DHAKA: Umar Akmal hit 48 off 37 balls as Pakistan ended its Asia Cup with a six-wicket win over Sri Lanka on Friday.
Pakistan reached 151-4 in 19.2 overs after Sri Lanka posted 150-4 with opener Tillakaratne Dilshan undefeated on 75 off 56 balls.
Pakistan vs Sri Lanka - As it happened
Sarfraz Ahmed scored 38 for Pakistan while opener Sharjeel Khan made 31.
Akmal's 56-run partnership with Shoaib Malik (13 not out) was key to Pakistan's victory. Akmal smashed a six to level the score before another attempt cost his wicket. Malik took a single for victory.
Dilshan claimed 1-2 with his off-spin.
Both teams were already out of contention for Sunday's final between Bangladesh and India.
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On DawnNews
Comments (92) Closed
Mohit , New Delhi
Mar 04, 2016 10:21pm
Finally ..... one nothing matters pakistan tram performs. ..... this is the most weak Sri Lankans attack I've seen in sometime....
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Rehan
Mar 04, 2016 10:23pm
Sending akmal and sarfraz up the order can do wonders for Pakistan. This game was an example of that.
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spellbinder
Mar 04, 2016 10:24pm
MA. Umar Akmal dedicated his innings to the coach and management who showed him a motivational video before the match.
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Fahim Khan
Mar 04, 2016 10:25pm
Safraz man of the series for Pakistan and sincere captain material
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stranger
Mar 04, 2016 10:27pm
Finally, some strong performance with the bat.
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Nabeel
Mar 04, 2016 10:41pm
No point in that victory, it was all over a horrible display and horrible team selection for the tournament, the current playing eleven cannot compete with big teams, after i see their performance against Bangladesh. Good luck Afridi to you and your favorites you selected.
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Sarwar, USA.
Mar 04, 2016 10:49pm
Too little too late. PCB is politicize we will get similar results if not cleaned.
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Khan
Mar 04, 2016 10:52pm
Too late for the win ! but team got some confidence...
hope the selectors and team management will see the where the problems areas ??
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Sharma
Mar 04, 2016 10:52pm
Have some faith in youngester.. give them chance.. they will do good.. don't judge microsptical.. it takes time to grow up.. Best Wishes from India..
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The Outsider
Mar 04, 2016 10:54pm
I have IDd PKs major problem. Most PK players cannot handle the pressure. All pro players can handle pressure, very few actually excel under it and cherish it. Hence why guys like Jamshed and Sharjeel who are talented always fail. Today Sharjeel did ok since it was a meaningless game with no pressure. Remember Bangla game Sharjeel fielded a ball and threw it nowhere? Pressure. Sami bowled 2 no balls and gave 15 runs. Pressure. Sami couldn't handle it and lost the game. In last WC Jamshed failed and Sarfraz was put it under pressure to perform and he performed. He can handle pressure. Amir can bowl under pressure. Hafeez scores centuries in meaningless games but ducks in important games. Malik can handle pressure. So PK must remove chockers
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ENGR OSMAN
Mar 04, 2016 10:54pm
Sarfraz is the heart and soul of this team and must be made permanent Vice-Captain.
PCB needs to drop Hafeez (he can't even bowl and cannot make it to any other side excpet UAE), Sharjeel, Khurrum, Anwar Ali, Afridi & Nawaz immediately. Sohaib Maqsood is unreliable like Afridi. Let Afridi sell some Coke and sim cards.
Bring in established batsmen with proper technique as top 2: Shan Masood, Haris Sohail, Hammad Azam, Imad Wasim must be added to the playing 11 always!
Fawad Alam can also come in if PCB drops Afridi. Make Younis Khan coach.
Captain should be Shan Masood (most educated and super fit of these all!) and yeah he's from Karachi ... for those always uselessly complaining about Karachi vs Lahore balance in the squad.
