You ask about causing an upset and Afghanistan will be right there to teach you how to do that. History was scripted on Monday night in Chennai when the Afghan Atalans tasted their first-ever ODI win over Pakistan. It was also their second win in the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023 which comes days after thumping defending champions England in Delhi.
Afghanistan may have had a little struggle with the ball in the middle overs but they mastered the chase of 283 against the Pakistan bowling attack on a slow Chepauk track. Openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran set the base with a wonderful 130-run opening stand, bringing up their respective half-centuries. It was followed by another gritty partnership, of unbeaten 96 runs between captain Shahidi and Rahmat Shah for the third wicket, that sailed the Afghan ship safely to shore and scripted a new chapter in the history of ODIs.
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After the Afghanistan skipper sealed the game with a boundary off Shaheen Shah Afridi, the players performed a victory lap at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Star Spinner Rashid Khan led the lap with the Afghan national flag on his shoulders, thanking the fans for their immense support throughout the game.
Soon the star leg-spinner broke into a dance with former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan who was doing a match analysis on Star Sports. The latter left the live broadcast to join Rashid in a heart-warming gesture which has since become viral on social media.
Irfan shared the video on his Instagram account, writing, “And I full filled mine. @rashid.khan19 told me they will win again and I told him I will dance again. #afghanistan @icc.”
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The win tastes nice
Captain Shahidi was happy but was calm as he spoke at the post-match show. He said the victory tasted nice but they still have a long way to go in the tournament.
“This win tastes nice. The way we chased was very professional. Looking forward to the other games. The way we chased today, we’ll do it again. The quality cricket that we have been playing for the last couple of years, the belief was there when we were playing the Asia Cup also. At the start of the tournament, I said that we wanted to make this tournament historic for our country’s people. First was England, today Pakistan, looking forward to the other games,” he said.
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