Afghan delight

Sharjah: At a venue that has staged some of the biggest clashes in One Day International cricket, Afghanistan's big moment was realised here yesterday. Cheered on by thousands of fans, Afghanistan went into their first battle against Pakistan in a one-day match at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Playing adventurous shots and positive cricket, they announced that they are the world's best rising nation, scoring 195 runs before being bowled out in 48.3 overs after choosing to bat first.

Ironically, Pakistan's star all-rounder Shahid Afridi, who belongs to the Pashthun clan — an ethnic Afghan tribe — and also speaks Pashto, the language of the Afghanistan team, was their chief destroyer with 5 for 36.

Like in the early years when Sharjah hosted the famous India-Pakistan clashes, the stadium once again turned into a battlefield for the nearly 16,000 vociferous fans trying to outshout each other.

Tim Anderson, ICC's global cricket development manager, impressed by the huge turnout and enthusiasm among the fans, said: "It is one of those occasions when you walk into a ground and your hair stands up on the back of our neck. It looked like a final venue. This is undoubtedly a historic day as it is the first ever One Day International where a full member nation plays an affiliate member."

Afghanistan flags outnumbered Pakistan's and every fan waved and cheered their every run from the start. So eager were these fans to see their team perform that they refused to be seated.

Zahid Noorani, chief executive of the Cricketers Benefit Fund Series (CBFS), said: "The atmosphere is simply fantastic." Interestingly, the Qasim Noorani Stand, named after his father and the late president of CBFS, was filled to capacity.

England, who are gearing up for their one-day series against Pakistan which starts on Monday, should have watched the Afghan batsmen for their sheer confidence and positive approach against the reputed Pakistan bowlers. Saeed Ajmal, who was England's chief destroyer in the Test series, went wicketless for 32 runs.

Delighted fans

In the first four overs, Afghanistan scored 23 runs, before Noor Ali Zadran got caught and bowled by Umar Gul for nine. This was followed by a 31-run partnership between Mohammad Shahzad and opener Karim Sadiq in just 4.4 overs, much to the delight of the Afghan fans.

Sadiq even hit Gul effortlessly for a six over long-on, while even more spectacular was a reverse sweep by Shahzad off Saeed Ajmal for another maximum.

Shahzad, who scored two half-centuries against England for the ICC Associate and Affiliate Combined XI in a warm-up match last month, hit a quickfire 20 off just 17 balls with three boundaries and a six before Shahid Afridi had him brilliantly caught by a leaping Asad Shafiq at point.

Afridi also ended skipper Nawroz Mangal's 17-ball stay for 11 runs by bowling him with a delivery which kept low.

Sadiq hit his second six off Mohammad Hafeez over wide long-on, but Afridi ended his innings too by having him caught by wicketkeeper Umar Akmal for 40.

With Afridi later trapping Gulbodin Naib leg before, Afghanistan's hope of a big score faded.

Then Mohammad Nabi took charge and hit Afridi for a huge six over long on to bring back cheer among the Afghan supporters. He also hit his second, and the fifth six of the innings, off Shoaib Malek over long-on. Together with Samiullah Shinwari, he put on 46 before he was run out for 37 from a brilliant throw from Younus Khan at mid-wicket.