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diwakar
Mar 04, 2016 10:54pm
since most pakistani cricket fans seems irrational so as an indian i think i should put a team for them
1any opener who is in form 2sahzad 3hafeez 4sarfaraz 5akmal 6malik 7some spinnig alrounder 8afridi 9amir 10irfan 11pacer who is in form
this team has potential to reach final of t20 WC where we indians will beat u again
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Haha
Mar 04, 2016 10:56pm
Make Sarfaraz caption for WC
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Abdullah
Mar 04, 2016 11:02pm
I know a lot of you will bash me for this idea. I think Shoaib Malik should be made the T20 captain. He had been a captain in the past, he has a presentable personality with good communication skill and if you compare his recent performance with others in the team, he definitely deserves a place in the side. Time and again his limited over bowling skills (which is to contain runs with occasional wickets) has not been properly used by Afridi. The same way Afridi destroyed Razzak's one day career. You just cannot change the whole team for bad performance - you need to stabilize; and I think Malik can play that role while a younger one like Sarfraz is being groomed.
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A.jabbar kerala
Mar 04, 2016 11:06pm
Now Pakistan team got a shining win and can go and play in India and play T20 WC with pride and hope. Welcome to our India.
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Rahim proud indian
Mar 04, 2016 11:06pm
Srilanka played half heartedly in a dead rubber match.Sarfaraz timely utilized the opportunity for consolation win.
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hawabaji
Mar 04, 2016 11:14pm
Consolation win for pakistan in a pointless match. However it exposed all its bowlers who bowled well in a seamer friendly wicket against India.
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Fan
Mar 04, 2016 11:15pm
They played well to secure their jobs citing Shaheyar's statement about changes in team and board incoming day aimed poor performance in Asia cup. Losers play for themselves not f0r country..
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Kuladeep Patil
Mar 04, 2016 11:21pm
this honeymoon was fruitless... as for Both pak \ SL victory is useless..
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Exposed bowling
Mar 04, 2016 11:21pm
Good batting by Sarfaraz in a dead rubber match.But poor bowling & totally exposed.No one missed the reverse Dilscoop to Amir.
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PUNE- India
Mar 04, 2016 11:26pm
What is the benefit in Asia Cup??
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Pratap
Mar 04, 2016 11:29pm
Congratulations Pakistan! You proved you can chase 150+ runs. Good luck for the t20WC
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GS
Mar 04, 2016 11:31pm
Now people will forget everything that happened earlier !
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Abdulla Hussain
Mar 04, 2016 11:31pm
No reason to celebrate. Pakistanis never opted for consolation prize. The fact is the entire team from PCB to the twelfth player needs acid wash. The tendency of winning one & losing ten has to be done away with. Team Pakistan has to change its consistency at losing to winning. They have always failed to deliver when needed most. They are insult to the fans.
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Shahid
Mar 04, 2016 11:46pm
Yes after losing 5 consecutive matches to Bangladesh and after so many many more T20s and ODIs lost against each and every team other than Zimbabwe, now a win against Sri lanka B would make the PCB forget everything which is wrong. And it was so amusing to read that PCB has formed a fact finding committee (like a JIT ) to find out what even every child knows.
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Salma Shahid
Mar 04, 2016 11:53pm
Don't send a team to India if you are not going to select Misbah , Ahmad Shehzad and Sohail Tanveer. You could even use a good spinner like Mohammad Asghar. Nawaz is yet not ready while Khurram, Iftekhar are not made for this.
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prada
Mar 04, 2016 11:59pm
Kick out Afridi or at least good for nothing Muhammad Hafeez
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Dr.Cajetan Coelho
Mar 05, 2016 12:10am
Batters made good contributions to the win. Congrats to the winners.
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Waseem Sarwar
Mar 05, 2016 12:10am
Pakistan and Sri Lanka played final of last Asia cup. We all know Pakistan is going through a bad bad patch but what about Sri Lanka. Their best batsman retired and that has cost them a lot. A good chase today and hopefully on better batting pitches in India, our batters can give our bowlers a 150,160 run target to defend. Well played Irfan, ,Akmal and our future skipper, Sarfraz. What a classy batsman he is.
