan into his final over.
BAN 111/5 (Over 17)
M Mithun, 1 (2) | S Al Hasan, 34 (33) | M Amir, 3-0-18-2
16.6: Amir to Mithun, 1 run
16.5: Amir to Mithun, no run
16.4: Amir to Mushfiq, OUT! Not too late for Amir, he gets his wicket. Change of pace and the batsman couldn’t read the length of the delivery. The ball went straight up in the air and Sarfraz Ahmed took an easy catch. Bangladesh five down now.
16.3: Amir to Mushfiq, FOUR! Frees his arms and plays it into the gap.
16.2: Amir to Shakib, (1 run) DROPPED! This could have been another wicket for Pakistan but Ahmed Shehzad drops it.
16.1: Amir to Shakib, no run
Amir returns.
BAN 105/4 (Over 16)
S Al Hasan, 33 (31) | M Rahim, 14 (19) | Wahab Riaz, 3-0-19-0
15.6: Wahab to Shakib, 1 run
15.5: Wahab to Shakib, FOUR! Finds the gap and charged!
15.4: Wahab to Shakib, no run
15.3: Wahab to Shakib, no run
15.2: Wahab to Shakib, 2 runs
15.1: Wahab to Shakib, no run
Wahab into this third over.
BAN 98/4 (Over 15)
M Rahim, 14 (19) | S Al Hasan, 26 (25) | M Irfan, 3-0-18-0
14.6: Irfan to Mushfiq, no run
14.5: Irfan to Mushfiq, no run
14.4: Irfan to Mushfiq, no run
14.3: Irfan to Mushfiq, no run
14.2: Irfan to Shakib, 1 run
14.1: Irfan to Shakib, FOUR! Elegantly done!
Irfan returns.
BAN 93/4 (Over 14)
M Rahim, 14 (15) | S Al Hasan, 21 (23) | Wahab Riaz, 2-0-12-0
13.6: Wahab to Mushfiq, no run
13.5: Wahab to Mushfiq, FOUR! Smacks it on the leg side!
13.4: Wahab to Mushfiq, no run
13.3: Wahab to Mushfiq, no run
13.2: Wahab to Mushfiq, no run
13.1: Wahab to Mushfiq, 2 runs
Wahab returns.
BAN 87/4 (Over 13)
S Al Hasan, 21 (23) | M Rahim, 8 (9) | I Wasim, 2-0-13-1
12.6: Imad to Shakib, no run
12.5: Imad to Mushfiq, 1 run
12.4: Imad to Mushfiq, no run
12.3: Imad to Mushfiq, 2 runs
12.2: Imad to Mushfiq, FOUR! Picks up the length early and plays it into the gap on the leg side.
12.1: Imad to Shakib, 1 run
Imad continues.
In case you missed it: Amir beats Sarkar with pace
BAN 79/4 (Over 12)
M Rahim, 1 (5) | S Al Hasan, 20 (21) | S Afridi, 4-0-27-2
11.6: Afridi to Mushfiq, no run
11.5: Afridi to Mushfiq, no run
11.4: Afridi to Mushfiq, no run
11.3: Afridi to Mushfiq, no run
11.2: Afridi to Shakib, 1 run
11.1: Afridi to Shakib, FOUR! Charged!
Afridi into his final over.
BAN 74/4 (Over 11)
S Al Hasan, 15 (19) | M Rahim, 1 (1) | I Wasim, 1-0-5-1
10.6: Imad to Shakib, 1 run
10.5: Imad to Shakib, no run
10.4: Imad to Mushfiq, 1 run
10.3: Imad to Shakib, 1 run
Mushfiqur Rahim in the new batsman in.
10.2: Imad to Mahmudullah, OUT! He departs on four. Bangladesh four down. Pakistan must be looking to wrap things up here.
10.1: Imad to Mahmudullah, 2 runs
Imad Wasim into the attack.
BAN 69/3 (Over 10)
S Al Hasan, 13 (16) | Mahmudullah, 1 (3) | S Afridi, 3-0-21-2
9.6: Afridi to Shakib, no run
9.5: Afridi to Shakib, 2 runs
9.4: Afridi to Shakib, FOUR! Races away into the fence. Perfectly timed!
