Afghanistan beat Pakistan by 3 wickets in WC warm-up match

BRISTOL (92 News) – Afghanistan beat Pakistan by three wickets in a warm-up match of the World Cup in Bristol on Friday. Pakistan set 263-run target for Afghanistan and all the players were bowled out for 262 runs in the 48th over. One-down Babar Azam top-scored with a 108-ball 112 runs, reaching his century in a rather sluggishly manner as he was forced to glue the innings together while the rest of the Pakistan batting faltered before the Afghanistan bowling. Shoaib Malik scored 44 runs off 59 deliveries, while opener Imamul Haq added a 35-ball 32 to the total. Ace Afghanistan spinner Mohammad Nabi picked up three wickets for 46 in his 10 overs, while Dawlat Zadran and Rashid Khan picked up two wickets each for 37 and 27 runs respectively. Earlier today, Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed had won the toss and elected to bat first. Squads Pakistan: Sarfaraz Ahmed (captain and wicketkeeper), Asif Ali, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Hasan Ali, Imad Wasim, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Hasnain, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Wahab Riaz Afghanistan: Gulbadin Naib (captain), Mohammad Shahzad (wicketkeeper), Noor Ali Zadran, Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmat Shah, Asghar Afghan, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Najibullah Zadran, Samiullah Shinwari, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Dawlat Zadran, Aftab Alam, Hamid Hassan, Mujeeb ur Rahman Earlier, Green Shirts had special practice sessions ahead of the warm-up match to overcome shortcomings of fielding, batting and bowling. Skipper Sarfraz Ahmed said that the morale of the team is high and they will try to perform good in the practice match. Muhammad Aamir and Shadab Khan are likely to be included in the squad. Squad: Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper, captain), Asif Ali, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Hasan Ali, Imad Wasim, Imamul Haq, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Hasnain, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Wahab Riaz. Pakistan’s schedule of World Cup matches: 26 May – v Bangladesh (warm-up), Cardiff (d) 31 May – v Windies, Trent Bridge (d) 3 June – v England, Trent Bridge (d) 7 June – v Sri Lanka, Bristol (d) 12 June – v Australia, Taunton (d) 16 June – v India, Old Trafford (d) 23 June – v South Africa, Lord’s (d) 26 June – v New Zealand, Edgbaston (d) 29 June – v Afghanistan, Headingley (d) 5 July – v Bangladesh, Lord’s (d/n)