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Ajay
Mar 05, 2016 12:11am
Congratulations. A much needed victory. It may unfortunately shield some of the under-performers.
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Tarannum S
Mar 05, 2016 12:28am
So happy Pakistan won. Our entire gang watched the match in Mumbai today and we loved the way Pakistan played. You guys deserved the win today. Super excited to watch a thrilling Indo-Pak match at the T20 WC. Keep up the performance and give us a tough fight. While I will pray for India to win the match, we do not want a one sided match. All the best guys. Keep it up.
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Waqas Kaka
Mar 05, 2016 12:33am
Capable Sarfraz always speaks with his performance, while biased Waqar Yonus tries to finds ways to keep him out team or send him very late for batting. Recall, in the last World-cup Waqar Yonus didn't have the answer of reporters questions why Sarfraz was not including in the early matches?, when Sarfraz knocked century in his first match.
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N_Saq
Mar 05, 2016 12:42am
Again it is just a game. You win some and you lose some. Sri Lanka should not feel bad because the better team on that day won.
Having said that I can't stress more that Pak needs Mohammed Asif back if they want to have a chance to win in T20 World Cup. He is the best swing bowler in the world and together with Amir they form the most lethal duo in fast bowling, currently.
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M. Emad
Mar 05, 2016 12:47am
A meaningless win now.
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Baluch
Mar 05, 2016 12:55am
Positive aspect was the bowling of the Pakistani pacemen. Even though SL had over a 100 before their first wicket fell, the Pakistani fast bowlers kept hunting for wickets with straight, fast and full length deliveries. Irfan has learned to vary his length, and was lethal today. This must be a positive effect of adding Azhar Mahmood to the bowling staff. Dropping Wahab against BD was a disastrous move. We should play 4 fast bowlers in the T-20 Championship coming up, which would allow us to break any partnership and allow us back into the game. With Akmal, Malik, Sarfraz in form, and possible induction of B.Azam and a reliable opener, we may yet surprise all the experts who probably have written us off.
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oneCaring
Mar 05, 2016 12:59am
Did it to save their spot not for the country. Who cares.
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Shainz123
Mar 05, 2016 01:15am
U have to perform 9/10 and not 1/10 ....if u want to b respected.......by fans
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Nilesh
Mar 05, 2016 01:30am
It was hard luck with Bangladesh, else it was India pak final.... Bangladesh will be tough to beat....
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Zulfi
Mar 05, 2016 01:37am
A miracle happened today. Pakistan chased down 150.
Sri Lanka are in the rebuilding phase since the retirement of Sangakkara and Jayawardene. Matthews did not play
One thing is for sure. With this batting we are certainly not challenging for world T20 title. India, Australia, NZ and South Africa are much stronger batting teams than us. England are pretty decent too.
Batting has been in constant decline for a decade or so. Technique apart the mindset of is pretty defensive.
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Com
Mar 05, 2016 01:50am
chairman said inquiry than all top order performed there should b probe team for every series than pak players will play what they payed for
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pakfan
Mar 05, 2016 02:00am
A little too late, our skipper made the move by sending Sarfraz early to bat....
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samson
Mar 05, 2016 02:37am
@Exposed bowling whats the big deal with this blah blah about amir being the only exception..He just had one good spell against India.. And even that could not produce a win..all the other matches he was just mediocre. this is the problem with you guys. just one good spell or one good innings and u go overboard with ur players.Look at India. dravid and Lakshman where compared to Pak standard world class batsmen. India just considered them as regular Indian batsmen and nothing else. Even Sachin we consider as overrated only because he could not contribute to most crucial must win situations. give amir some time and see if he would deliver consistently like Akram or waquar. Ajay Jadeja was right on target when he mentioned about Afridi.. Due to the star status you guys gave him,,he is never ready to change his approach to the game. He still lives in 1990's..