9.3: Afridi, to Mahmudullah, 1 run
9.2: Afridi to Mahmudullah, no run
9.1: Afridi to Shakib, 1 run
Afridi into his third over.
Jonty Rhodes on Sarkar’s stunning catch to dismiss Hafeez
BAN 61/3 (Over 9)
S Al Hasan, 6 (12) | Mahmudullah, 1 (1) | S Malik, 2-0-14-0
8.6: Malik to Shakib, 1 run
8.5: Malik to Mahmudullah, 1 run
8.4: Malik to Shakib, 1 run
8.3: Malik to Shakib, no run
8.2: Malik to Shakib, no run
8.1: Malik to Shakib, no run
Malik continues.
BAN 58/3 (Over 8)
S Al Hasan, 4 (7) | S Afridi, 2-0-14-2
7.6: Afridi to Tamim, OUT! Afridi is on fire, picks up his second. Bangladesh lose their third wicket. Tamim departs on 24 off 20.
7.5: Afridi to Shakib, 1 run. Brings up 1,000 runs for Shakib Al Hasan in T20 Internationals.
7.4: Afridi to Shakib, no run
7.3: Afridi to Shakib, no run
7.2: Afridi to Shakib, no run
7.1: Afridi to Tamim, 1 run
Afridi continues.
BAN 56/2 (Over 7)
T Iqbal, 23 (18) | S Al Hasan, 3 (3) | S Malik, 1-0-11-0
6.6: Malik to Tamim, 1 run
6.5: Malik to Tamim, no run
6.5: Malik to Tamim, (wide)
6.4: Malik to Shakib, 1 run
6.3: Malik to Tamim, 1 run
6.2: Malik to Tamim, SIX! Walks down the wicket and lofts it into the stands. Brings up 50 runs for Bangladesh.
6.1: Malik to Shakib, 1 run
Shoaib Malik comes in to bowl.
Bangladesh are in no way out of this
Tamim just needs a few hits to get going and that’s exactly what he did the other day against Oman
BAN 45/2 (Over 6)
S Al Hasan, 1 (1) | T Iqbal, 15 (14) | S Afridi, 1-0-12-1
5.6: Afridi to Shakib, 1 run
Shakib Al Hasan is the new man in.
5.5: Afridi to Shabbir, OUT! Bowled him! Bangladesh lose their second wicket. After getting smashed for two boundaries, Afridi staged a comeback. Big blow to BD. Shabbir Rehman was in a good form.
5.4: Afridi to Shabbir, FOUR! Too short and charged!
5.3: Afridi to Shabbir, no run
5.2: Afridi to Tamim, 1 run
5.1: Afridi to Tamim, SIX! That has gone all the way into the stands!
Shahid Afridi into the attack.
Was it the pitch? Was it the mindset? Pakistan have looked completely different from the side that turned up at the Asia Cup T20.
Afridi’s side looked like they believed in themselves from the moment they came out to bat today. They have thus far played like they had a point to prove.
BAN 33/1 (Over 5)
T Iqbal, 8 (12) | S Rahman, 21 (16) | Wahab Riaz, 1-0-6-0
4.6: Wahab to Tamim, 1 run
4.5: Wahab to Tamim, no run
4.4: Wahab to Shabbir, 1 run
4.3: Wahab to Shabbir, no run
4.2: Wahab to Shabbir, FOUR! Drives it through covers!
4.1: Wahab to Tamim, 1 run
Wahab Riaz into the attack.
In case you missed it: This is how Afridi got his eye in
BAN 26/1 (Over 4)
S Rahman, 16 (13) | T Iqbal, 7 (9) | M Irfan, 2-0-13-0
3.6: Irfan to Shabbir, no run
3.5: Irfan to Tamim, 1 run
3.4: Irfan to Shabbir, 1 run
3.3: Irfan to Tamim, 1 run
3.3: Irfan to Tamim, (side)
3.2: Irfan to Shabbir, 1 run
3.1: Irfan to Shabbir, no run
Irfan continues.
BAN 21/1 (Over 3)
T Iqbal, 5 (7) | S Rahman, 14 (9) | M Amir, 2-0-12-1
2.6: Amir to Tamim, no run
2.5: Amir to Shabbir, 1 run
2.4: Amir to Shabbir, no run
2.3: Amir to Shabbir, no run
2.2: Amir to Shabbir, FOUR! Punches it on the backfoot and into the gap. Magnificent shot!
