Babar Azam, on Wednesday (August 30), led his group from the very entrance as Pakistan thrashed minnows Nepal by 238 runs in Multan to launch their Asia Cup 2023 marketing campaign in fashion.
Batting first, Pakistan made a horrible begin with the bat and misplaced each of their openers – Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq cheaply. Each the openers departed inside 7 overs to depart Pakistan reeling at 25 for two. Mohammad Rizwan (44) obtained the beginning however did not convert it into an enormous rating whereas Agha Salman (5) did not get going.
Babar Azam, nevertheless, stood agency at one finish and eventually discovered associate in Iftikhar Ahmed. Each the batsmen went on to attain centuries to energy their group to a mammoth whole of 342/6. Babar Azam performed a monumental knock of 151 runs off 131 balls with the assistance of 14 fours and 4 sixes and departed within the very closing over.
Iftikhar Ahmed, however, remained unbeaten on 109 runs off simply 71 balls with the assistance of 11 fours and 4 sixes. In reply to Pakistan’s mammoth whole, match debutants Nepal failed to supply any problem by any means. They saved dropping wickets at common intervals and have been finally bowled out for a modest 104. Shadab Khan picked 4 wickets for Pakistan whereas Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf picked two wickets every.
Babar Azam creates historical past:
Babar Azam created a serious milestone due to his beautiful 151-run knock. The Pakistan star turned the primary captain within the historical past of the Asia Cup to succeed in the 150-run mark in an innings. He now holds the document for the very best rating by a captain within the continental championship.
The document was beforehand held by Virat Kohli for his 136-run knock towards Bangladesh in 2014. He turned simply the second batsman after Kohli to hit a 150-plus rating within the Asia Cup. Kohli holds the document for the very best particular person rating within the Asia Cup for his iconic 183-run knock towards Pakistan in 2012.
Babar Azam and his teammates might be trying to prolong their spectacular begin within the Asia Cup once they tackle arch-rivals India of their second group sport. The match is scheduled to happen on Saturday (September 2) in Pallekele.