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master
Mar 05, 2016 02:40am
seeing sharjeel playing today I can say I or any decent local players can bat better than him. he can not play onside or off side, every delivery looks too good for him. he just swing the bat blindly. please dropped him and give chance to others.
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Haider
Mar 05, 2016 02:48am
One day.... One day the boys will pay us back, just keep on absorbing and savouring all the humiliation all the pain all the ridicule that comes your way as a die-hard Pakistan Fan!
Those who mock us now have been at the receiving end of the fiery brand of Pakistani cricket for decades, its nothing but thr ebb and flow of time.
Never Stop Dreaming and Keep Holding On!
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Adeel
Mar 05, 2016 03:07am
Umar akmal only scores when he has a fear of being kicked out of the team.
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Wasi
Mar 05, 2016 03:15am
@Sharma I disagree. They are the worst teams in cricket and should not play Wt20 to save humiliation.
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Ghaznavi
Mar 05, 2016 03:36am
PCB actually selects under performing players and there must not be any exceptions. Sarfaraz needs to be dropped from T20.!
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Khan
Mar 05, 2016 04:00am
@Sharma Dude you remind me of my friend here in the US - Arun Sharma because over coffee he said the same thing. Thanks, I wish we have more like you.
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comment
Mar 05, 2016 04:02am
Pak live up to their expect ions totally unpredictable and very dangerous on their day and useless and phish in day when every one expected.
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Paramedics
Mar 05, 2016 04:10am
Defeating current two world cup champion is not a consolation win.
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Go Afridi Go
Mar 05, 2016 04:10am
Sarfaraz batted &play well in a pointless match.Something is better than nothing. Bowlers now exposed as
Srilanka played so called seamers without any problem.
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Flop show
Mar 05, 2016 04:22am
There was no pressure in the match & pakistani batsmen somehow able to stand for a consolation win.The pakistani bowlers again exposed.
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Sad but true
Mar 05, 2016 04:39am
Finally made one.
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Irfan_Sydney
Mar 05, 2016 05:26am
Hafeez also made 14 runs. It means his position at one down is safe for another two years.
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god's gift to women
Mar 05, 2016 05:39am
Well finally the batsmen performed when there was no pressure of duo or die situation game. Anyway so far batting positions # 3(Sarfraz), 4(UAkmal) & 5(Malik) have been pretty much sealed. Stick with Sharjeel to open & find an opening partner perhaps Sami Aslam.
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Shakil USA
Mar 05, 2016 05:47am
@ Khan - Very well said. Agreed.
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Fried Chillies
Mar 05, 2016 06:39am
I think Pakistan is ready to lift the world t20 cup.
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MD SOHAN(BD)
Mar 05, 2016 08:30am
Finally Pakistan got some momentum.
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Rahim proud Indian
Mar 05, 2016 08:38am
@Fried Chillies How can Pakistan win in t20 world cup? As someone commented the team seemed like nursery kids lost their way & whereabouts in a field.
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GHOUSE Shaikh
Mar 05, 2016 08:43am
So,What was Hafeez's avg in the Asia Cup? 50 ? 60? more? Why is he guaranteed a spot in every aspect of Pakistan Cricket?
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Logic
Mar 05, 2016 08:47am
Pakistan played like champions. Batting, bowling & fielding was flawless. Worldcup T20 Champions -for sure. Fantastic game & great captaincy.
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Rejoice
Mar 05, 2016 09:11am
@spellbinder Haha!
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Rejoice
Mar 05, 2016 09:14am
@A.jabbar kerala Security concern in India too. If Pakistan team will go to India, we expect India team to play tournament in Pakistan too. I believe that Pakistan govt for sure will provide utmost fool proof security. Wish to see neighbor India team in Pakistan to revive International cricket in Pakistan .
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Rejoice
Mar 05, 2016 09:16am
I wonder why U Akmal was kept praising coach and management. Do they deserve this?????
