KARACHI:

A calm captain’s hand from Salman Ali Agha and a fiery spell by Haris Rauf ensured , overcoming Afghanistan by 39 runs at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday night.

But beyond the numbers, this was a contest that reflected Pakistan’s growing maturity in crunch moments, as well as their ability to adapt in tricky conditions at the storied Sharjah Cricket Stadium that have so often tested them in the past.

After Pakistan opted to bat, early wickets meant the innings could easily have unravelled. At 83 for four, Afghanistan had their tails up. But Salman held his ground, building patiently before accelerating when it mattered. His 53 off 36 balls*, including three sixes, wasn’t just a captain’s innings – it was the glue that held Pakistan together.

His partnership with Mohammad

See Full Page