Afghanistan v Pakistan, T20 World Cup 2021: Live Scorecard, Prediction and Statistics

Summary so far: Afghanistan spinners keep Pakistan under check in chase of 147

Afghanistan v Pakistan: Live updates from Dubai

Pakistan win!

Four sixes in six balls. He really made an impact at the end – at one point, 24 off 12 looked like an equation that Pakistan might just fall short of, but Asif cleaned up the chase with one over to spare, bringing the Pakistan fans to their feet. Top, top effort.

Spare a thought for Naib, Nabi and Rashid, who did so well with bat and ball, but the score just proved to be not enough for Afghanistan, who now have a win and a loss from two games.

Asif Ali brings Pakistan back with a meaty blow, going back and smashing a six over extra cover. Janat under pressure now. He follows it with another hefty blow over mid-wicket, and suddenly Pakistan are the favourites.

Chants of Asif, Asif doing the rounds. He’s brought them back into the game, and in some style.

24 needed off 12. 

Over 17.5: Pakistan 124-5, Babar, Malik depart, and the game is alive!

The atmosphere is electric right now, with Rashid having brought Afghanistan back into the game. Naveen follows it up with a brilliant over, and snares Malik, further complicating it for Pakistan.

Really, this game is alive. Pakistan are crumbling!

[caption id=”attachment_223103″ align=”alignnone” width=”800″] The crowd has been brilliant today, almost filled to the mandated 70 per cent capacity[/caption]

Update: 100 T20I wickets for Rashid Khan, and the milestone has come at a brilliant time. He greets new entrant Malik with another wrong ‘un, amid a stream of oohs and aahs from the crowd. Babar is well-settled, and really would be the one to take them past the line.

Over 14: Pakistan 97-2 – 51 runs, 36 balls to go, this game is nicely poised

Rashid is bowling majestically here, firing deliveries into batters, and making them turn just a tad. Nabi, on the other hand, has also kept it fairly tight, but the Pakistan batters are showing great composure here to refrain from taking risks against spinners. Nabi has bowled himself out, which means there’s only Rashid left among spinners. Can the seamers keep on the pressure?

Over 11.2: Pakistan 75-2, Afghanistan trying to claw their way back in

If Rashid doesn’t get you, Nabi will! Fakhar Zaman tried a wild sweep, but couldn’t make contact – Nabi’s delivery slips through and gets him! Ooh, can they get back into this game?

Rashid, you beauty…oh wait.

His first over of the day, and he might have snared Babar here! It was the wrong ‘un, and appeared to have had him leg-before, but replays show that the trajectory is missing. Babar survives, and there’s a massive cheer from the Pakistan crowd.

Over 10: Pakistan 72-1, Babar, Zaman motor along

Afghanistan are running out of ideas here, as Babar and Zaman have put Pakistan on course for an easy chase here. Wickets is the way to go for them – mind you, Rashid Khan is yet to be tested.

29 Oct 2021, 17:30 UK time: The required runs are under 100 now, and Pakistan have helped themselves to a neat partnership here. Afghanistan need a wicket, and fast. The quicks have been tight so far, but nothing really that could trouble Babar and Zaman.

Over 7: Pakistan 44-1, Afghanistan keep Babar-Zaman under check

Mujeeb Ur Rahman has been so good today with his variations, and has kept the run-rate under check from one end. However, he seems to be struggling with a leg injury and is walking off. He’s done his bit though – 4-0-14-1 are remarkable figures.

The total might be a tad underwhelming, but Afghanistan made a splendid recovery from where they were. Truly, a formidable T20 unit.

Over 4: Pakistan 29-1, Fakhar Zaman ups the tempo

After keeping the run-flow under check, Nabi gets targetted by Fakhar Zaman, who immediately builds on the tempo. A couple of big strikes, and they are back on track.

Over 2.2, Pakistan: 12-1, Rizwan departs to Mujeeb!