2.1: Amir to Tamim, 1 run
Amir continues.
BAN 15/1 (Over 2)
T Iqbal, 4 (5) | S Rahman, 9 (5) | M Irfan, 1-0-8-0
1.6: Irfan to Tamim, 1 run
1.5: Irfan to Tamim, 2 runs
1.4: Irfan to Shabbir, 1 run
1.3: Irfan to Shabbir, FOUR! That races away into the gap.
1.2: Irfan to Tamim, 1 run
1.1: Irfan to Tamim, no run
“Huge jubilation below press box at wicket,” says Anik Basu, our special correspondent at the Eden. Mohammad Irfan into the attack.
BAN 6/1 (Over 1)
S Rahman, 4 (3) | T Iqbal, 1 (1) | M Amir, 1-0-6-1
0.6: Amir to Shabbir, no run
0.5: Amir to Shabbir, no run
0.4: Amir to Shabbir, FOUR! That’s beautifully struck into the gap.
Shabbir Rehman is the new man in.
0.3: Amir to Sarkar, OUT! Bowled him! It rips through his defense.
0.2: Amir to Sarkar, no run
0.1: Amir to Tamim, 1 run
Here comes Mohammad Amir. For Bangladesh, Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar open the innings.
Shashi Tharoor on BBC
Can India-Pakistan cricket promote peace?
Cricket is a sport; a cricket team represents a country, it does not symbolise it. To ask cricket to bear a larger burden than any other national endeavour is palpably unfair.
Yet cricket is selectively being made to pay the price of Indian anger against Pakistan.
We have not imposed sanctions on that country, withdrawn ambassadors, stopped trade with them, or even banned their movie stars and singers from practising their profession in India.
But the one activity being singled out for opprobrium is the playing of cricket. Read here
Bangladesh need 202 runs to win in 20 overs
PAK 201/5 (Over 20)
S Malik, 15 (9) | I Wasim, 0 (0) | T Ahmed, 4-0-32-2
19.6: Taskin to Malik, 1 run. Pakistan score 201 in 20 overs, their highest score in the format.
19.5: Taskin to Malik, 2 runs. Brings up 200 for Pakistan. Second time Pakistan has crossed 200 in T20s.
Imad Wasim the new batsman in.
19.4: Taskin to Afridi, OUT! Boom Boom departs on 49 off 19. Set up the pace of Pakistan’s innings by promoting himself up in the order and did the job just fine.
19.3: Taskin to Malik, 1 run
19.2: Taskin to Malik, FOUR! Straight down the ground. Perfect timing!
19.1: Taskin to Malik, FOUR! Charged!
Taskin comes in to bowl the final over of the innings.
PAK 189/4 (Over 19)
S Afridi, 49 (18) | S Malik, 3 (4) | S Al Hasan, 4-0-39-0
18.6: Shakib to Afridi, SIX! That, too, has gone all the way! Into the stands! Here you go, Eden, the Boom Boom show is on!
18.5: Shakib to Malik, 1 run
18.4: Shakib to Malik, no run
18.3: Shakib to Afridi, 1 run
18.2: Shakib to Afridi, FOUR! Powerfully smacked into the gap.
18.1: Shakib to Malik, 1 run
Shakib into his final over.
PAK 176/4 (Over 18)
S Malik, 1 (1) | S Afridi, 38 (15) | T Ahmed, 3-0-20-1
17.6: Taskin to Malik, 1 run
Shoaib Malik is the new man in.
“Umpires pointedly told Tamim to walk away from Umar when he was walking out.”
17.5: Taskin to Akmal, OUT! Full pitched delivery, he grilled it straight into the hands of mid off.
“Heated words between Umar Akmal and Tamim Iqbal, that’s why umpires were having a chat with him,” tells Anik Basu from the Eden.
17.4: Taskin to Akmal, no run
17.3: Taskin to Afridi, 1 run
17.2: Taskin to Afridi, no run
17.1: Taskin to Afridi, SIX! Stand and deliver. Powerful strike!
Taskin comes into bowl.
PAK 168/3 (Over 17)
S Afridi, 31 (12) | U Akmal, 0 (0) | A Sunny, 4-0-34-2
16.6: Sunny to Afridi, 1 run
16.5: Sunny to Afridi, FOUR! Through point and into the gap.
