Afg 13-2published at 3 overs
Asghar Afghan is the new batter at number four.
A difficult start for Afghanistan, not made any easier by the fact that there is a lot of support for Pakistan here in Dubai.
Summary
Pakistan win by five wickets for third straight victory
Pak 148-5 (19 overs): Babar 51 (47), Fakhar 30 (25), Asif 25 (7); Rashid 2-26
Afg 147-6 (20 overs): Nabi 35 (32), Gulbadin 35 (25); Imad 2-25
Afg 13-2published at 3 overs
Postpublished at 15:17 British Summer Time 29 October 2021
Simon Mann
BBC Test Match SpecialShahzad hammers his bat on his pad. If he had hit the ball as hard as he hit his pad he might have scored four or six!
WICKETpublished at 15:16 British Summer Time 29 October 2021
Shahzad c Babar b Shaheen 8 (Afg 13-2)
The fun doesn't last long.
He clears the front leg and tries to hit over the leg side, instead miscuing a simple catch to Babar Azam at mid-on.
He slams his bat against his pad in fury.
Postpublished at 15:15 British Summer Time 29 October 2021
Stuart Law
Former Australia batter & West Indies coach on BBC Test Match SpecialThat is classic Mohammad Shahzad. If it is in his arc he goes after it.
Afg 13-1published at 2.2 overs
Shot!
Mohammad Shahzad is so much fun to watch. He crashes Shaheen Shah Afridi over extra cover for the first boundary of the innings! As you do.
Postpublished at 15:13 British Summer Time 29 October 2021
Stuart Law
Former Australia batter & West Indies coach on BBC Test Match SpecialDon't write Afghanistan off at this stage. They bat deep and come hard.
Afg 8-1published at 2 overs
An excellent start from Pakistan, who are absolutely buzzing in the field.
Postpublished at 15:12 British Summer Time 29 October 2021
Stuart Law
Former Australia batter & West Indies coach on BBC Test Match SpecialGreat bowling. They tempted the batsman into the shot and a top edge straight to short third man.
WICKETpublished at 15:09 British Summer Time 29 October 2021
Zazai c Rauf b Imad 0 (Afg 7-1)
Early breakthrough for Pakistan!
Hazrat Zazai goes for a huge slog, it flies up in the air off the edge and Haris Rauf takes a good tumbling catch at short third. They are pumped.
Afg 5-0published at 1 over
An eventful first over! Shaheen causing difficulty as expected.
Not outpublished at 15:07 British Summer Time 29 October 2021
Impact outside the line and missing leg stump. Not a great review.
Pakistan reviewpublished at 15:06 British Summer Time 29 October 2021
I've lost count of how many lbw appeals we've had in this over already. Shaheen manages to persuade Babar Azam to review this one, though.
It just didn't look quite right. Going down leg, I reckon.
Afg 2-0published at 0.2 overs
This is going to be fun. Mohammad Shahzad charges down the track to Shaheen - bowling at 90mph - but completely misses.
Afg 2-0published at 0.1 overs
Shaheen Afridi, who is having a stunning tournament, starts with a wide.
Back on target second ball though and has a very optimistic lbw shout on Zazai that is rightfully turned down.
Postpublished at 15:00 British Summer Time 29 October 2021
Simon Mann
BBC Test Match SpecialIt's always fun when you see 7 or 8 overs from Mohammad Shahzad. Can Afghanistan put a spanner in the works in this group?
Postpublished at 14:59 British Summer Time 29 October 2021
Stuart Law
Former Australia batter & West Indies coach on BBC Test Match SpecialAfghanistan play with carefree abandon and a smile on their face. Pakistan will be a challenge for them today but they won't take a backward step.
Postpublished at 14:58 British Summer Time 29 October 2021
Pakistan will be brimming with confidence. They're being talked about as favourites already having thrashed India and completed a scrappy win against New Zealand, too.
Afghanistan have a very entertaining batting order, particularly their top two. Can they cause an upset?
The teamspublished at 14:52 British Summer Time 29 October 2021
Afghanistan: Hazratullah Zazai, Mohammad Shahzad, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi (capt), Asghar Afghan, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman.
Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Babar Azam (capt), Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Afghanistan win toss and bat firstpublished at 14:49 British Summer Time 29 October 2021
Afghanistan are the only team to have won by defending a total in the Super 12 stages so far, and they want to try and do the same today.
Pakistan have won two from chasing successfully against India and New Zealand so it's a brave call.
Welcomepublished at 14:46 British Summer Time 29 October 2021
Hello! This is fun - multitasking the finish between West Indies and Bangladesh with the build-up of this next game!
I reckon we're in for some fun with this one, though. The entertaining Afghanistan taking on unbeaten Pakistan.