That’s huge. The opening partnership has been broken. The Pakistan middle order hasn’t been tested properly so far, and Afghanistan’s spinners will be really making a game out of this one.

October 24, 17:02 GMT: We’re back with the chase, and Pakistan have started steadily, starting watchfully against the two spinners.

[caption id=”attachment_223072″ align=”alignnone” width=”800″] 4-0-22-1 – Shaheen Afridi was right on the money today, both in the powerplay and at the death[/caption]

We’ll be back in ten minutes with the chase. Until then, do check out the summary of the Afghanistan innings here:

Over 20: Afghanistan 146-6, Nabi-Naib at the centre of remarkable recovery

You can always trust Afridi to end with a tight final over. He was right on the money with the new ball, and comes back to bring quite a bit of momentum back Pakistan’s way in the final over. There was almost a bad, bad run-out along the way, but these two survive to take Afghanistan to a respectable total after the middle order had almost been torn open.

A 71-run partnership worth its weight in gold, but Pakistan are still favourites to win this one.

Update: Nabi is joining the party here. Afghanistan have had to pretty much ditch their six-hitting approach today, courtesy of some fine bowling, but these two have adapted so well to actually play along the ground and eke out gaps.

Has to be noted that Haris has been guilty of straying to the legside on several occasions.

Mind you, Afghanistan were 93-6 at the end of 15 overs.

Over 18: Afghanistan 125-6, Naib tears Hasan apart

Summary of the 18th over: 6,4,2,2,4,NB, 1

Naib is playing a lovely knock here. Nabi played the role of an accumulator, helping them out of a hole, which allowed Naib to settle down into hitting mode. He’s now hitting Hasan left, right and centre, and the plan to bowl full is actually not working. 21 runs from that one.

Update: Three overs to go, and Naib starts with a vicious flick six over deep square leg. That’ll help. Hasan needs to bowl full and straight here.

Over 15: Afghanistan 93-5, Can they reach 140?

A massive cheer from the crowd, as Shaheen Afridi preps to bowl, but the cameras pan towards the other Afridi, Shahid, who is part of the audience today.

Nabi seems to be freeing up, enjoying the pace of the ball on the bat. Anything full, and he uses his strong bottom hand to drill it through covers. With two fielders on the outfield on the leg-side, Hasan Ali should ideally target him with back of length on the body, restricting any room.

Update: It’s been such a see-saw ride for Afghanistan. When you think they’re getting close to building a partnership, Pakistan make a re-entry with a wicket. Najibullah was looking to break the growing sluggishness but ends up edging one to the keeper.

Seven overs to go. How far can Afghanistan go?

Over 12: Afghanistan 67-5, Nabi holds key as Pakistan tighten grip

There’s been a period of lull after Janat’s departure, with Najib considerably slowing down, and Nabi taking time to settle in.

In the last three overs, Afghanistan have added just seven runs.

Over 9.1: Afghanistan 64-5, Imad halts Najib-Janat’s rebuilding mission

There was some really intelligent cricket from these two, before Janat got tempted for an aerial stroke and went for an unnecessary slog.

Najib and Janat have quite a task here. It’ll be important that they spend the next few overs consolidating here, for the run-rate is still quite healthy. With the powerplay done, there are enough gaps to play the ball around and gather runs steadily.

Over 6: Afghanistan 49-4, losing the plot against pace

Oh dear, Afghanistan are going down really fast here. Quality bowling from Pakistan, but also, equally, poor choice of strokes from Afghanistan here.

I feel Rauf could burst open the Afghanistan middle order real quick here. After the New Zealand game, his line and length look much better than that in the India game.

Over 4.3: Afghanistan 33-3, Make it three!

Rauf, brought into the attack to challenge Afghanistan with raw pace (his fastest this tournament has been 152 clicks), fires one in, forcing Afghan to offer an easy catch back. Really, Pakistan have just been really good with the new ball.

