Match Preview, Asia Cup 2022, Super 4, Match 4

Pakistan take on Afghanistan in match 4 of the ongoing Asia Cup 2022 in Sharjah on September 7, Wednesday. The side is coming off a high of beating India in their first Super game in Dubai on Sunday. The side will now fancy beating Afghanistan and Sri Lanka as they look forward to making the finals.

Pakistan defeated India in another close encounter by 5 wickets and with a ball to spare. Mohammad Rizwan top-scored for his side with a match-winning 71. His partnership of 73 runs with Mohammad Nawaz (43 off 20) turned out to be the difference for Pakistan.

Arshdeep Singh dropping Asif Ali’s catch in the 18th over was another key moment in the game that went Pakistan‘s way. Overall, The Men in Green held their nerves in another close game against India. In the process, they avenge their defeat against Indi which they suffered in their first group game of this Asia Cup.

Pakistan vs Afghanistan: Match Preview, Asia Cup 2022, Super 4, Match 4

Pakistan

The side is playing some really good cricket in the tournament. After their loss against India in the group game, they came back well against Hong Kong dismissing them for just 38 runs. When the chance came, they avenged their defeat against India in the Super 4 clash with the side winning the key moments in the game. Mohammad Rizwan’s love affair with India continued as he scores another match-winning score. Pakistan skipper Babab Azam was quick to highlight that it was the partnership that was the turning point in the game.

“Rizwan and Nawaz partnership was the turning point. I had a hunch Nawaz would be key against legspinners (about his promotion)” said Babar after leading his team to a win.

Against Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, they will be the favourites to win if they play with the same intensity and urgency.

Pakistan Squad

Babar Azam (C), Shadab Khan, Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Shahnawaz Dahani, Usman Qadir

Afghanistan

Afghanistan lost a closely contested game against Sri Lanka in their first Super 4 game. They had previously beaten Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in the group stage but failed to keep their nerves in the Super 4 game. They are now coming up against Pakistan who are a maverick side on their day. The Afghans will have to be at their best in every discipline if they are to beat this Pakistan side with multiple matchwinners. A loss against Pakistan will all but end their hopes of making the finals of the tournament.

Afghanistan Squad

Mohammad Nabi (c), Najibullah Zadran, Afsar Zazai, Azmatullah Omarzai, Farid Ahmad Malik, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Hazratullah Zazai, Ibrahim Zadran, Karim Janat, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Najibullah Zadran, Naveen ul Haq, Noor Ahmad, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rashid Khan, Samiullah Shinwari.

Standby: Nijat Masood, Qais Ahmed, Sharafuddin Ashraf

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