Umar Akmal is the new man in.
16.4: Sunny to Hafeez, no, he won’t be able to do that today. OUT! Stellar work at the boundary by Soumya Sarkar. He is Bangladesh’s superman! Hafeez departs on 64.
16.3: Sunny to Hafeez, FOUR! Hafeez is on song here! Can he make a century here?
16.2: Sunny to Afridi, 1 run
16.1: Sunny to Hafeez, 1 run
Sunny into his final over.
PAK 157/2 (Over 16)
S Afridi, 25 (9) | M Hafeez, 59 (39) | A Hossain, 3-0-43-0
“It’s a battle of decibels between the noisy BD fans who have come in considerable numbers, both by road and air … and Indian supporters of Pakistan,” says Anik Basu from the Eden Gardens’ press box.
15.6: Amin to Afridi, SIX! That has gone all the way! Out of the park! With Afridi, the Eden crowd roars!
15.5: Amin to Hafeez, 1 run
15.4: Amin to Hafeez, FOUR! Looking for a yorker, into the stumps, the batsman uses his wrists and drives it into the gap.
15.3: Amin to Hafeez, FOUR! Elegantly done!
Huge support for Pakistan at the Eden. “When Hafeez reached his fifty, it was electric. When Afridi walked in, the crowd roared,” says Anik Basu, our special correspondent in Kolkata.
15.2: Amin to Afridi, 1 run
15.1: Amin to Afridi, 2 runs
Amin into his third over.
PAK 139/2 (Over 15)
S Afridi, 16 (6) | M Hafeez, 50 (36) | M Mortaza, 3-0-41-0
14.6: Mortaza to Afridi, 1 run
14.5: Mortaza to Afridi, no run
14.5: Mortaza to Afridi, SIX! Above waist high, no ball! Flick of a wrist and into the stands! Afridi’s power!
14.4: Mortaza to Afridi, FOUR! Gutsy! Sweeps it into the gap towards fine leg.
14.3: Mortaza to Afridi, FOUR! Leggish, flicks it into the fine-leg fence.
14.2: Mortaza to Hafeez, 1 run. Brings up his fifty as well. Brilliantly played innings!
14.1: Mortaza to Afridi, 1 run
Mortaza continues. Into his third over.
PAK 121/2 (Over 14)
M Hafeez, 49 (35) | S Afridi, 0 (0) | S Rahman, 2-0-11-1
13.6: Shabbir to Hafeez, no run
Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi is on the crease.
13.5: Shabbir to Shehzad, OUT! Pakistan lose its second wicket. Shehzad falls on 52.
13.4: Shabbir to Shehzad, no run
13.3: Shabbir to Hafeez, 1 run
13.2: Shabbir to Hafeez, 2 runs
13.1: Shabbir to Shehzad, 1 run
Shabbir continues.
PAK 117/1 (Over 13)
A Shehzad, 51 (36) | M Hafeez, 46 (32) | M Mortaza, 2-0-23-0
12.6: Mortaza to Shehzad, 1 run
12.5: Mortaza to Hafeez, 1 run
12.4: Mortaza to Hafeez, FOUR! Punches it into the gap on the leg side.
12.3: Mortaza to Hafeez, no run
12.2: Mortaza to Shehzad, 1 run. Brings up fifty for the batsman. Took just 35 balls.
12.1: Mortaza to Shehzad, FOUR! Unfortunate for the bowler, the ball races away towards the fine leg fence.
Mortaza returns.
PAK 106/1 (Over 12)
A Shehzad, 45 (33) | M Hafeez, 41 (29) | A Hossain, 2-0-25-0
11.6: Amin to Shehzad, 1 run
11.5: Amin to Hafeez, 1 run
11.4: Amin to Hafeez, no run
11.3: Amin to Shehzad, 1 run
11.2: Amin to Shehzad, FOUR! Easily done, also brings up 100 for Pakistan.
11.1: Amin to Shehzad, no run
Amin returns.
PAK 99/1 (Over 11)
M Hafeez, 40 (27) | A Shehzad, 39 (29) | S Al Hasan, 3-0-26-0
10.6: Shakib to Hafeez, 2 runs
10.5: Shakib to Hafeez, no run
10.4: Shakib to Hafeez, FOUR! One bounce for a boundary, into the gap. Mid-wicket!