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Xafar Hussain
Mar 05, 2016 10:08am
Definitely, it was good game to see from Pak side. it really gave up little hope of confidence..
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VivekXI
Mar 05, 2016 11:21am
I still think that Shoib Malik should come to 1 down position to settle the inning.
Sometime, I fear that Sarfraz's wicket (lion of Pakistan) may go with an extraordinary delivery which we cannot afford. Hence, let Shieb Malik comes at 3 rd position and followed by Sarfraz.
Umar Amal shouldn't be in the creaze earlier to 14th over. Because he comes earlier, he gets confused, whether to hold the game or play his towering sixes.
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VivekXI
Mar 05, 2016 11:22am
@ENGR OSMAN - You spoke my heart. Thank you.!
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VivekXI
Mar 05, 2016 11:29am
My Playing XI -
Umar Akmal, Shan Masood, Shoieb Malik, Sarfraz, Harris Sohail, Fawad Alam, Immad Wasim, Mohd. Amir, Mohd. Ifran, Rahat Ali.
Ukmar Akamal in the opening slots will do wonders what Sachin Tendulakar did for India by playing his shots all around the park (especially when there is a field restrictions, ofcouse Umar Akmal should be comfortable in his new role, else not)
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Ajay
Mar 05, 2016 11:31am
@spellbinder, "MA. Umar Akmal dedicated his innings to the coach and management who showed him a motivational video before the match."
And that motivational video was Akmal moving his lawn instead of playing Cricket.
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Philosopher (from Japan)
Mar 05, 2016 11:38am
Stay coooooool. Next 10 matches they will be out under 100. It happens so often.
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Vivek
Mar 05, 2016 11:40am
My prediction turned out right for this match. This is the weakest SL team I have ever seen in last 10 years. Not only they do not have good batsmen, but also lack bowlers who can handle pressure. What horrible bowling they did yesterday! But nothing to take away from Pakistan. Chasing 150 when your entire country has gone against you is not an easy task.
Having said that, people should not forget the horrible performance in Asia cup; and should not hesitate from taking harsh decisions - one of them being sacking Afridi, Sami and even Wahab.
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aamir khan
Mar 05, 2016 12:28pm
khuram manzoor play three match face 27 balls make 11 runs average 3.66 SR 40
I WISH HAROON RASHID READ THIS COMMENTS
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Aditi Kaushik
Mar 05, 2016 01:34pm
@Rejoice Personally, I would love to watch an Indo-Pak match held anywhere, be it in India or in Pakistan. I am sure as the situation improves there, Indian team will play in Pakistan soon.
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Aditi Kaushik
Mar 05, 2016 01:36pm
@Rejoice Ya even we found that a little odd. Be it the post match presentation, or even the discussions with Harsha Bhogle after the match. He was going on and on repeating himself as if he mugged up a script before the match. However, he played wonderfully.
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Sridhar Raghunatha Rao
Mar 05, 2016 01:40pm
To a very good extent the win vindicates Imran Khan's statement. Talent exists but mindset to win was most important. Bangladesh's captain Mortaza also has said that their coming out of fear of loss was the greatest factor in their wins. Well done Pakistan. Keep going with the same spirit for World T20.
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Sea Hawk
Mar 05, 2016 01:40pm
Everything is hunky dowry now after yesterdays win...best batting line up in the world.
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malika
Mar 05, 2016 01:50pm
Khurram manzoor must be given another chance
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Samrat
Mar 05, 2016 02:39pm
@Rejoice not a chance.
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Farhan
Mar 05, 2016 02:44pm
Batting order must be: Hameez,Sarfaraz,Akmal,Sharjeel,shoaib,nawaz,afridi.
Bowling order must be: Irfan,Aamir,Riaz.Afridi,Nawaz.
