Asia Cup 2023: Floodlight failure leads to 18-minute delay in Pakistan-Bangladesh clash

Soon after Pakistan started their chase in the first match of the Super Fours stage of the Asia Cup against Bangladesh, the floodlights at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore started malfunctioning, leading to a nearly 20-minute stoppage in play.

Chasing 194 runs for victory, Pakistan openers Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq began cautiously as the Bangladesh new-ball pair of Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam tested the two left-handers. At the end of five overs, Pakistan were 15-0 when one of the several light towers went off at the Gaddafi Stadium.

The players had to walk off the field as there wasn’t sufficient light for the match to continue. It took around 15 minutes for the lights on the malfunctioning floodlight tower to start returning. Play was stopped for a total of 18 minutes before players headed back onto the field and resumed proceedings.

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The break would have been a welcome one for the Pakistan openers who were finding it tough to deal with the swing and seam that the Bangladesh seamers were generating. After the delay, Zaman was dismissed on the first ball of the tenth over, caught plumb in front by Shoriful. Imam had an lbw review taken against him as well in the very next over, but just about managed to survive.

Earlier in the day, Bangladesh had struggled their way to 193 on the back of fifties from Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim. Haris Rauf bowled a rapid spell that was too good for the Bangladeshi batters as he finished with figures of 4-19 off his six overs.

Pakistan had a major injury scare on the field when Naseem Shah lay motionless on the ground after diving to stop a boundary in the sixth over of the Bangladesh innings. Fortunately for them, Naseem was able to return to bowling action after getting help from the medical team.