10.3: Shakib to Hafeez, 2 runs
10.2: Shakib to Shehzad, 1 run
10.1: Shakib to Shehzad, no run
Shakib into his third over.
PAK 90/1 (Over 10)
M Hafeez, 32 (23) | A Shehzad, 38 (27) | S Rahman, 1-0-7-0
9.6: Shabbir to Hafeez, 2 runs
9.5: Shabbir to Hafeez, no run
9.4: Shabbir to Hafeez, no run
9.3: Shabbir to Shehzad, 1 run
9.2: Shabbir to Shehzad, no run
9.1: Shabbir to Shehzad, FOUR! Magnificent drive! Into the gap!
Shabbir into the attack.
PAK 83/1 (Over 9)
A Shehzad, 33 (24) | M Hafeez, 30 (20) | S Al Hasan, 2-0-17-0
8.6: Shakib to Shehzad, 1 run
8.5: Shakib to Hafeez, 1 run
8.4: Shakib to Shehzad, 1 run
8.3: Shakib to Hafeez, 1 run
8.2: Shakib to Shehzad, 1 run
8.1: Shakib to Hafeez, 1 run
Shakib continues.
PAK 77/1 (Over 8)
A Shehzad, 30 (21) | M Hafeez, 27 (17) | M Mortaza, 1-0-12-0
7.6: Mortaza to Shehzad, FOUR! Into the backward point fence.
7.5: Mortaza to Hafeez, 1 run
7.4: Mortaza to Shehzad, 1 run
7.3: Mortaza to Shehzad, FOUR! Leggish, but the batsman was well aware of the field placement. Into the backward square-leg fence.
7.2: Mortaza to Hafeez, 1 run
7.1: Mortaza to Shehzad, 1 run
BD skipper Mortaza into the attack.
PAK 65/1 (Over 7)
M Hafeez, 25 (15) | A Shehzad, 20 (17) | A Sunny, 3-0-23-1
6.6: Sunny to Hafeez, SIX! This is massive! Out of the park!
6.5: Sunny to Shehzad, 1 run
6.4: Sunny to Hafeez, 1 run
6.3: Sunny to Hafeez, no run
6.2: Sunny to Shehzad, 1 run
6.1: Sunny to Hafeez, 1 run
Sunny into the attack.
PAK 55/1 | Overs: 6/20
M Hafeez, 17 (11) | A Shehzad, 18 (15) | S Al Hasan, 1-0-11-0
5.6: Shakib to Hafeez, 1 run
5.5: Shakib to Hafeez, FOUR! Dances down the track and into the gap.
5.4: Shakib to Hafeez, no run
5.4: Shakib to Hafeez, (wide)
5.3: Shakib to Hafeez, FOUR! Magnificent drive! Walks down the wicket and lofts it towards long-off.
5.2: Shakib to Shehzad, 1 run
5.1: Shakib to Shehzad, no run
Shakib into the attack.
From our Images team
‘Mauka’ man Skypes with Afridi in new ad
Aaaand he’s back. The Mauka man, aka the character created by Star Sports for their World Twenty20 advert last year, has returned in a sequel commercial, and this time he’s Skyping with Afridi.
The ad is based on India’s four-time winning streak against Pakistan in the World Twenty20 series and features a man who appears to have grown up waiting for Pakistan to win so he can put his box full of fireworks to good use.
In the sequel ad, the man talks to ‘Shahid bhai’ over Skype, and entreats him to show India how to hit a sixer. Star Sports, however, is hopeful for a fifth win.
Pakistan 44/1 | Run Rate: 8.80 | Overs: 5/20
4.6: Sunny to Hafeez, no run
4.5: Sunny to Hafeez, no run
4.4: Sunny to Shehzad, 1 run
4.3: Sunny to Shehzad, FOUR! Walks down the wicket and lofts it through extra-covers..
4.2: Sunny to Shehzad, no run
4.1: Sunny to Hafeez, 1 run
Sunny continues.
Pakistan 38/1 | Run Rate: 9.50 | Overs: 4/20
3.6: Taskin to Hafeez, 1 run
3.5: Taskin to Shehzad, 1 run
3.4: Taskin to Shehzad, no run
3.3: Taskin to Shehzad, no run
3.2: Taskin to Shehzad, no run
3.1: Taskin to Shehzad, FOUR! Flick of a wrist and into the gap. Might be unbelievable but at this projection, Pakistan could score 213 runs in 20 overs.
