Pakistan crashed out of the 2023 Asia Cup after going down to Sri Lanka in a thrilling clash of the Super Fours, and here are the ratings for the players.
As many as 16 players from Pakistan took part in the tournament, with injury and bad form leading to wholesale changes over the course of five games.
Abdullah Shafique: 7/10
52 runs @ 52
Shafique played against Sri Lanka after Imam-ul-Haq had a back spasm ahead of the clash. He made a fifty in only his fourth ODI.
Fakhar Zaman: 2/10
65 runs @ 16.25
Initially dropped from the XI for the Sri Lanka clash, Fakhar played the Imam had to sit out and Saud Shakeel had fever. He made four, and has now gone 10 innings without crossing 35.
Imam-ul-Haq: 4/10
92 runs @ 30.66
Imam batted thrice, making 5 and 9 against Nepal. His 78 against Bangladesh came when Pakistan chased only 194.
Babar Azam: 6/10
207 runs @ 51.75
It was a mixed bag for Babar, who started with 151 against Nepal but could only make 56 runs in the remaining matches. His captaincy came under the scanner as well, particularly his usage of spinners, which allowed India to get off the hook twice.
Mohammad Rizwan: 7.5/10
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195 runs @ 97.50
Rizwan made two fifties, the most for Pakistan: an unbeaten 63 against Bangladesh and a near-decisive 86 not out to take his team to a competitive 252-7 in 42 overs against Sri Lanka. He also took eight catches and one stumping.
Mohammad Haris: 1/10
3 runs @ 3
Haris failed in his only game, against Sri Lanka.
Salman Agha: 1/10
40 runs @ 20
Salman made 40 in three innings, at a strike rate of 60. A tournament to forget.
Iftikhar Ahmed: 8/10
179 @ 89.50
Iftikhar’s batting came of age at the Asia Cup, where he finished with a strike rate of 123. He scored his maiden ton, a 71-ball 109 against Nepal; a 40-ball 47 against Sri Lanka; and 23 against India. He also picked up four wickets, though he was expensive on occasions.
Shadab Khan: 3/10
6 wickets @ 40.83
Shadab failed to be effective in either game against India, giving away 57 runs in the washed-out match in nine overs after the seamers had given them the edge. He started the tournament with 4-27 against Nepal but had just two more wickets in the next four innings.
Mohammad Nawaz: 0.5/10
1 wicket @ 94
Nawaz played three games before being dropped midway through the tournament. His only wicket came against Nepal.
Faheem Ashraf: 0.5/10
1 wicket @ 101
Faheem returned to ODIs after two years against Afghanistan just ahead of the Asia Cup. He did not put in a strong performance here, and gave away 0-74 in the Super Fours game against India.
Shaheen Shah Afridi: 8/10
10 wickets @ 23.50
Pakistan’s leading wicket-taker at this Asia Cup, Shaheen was brilliant barring his struggles with line and lengths in patches. In the first game against India, he did not start off well but corrected his length following the rain break to take out Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. He also kept Pakistan alive until the end against Sri Lanka.
Haris Rauf: 8/10
9 wickets @ 13.33
Rauf was quick, economical and accurate in the 25 overs that he bowled in the Asia Cup. He kept improving as the tournament progressed, and Pakistan missed him dearly after he was ruled out of the game against India, with five overs still to go. He did not play against Sri Lanka.
Mohammad Wasim: 1/10
0 wickets
Wasim played against Sri Lanka after a string of injuries in the Pakistan camp, conceding 25 runs in three overs.
Naseem Shah: 8/10
7 wickets @ 20
Naseem had been effective at the death when Shaheen struggled. Pakistan’s pace trio made for a lethal bowling attack, but Naseem injured his shoulder against India and is likely to miss the World Cup, which will be a huge blow to the team.
Zaman Khan: 4/10
0 wickets
Zaman debuted against Sri Lanka after a string of injuries, and could have won Pakistan the game in the last over, defending eight – but for an incredible piece of game awareness by Pramod Madushan, a lucky edge, and a calm finishing stroke from Charith Asalanka.
