The cricket world witnessed a surprising turn of events as Afghanistan secured an impressive eight-wicket victory over Pakistan in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Disappointment loomed large among Pakistani cricket enthusiasts and former cricketers following this unexpected defeat.
In pursuit of a target of 283, Afghanistan showcased their batting prowess with remarkable innings from key players. Ibrahim Zadran’s resilient 87, Rahmat Shah’s unbeaten 77, Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s solid 65, and the leadership of skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi, who remained unbeaten at 48, propelled their team to victory, with six balls to spare.
Afghanistan, previously renowned for stunning the defending champions, England, in the same tournament, now shares a record of two wins and three losses in the group stage with Pakistan.
Expressing their frustration, some fans vocalized the opinion that the Babar Azam-led Pakistani side might not deserve a spot in the top 4 of the tournament. The defeat left others skeptical about the Men In Green’s ability to recover from this setback.
This victory marked a historic first for Afghanistan against Pakistan in the World Cup, altering the head-to-head record to 7-1 in favor of Pakistan.
The defeat has stirred significant reactions among fans, setting a challenging tone for Pakistan in the ongoing World Cup campaign.
