Counter-attacking Nazir takes Pakistan through
Imran Nazir blasted 72 off 36 balls. -Photo by AP
PALLEKELE: Pakistan bludgeoned Bangladesh out of the World Twenty20 and successfully reached the Super Eights round with a ruthless batting display on Tuesday.
Imran Nazir’s brilliant 72 and skipper Mohammad Hafeez’s 45 helped take Pakistan past Bangladesh’s challenging 175-6 in Pallekele, after already overhauling the target needed to go through on net run-rate.
Shakib Al Hasan had smashed a record 84 for Bangladesh, who needed to win by 36 runs to go through, raising the prospect of a shock upset against the former champions.
But those hopes were quickly dashed by opener Nazir’s career-best knock, including nine boundaries and three sixes in 36 balls, which made up the bulk of Pakistan’s 124 for the opening wicket with Hafeez.
Even when both fell in one Abul Hasan over, Nasir Jamshed (29 not out) and Kamran Akmal (22 not out) ensured the win was achieved with eight balls to spare as Pakistan wrapped it up with 178-2, joining New Zealand in the next round.
“It’s a great team effort, the boys have shown the right attitude so far in this tournament,” said Hafeez.
“Our bowlers tried well but there is a little bit of a concern about the fast bowlers, still I am very happy as captain because the team are responding to me,” said Hafeez, whose pace trio conceded 93 in nine overs.
Rahim was happy with Bangladesh’s efforts in a high-pressure situation.
“The pressure was on us but Hasan played very well. We can take some positives out of this and go home and work on a few things,” said Rahim.
After Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bat, left-hander Hasan hit his second Twenty20 fifty and added 68 runs for the third wicket with skipper Mushfiqur Rahim (25).
Hasan, whose previous T20 best of 57 came against Ireland at Belfast earlier this year, smashed 11 boundaries and two sixes during his 54-ball knock, improving Nazimuddin’s previous best of 81, against Pakistan at Nairobi in 2007.
Opener Tamim Iqbal hit five boundaries in his 12-ball 24 before he was unfortunately run out. It was Hasan who punished every Pakistani bowler, with Umar Gul going for 43 runs in his three overs.
Pakistan were sloppy in the field, with Sohail Tanveer dropping a sitter off Rahim and Shahid Afridi failing to hold on to a sharp chance off Hasan — both in one over by Yasir Arafat, who was best bowler with 3-25.
The Super Eights, which decide the semi-finalists, start in Pallekele on Thursday, with Sri Lanka taking on New Zealand and England playing the West Indies in Group One.
Pakistan, India, South Africa and Australia are in a highly competitive Group Two, highlighted by the fact that all four teams are unbeaten so far.
Groups and fixtures for the World Twenty20 Super Eights round, which starts in Pallekele on Thursday:
Group One
England, West Indies, Sri Lanka, New Zealand
Group Two
India, Australia, South Africa, Pakistan
Sept 27
Sri Lanka v New Zealand, Pallekele at 3:30 pm (1000 GMT)
England v West Indies, Pallekele at 7:30 pm (1400 GMT)
Sept 28
Pakistan v South Africa, Colombo at 3:30 pm (1000 GMT)
Australia v India, Colombo at 7:30 pm (1400 GMT)
Sept 29
England v New Zealand, Pallekele at 3:30 pm (1000 GMT)
Sri Lanka v West Indies, Pallekele 7:30 pm (1400 GMT)
Sept 30
Australia v South Africa, Colombo at 3:30 pm (1000 GMT)
Pakistan v India, Colombo at 7:30 pm (1400 GMT)
Oct 1
West Indies v New Zealand, Pallekele at 3:30 pm (1000 GMT)
England v Sri Lanka, Pallekele at 7:30 pm (1400 GMT)
Oct 2
Australia v Pakistan, Colombo at 3:30 pm (1000 GMT)
India v South Africa, Colombo at 7:30 pm (1400 GMT)
Semi-finals
Oct 4: Group One winners v Group Two runners-up, Colombo at 7:00 pm (1330 GMT)
Oct 5: Group One runners-up v Group Two winners, Colombo 7:00 pm (1330 GMT)
Final
Oct 7: Final, Colombo 7:00 pm (1330 GMT)
Yasir Arafat bowled well. By the way, in the list of highest wicket takers in T20 (international as well as other tournaments), Arafat ranks 4th best in the world. He has international experience and a great ‘death’ bowler.
Pakistani team is very oustanding… and we are praying fpr pakistan’s victory!!!!!!
Insha allah we will win every match !! We have a capability to beat Indians , South Africans etc etc
All Pakistanis do pray for the team thts it !!