Taskin Ahmed returns.
Pakistan 32/1 | Run Rate: 10.66 | Overs: 3/20
2.6: Sunny to Hafeez, no run
2.5: Sunny to Hafeez, SIX! Second delivery, dances down the track, and lofts it over long-on.
2.4: Sunny to Hafeez, no run
Mohammad Hafeez is the new man in.
2.3: Sunny to Sharjeel, OUT! Ordinary stuff from the batsman. Wasn’t sure of his stumps and Bangladesh bounce back. Pakistan lose its first wicket.
2.2: Sunny to Sharjeel, no run
2.1: Sunny to Shehzad, 1 run
Sunny into the attack.
Pakistan 25/0 | Run Rate: 12.50 | Overs: 2/20
1.6: Amin to Sharjeel, FOUR! Sharjeel is on fire. Shortish delivery, and he smacks it into the long-off fence.
1.5: Amin to Shehzad, 1 run
1.4: Amin to Sharjeel, 1 run
1.3: Amin to Sharjeel, SIX! Straight down the ground!
1.2: Amin to Sharjeel, no run
1.1: Amin to Sharjeel, SIX! On his legs, and the batsman smacks it into the stands. Never bowl Sharjeel on his legs!
Al-Amin comes in to bowl the second over.
Pakistan 7/0 | Run Rate: 7.00 | Overs: 1/20
0.6: Taskin to Sharjeel, 1 run
0.5: Taskin to Shehzad, 1 run
0.4: Taskin to Shehzad, FOUR! Drives it through covers. Magnificent drive!
0.3: Taskin to Shehzad, no run
0.2: Taskin to Sharjeel, 1 run
0.1: Taskin to Sharjeel, no run
Taskin Ahmed takes the new ball. Sharjeel Khan and Ahmed Shehzad open the innings for Pakistan.
Mashrafe downplays Pakistan’s Eden record
Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza does not believe Pakistan enjoys any edge over his team because of their track record at the Eden Gardens or having played a warm-up game here a day earlier.
“I don’t think two to three days of practice or four wins matter,” Mashrafe said at a press briefing at the Eden Gardens on Tuesday immediately before a net session, referring to Pakistan’s 4-0 record in ODIs against India at the iconic stadium.
Pakistan have also spent three days in Kolkata after landing in the city on Saturday night — and had two practice sessions as well as played a practice match against Sri Lanka, which they won comfortably.
In contrast, the Bangladeshis arrived from the cool climes of Dharamsala on Monday night.
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Here are the two squads:
Pakistan
Ahmed Shehzad, Sharjeel Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed†, Shahid Afridi*, Imad Wasim, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Irfan
Bangladesh
Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Sabbir Rahman, Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim†, Mashrafe Mortaza*, Mohammad Mithun, Al-Amin Hossain, Arafat Sunny, Taskin Ahmed
Mashrafe downplays Pakistan’s Eden record
Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza does not believe Pakistan enjoys any edge over his team because of their track record at the Eden Gardens or having played a warm-up game here a day earlier.
Pakistan have spent three days in Kolkata after landing in the city on Saturday night — and had two practice sessions as well as played a practice match against Sri Lanka, which they won comfortably.
In contrast, the Bangladeshis arrived from the cool climes of Dharamsala on Monday night.
It will be Bangladesh’s first game in the main round of the tournament, after topping group of the qualifying round, and the team’s first-ever at the Eden Gardens.
But Mashrafe spoke of the high his team is on having played some memorable cricket over the past year.
“Obviously there is a bit of confidence. In one-and-half years we’ve played good cricket though in ODIs, now last two-three months we are playing good T20s.”
A raucous crowd is gathering outside the maidan, beating drums, waving the Bangladesh flag, inching towards the stadium gates.
Police are keeping a benign watch under the scorching sun. It had rained in the morning, but the weather at present looks clear and sunny.
When the Pakistan team bus arrived, police immediately sealed off the area. Fans were curious. One of them said, “I saw Irfan’s head.”
— Reports Anik Basu, our special correspondent at the Eden Gardens
