Watch: Pakistan hit their first six in the ODI powerplay in 2023 when Abdullah Shafique crunched a short ball over deep square leg during their game with Afghanistan in the 2023 World Cup.
To bet on the World Cup with our Match Centre Partners bet365 head here.
Pakistan played 20 ODIs in 2023 before their game against Afghanistan on October 23 (Monday), hitting 81 sixes, none of which came in the first powerplay that spans the first ten overs of the batting innings.
The streak was finally broken against Afghanistan in the fifth over when Shafique picked up a short ball by Naveen early and swivelled across, pulling it towards deep square leg for a maximum. It was the first six by the side in the powerplay after 1,168 balls, a feat that was celebrated by Waqar Younis on commentary, who exclaimed: “There you go, the jinx is broken. It was hanging for a long time, the monkey on our shoulder.”
Pakistan went on to hit another six in the powerplay, with Shafique lofting a ball by Mujeeb ur Rahman over long-off in the eighth over.
Babar Azam’s side scored 56-0 in the first ten overs of the game, losing Imam-ul-Haq a ball after the powerplay ended on 17.
Watch the first six of the powerplay by Pakistan here:
View this post on Instagram