Rahmanullah and Afghan have quickly gathered runs here, counter-attacking Wasim with a few lusty blows on the leg-side. Pakistan have now decided to go for Haris Rauf’s bristling pace – mind you, he was brought on much later against India, and took 4-22 against New Zealand.

Over 3: Afghanistan 13-2 – Afridi with a double whammy!

Another one! Having already drilled one through covers, Shahzad tried to go for another one, but ended up playing a half-baked stroke to mid-on’s hands. Such a crucial blow.

It’s going to be interesting to see how Afghanistan approach this now. Zazai could have really handed them an advantage early on, but they’re now pushed to the backfoot. As I write that, Shahzad plonks his front foot forward, and blasts one over extra cover. He’s not going to wait.

It’s only Zazai’s second duck in 17 T20Is, and comes after his fiery 30-ball 44 in the last game.

Zazai is gone!

Imad Wasim does the trick! He was brought into the attack to stifle Zazai, who’s so good in the powerplay. He tries to slog it away, but it gets a top edge for Haris Rauf to circle around at short third man and gobble. That’s a really good catch. The template is working well for Pakitan so far.

Over 1: Afghanistan 5-0 – Afridi is breathing fire, again!

Oh, Afridi! He’s bowling as good as he did against India. He starts off with a wide, but corrects his line straight away, bowling full and straight (and fast). He almost yorks Shahzad and Zazai one after another. No swing so far, with Pakistan stationing a deep square leg and a third man for Zazai.

Pakistan burn a review off the last ball, checking for an LBW for a full-toss going down leg.

Everyone ball off the bat is being cheered by the Afghanistan crowd.

Shaheen Afridi to start. Zazai to face the first ball. I am backing the bowler to win this battle.

The cameras pan across the players’ faces, as the crowd is at a standstill. Chants of Pakistan and Afghanistan fans are piercing through the media box glass. This is as big as any game in this tournament.

The Afghanistan and Pakistan flags are being moved into position, along with the ICC banner. In the next few minutes, both teams will assemble for the national anthems.

Ooh, it’s going to be such a treat watching Zazai face Shaheen Afridi first up. The left-arm quick was so good against India, tearing through the top order with wickets of Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul. Zazai (and Shahzad) won’t be holding back though.

Toss: Nabi calls heads, Afghanistan have won the toss. They decide to bat first.

Both teams are playing the same XI.

Afghanistan XI: Zazai, Shahzad, Rahnamullah, Afghan, Najib, Nabi, Naib, Janat, Rashid, Naveen, Mujeeb

Pakistan XI: Babar, Rizwan, Zaman, Hafeez, Malik, Asif, Imad, Shadab, Hasan, Afridi, Rauf

Venue: Dubai International Stadium, Start Time: 6pm local time

The team sheets have been exchanged between Mohammad Nabi and Babar Azam, as the two captains walk out into the middle, heartily chatting with each other. The camaraderie is lovely to see on the pitch.

Just by the side, Rashid Khan, who quit as captain ahead of the World Cup, is sending down some crunching leggies.

[caption id=”attachment_222950″ align=”alignnone” width=”1926″] Scores of fans are already outside the venue, two hours before the start[/caption]

Hello and welcome! I, Aadya Sharma, will be blogging live on all the happenings from the venue in Dubai – we’re under an hour away from the start of the Afghanistan v Pakistan match.

The crowds have already started to throng the venue, with a huge line of Afghanistan and Pakistan supporters already stationed outside the stadium, waiting to be let in.

T20 World Cup 2021 Afghanistan v Pakistan: Where to watch live

India

Star Sports Network; Streaming: Disney+ Hotstar

UK & Ireland

Sky Sports Cricket, Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Mix; Streaming: Sky Sports app, www.skysports.com

Pakistan

PTV Sports

Afghanistan

RTA Sports & Ariana TV

The complete list of broadcast (TV and live streaming) options for the tournament can be found here.