Pakistan have a great opportunity to lift the T20 Trophy. Conisering the G8 group, Pakistan placed in group of Death with Australia, India, South Africa. Pakistan has played quite against Australia and have the edge over them and will win agaisnt Australia. The big match is against India and although not wanting a win for India but on paper India is very strong and might win against Pakistan. Pakistan need to win against South Africa to qualify for Semi Final.
Pakistani Playing eleven should compose of folowing composition.
1. Imran Nazir
2. Nasir Jamshaid
3. Mohammad Hafeez
4. Asad Shafiq
5. Kamran Akmal
6. Shahid Afridi
7. Yasir Arafat
8. Sohail Tanveer
9. Umer Gul
10. Raza Hassan/ Sami (Depending upon the pitch is slow or fast)
11. Saeed Ajmal
Umer Akmal, Shoaib Malik and Abdul Razzaq have no place in the T20 eleven, considering their form, fitness and lack of learning from their mistakes.
really bad team
Please don’t judge someone for one or two matches, Omar Gul needs some chances but I am also not agreee with Hafeez captiancy, at time when Yesir Arafat was bowling well then why he was replaced by Omar Gul. one thing is for sure that Afridi will prove as crisis man in future matches.
Good Luck to Pakistan. However, i dont quite understand the rationale behind putting all the unbeaten teams in one group. Shouldn’t it be the otherway, i mean the top two of groups A & B with bottom two of the other two groups i.e. C & D.
i am seeing people praising nazir , but not to mention very easy catch of his was dropped when he was on 2. Nazir lacks much of maturity still, but if he concentrates more , he can whip any bowler around the world with not only his slogging but with his stroke playing abilities too. Where the biggest worry for me is kamran akmal behind the stumps. I still suspect underplay from him. Secondly gul is not working, even bangladeshi were hitting him with ease, no wonders he may get thrashed by world class batmans we are up against with in s8.
i am alwasy with pakistani team, they played very nicely i wish them best of luck
just play with good thinking
I still fear for Pakistan. S8 is no joke. its going to be difficult. Luck has favoured Pakistan in both group matches. Fielding was sloppy. Hafeez is very predictable, he is always complaining about fast bowling issues, why is he not trying AR and MS. Kamran Akmal behind the stumps is another big worrying factor. Interesting to see Afridi’s role in S8 matches..
great win by pakistan tigers ……… that is pakistan is known for . if pakistan will hold their nerves they can destroy the whole world. all the best to team , all the best to LALA.
Pakistan can win against any team at the moment
Really. Are you pakistani muslim or just muslim
pappu yaaar tang na kar… oh…. nazir yaaar tang na kar….
interesting best of look Pakistan
You took long time in bringing back Imran Nazir just to satisfy your egos and got wasted his cricketing time.Allah when we would get rid off of such……………usa
Durrani bhai come to pakistan, let see what’s going on.
Nazir, you are my hero. You are akin to a knight who takes on an entire army and emerges victorious. The entire nation is so proud of you. Kudos to you for a job well done. You are one the GREATEST Pakistani.
Good win, however, bowling and fielding like this will not fly against Aus, SA and India. I am confused at the fast bowlers selected for T20. Sami who misfires often then you have Sohail Tanvir, who seems like playing a tape ball match. The way things are going, Pakistan may need to play both Yasir Arafat and Razzaq to have some hope. I must say that in a tournament like this, one needs to be lucky as well.
As expected Pakistan has stormed into super 8. All teams seem to be coming to their best.
I am not too pleased with distribution of teams in 2 groups. Group 2 is more tense. All the four teams India, Pakistan, Australia and South Africa are strong contenders. It is unfortunate that 2 will be left out. Weather can also be deciding factor in final points tally. India and Pakistan, and Aus and SA should never be in same group. This is not to say teams in group 1 are weak. But it would have been fair to have India, Australia, West Indies and NZ or SL in one group, and Pakistan, SA, England and SL or NZ in other group. Alternatley, they should have played across groups. I hope weather holds good.ICC needs to pay attention to this aspect.
Way to go boys, bring back the gold this time round
lol there is no gold medal this time… only a cup!
Umar Gul should be thrown out of the team as he is really really pathetic. Instead they should play Razzaq, Raza Hassan or Asad Shafiq in the next matches. I bet Raza Hassan or Razzaq can bowl better than Umar Gukl
Fielding is poor and bowling was sloppy BE careful as there will be no excuses against rest of the best team and I think Pak might not make it further than super 8. So not too get excited..
A great win by pakistan, but I am afraid of that sloppy fielding and also two drop chances off hafeez and Nazir.
Don’t worry there dad Nasir Jamshed and Kamran Akmal were batting with hammer in their hand who are too good for any team hitting the ball all around the park.
Don’t be afraid. Think win. let all negativity out. Beat logic. be sure. Dream big.
This is a part of the game. Inshah allah we will improve it soon.
Yasir Arafat is a much better bowler than often he is given credit for.