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raja
Mar 05, 2016 03:49pm
Good for pakistani team,
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Fried Chillies
Mar 05, 2016 03:53pm
@Rahim proud Indian ....Dude I am Indian I want to boost their moral. We need a powerful Pakistan team to enjoy cricket. I remember India went through a similar patch. But two things worked in India's favor first was our economic recovery started at the same time as when Tendulkar broke on the scene. There was new found confidence in ourselves and that reflected in the assertive form of cricket team played Sachin, Saurav, Jadeja you name it. Pakistan needs a trigger. A Pakistan win will hurt happiness but the joy of watching two balanced sides go at each other is beyond politics.
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Ali
Mar 05, 2016 04:14pm
@The Outsider .. Very true, its 50% mental strength and 50 % skills and Fitness.... Afridi is the best example of mental strength.. the only reason he played 20 Yrs ..... otherwise he would be out after a few yrs.... Pakistan main problem is that 2 main Batsmen .. Harris Sohail and Babar Azam are injured... and they dropped Rizwan and Ahmed Shahzad, who are like OK, but have match experience and more mature.....Adding these 4 players can improve the team, Pakistan needs to sort out its TOP 6.... ( Sarfaz , Hafeez/Sarjeel , Harris Sohail ,Babar Azam Sohaib malik, Umar Akmal (Provided he improve his defense play against Spin by rotating). Imad Wasim/ Afridi /Rizwan ,Wahab, Amir, Irfan, /Juanid/ Sami/ Etc ....
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T Sahayaraju
Mar 05, 2016 04:17pm
@M. Emad No. A win is always a win and it is always nice to win. This win is absolutely necessary for Team Pakistan for boosting their morale so that they can return for T20 World Cup with a new fervor. Best of luck Pakistan !
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arif
Mar 05, 2016 04:42pm
@hawabaji dont let any occasion to vent your pejudice against pakistan..siri lankans by the way are current world champions in t20 cricket.
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comment
Mar 05, 2016 05:42pm
Does any country got a worst bowling than srilanka right now please write a comment.
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dawn
Mar 05, 2016 07:13pm
Too too too little. Too late.
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SHAHID
Mar 05, 2016 07:44pm
@samson You sir, clearly understand this game very well, rather than watching the odd game and making conclusions. All your views are totally correct, people in Pakistan turn a player into the best thing since slice bread just because one of his two wickets in an over was Ajanake Rahane, just living in a dream world I guess. They are the reason Afridi plays how he plays. Amir has proved nothing, hasnt bowled on a flat track with the old ball and Broad and even Swann whalloped him all over the park in the final test in 2010. In the last game it was Soumia Sarkar who basically came down the track to him. Yes Laxman was a regular and even Dravid in Indias brilliant line up. Tendulkar saved India many times, he was a legend. As for Wasim, well he was the greatest sportsman and athlete to have played the game. What he could do with a cricket ball, new and old, was scary. Nearly every player, from Lara to Allan Donald, Mike Atherton have said this. Also the best number 8 batsman ever.
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Lyra
Mar 06, 2016 09:19am
@Rejoice : It is for obvious reasons why Akmal praised captain and management. Because he knows (and we know too) that it is only by buttering and inflating the egos of captain and management can he (and for that matter anyone) continue being a part of the team.
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Lyra
Mar 06, 2016 09:20am
@Ajay Hahaha.. well said!
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Lyra
Mar 06, 2016 09:24am
@arif : What a dumb comment! Sri Lankans won the T20 world cup with likes of Sangakkara, Jayawardene etc. None of them are there today. All know that the SL team is in reconstruction mode and weak now. Yet, you want to live blinded to present reality and thriving on past! so typical of pakistani masses.
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Lyra
Mar 06, 2016 09:53am
@Fried Chillies : To boost someone's confidence you have to say realistic statements about him. By making comments on which he himself will laugh on, will only make you sound foolish.
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Fakhr
Mar 06, 2016 01:22pm
Why did Pakistan bat first in Bangladesh match? I still cannot understand that ...
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