Captain Babar Azam and Iftikhar Ahmed’s brilliant centuries, Shadab Khan’s 4 wickets
Multan (Urdu Point latest newspaper. 30 August 2023) Pakistan has defeated Nepal by 238 runs in the opening match of the Asia Cup. In the opening match of the Asia Cup tournament being played in Multan, national team captain Babar Azam won the toss and decided to bat first. Opener Fakhar Zaman once again failed to score enough runs, he lost the wicket by scoring only 14 runs, Imamul Haq scored only 5 runs and was run out.
Mohammad Rizwan was run out after scoring 44 runs. Babar Azam completed a half-century in the first match of the Asia Cup, but Agha Salman was dismissed for 5 runs. Babar Azam and Iftikhar Ahmed formed a perfect partnership to propel Pakistan’s score as the skipper completed his 19th ODI century.
Babar Azam became the second batsman to play the highest innings in Asia Cup, before him in 2012 India’s legendary batsman Virat Kohli scored 183 runs against Pakistan.
The national team captain crossed the 150-run milestone for the second time in his ODI career and earned the distinction of playing the highest individual innings for Pakistan in the Asia Cup. Babar Azam and Iftikhar Ahmed put on a partnership of 214 runs off 131 balls, including Babar Azam’s 102 and Iftikhar’s 109, which is Pakistan’s highest partnership for the fifth wicket.
Iftikhar Ahmed completed his century in 67 balls which is the fourth fastest century in the Asia Cup. Babar Azam scored 151 runs off 131 balls with the help of 14 fours and 4 sixes in the last over and was caught out by substitute fielder Jura on the ball of Sompal Kami. Shadab Khan was bowled on the last ball after hitting a boundary. Pakistan scored 342 runs for 6 wickets in the allotted 50 overs.
Iftikhar Ahmed remained not out by scoring 109 runs off 71 balls with the help of 11 fours and 4 sixes. For Nepal, Sompal Kami took 2 wickets, Karan KC and Sandeep Lemechen dismissed 1, 1 player respectively. After winning the toss, captain Babar Azam said that the pitch is favorable for batting, they will try to make a big score against the rival team. On this occasion, Rohit Podel, the captain of the Nepalese team, said that if they had won the toss, they would have batted first, but they will try to increase the pressure on the Pakistani team initially and take early wickets.
Pakistan squad consists of Babar Azam (captain), Fakhar Zaman, Imamul Haq, Muhammad Rizwan, Agha Salman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Muhammad Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf while Nepal’s squad consists of captain Rohit. Podel, Kushal Bhartel, Asif Sheikh, Arif Sheikh, Kushal Malla, Dipinder Singh Iri, Gulshan Jha, Sompal Kami, Kiran KC, Sandeep Lamichhane and Lalit Rajbanshi are included.
Match 1 Pakistan Vs. Nepal Live Score – Asia Cup 2023
Pakistan342/6 (50)
Nepal104/10 (23.4)
Pakistan won the match
Pakistan won the toss & elected to bat