In the Asia Cup Super 4 match on Wednesday (September 7), Pakistan defeated Afghanistan by one wicket. India and Afghanistan, who have lost their last two games, are no longer eligible for the Sunday final as a result of the outcome. Pakistan and Sri Lanka both earned four points to advance to the tournament final. Naseem Shah's two sixes in the final over helped Pakistan defeat Afghanistan and qualify for the Asia Cup final.
Babar Azam had earlier asked Afghanistan to bat first, and they responded by setting Pakistan a target of 130 runs in their 20 overs.
When Afghanistan's openers began to hit the ball over the park, they were off to a great start and appeared set to post a large score. However, Haris Rauf removed the explosive Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the fourth over and Mohammad Hasnain removed Hazratullah Zazai. After the openers were out, Babar introduced Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan, whose accurate bowling placed Afghanistan under pressure. Karim Janat and Ibrahim Zadran, who were struggling to center the ball, soon felt the pressure. Afghanistan were 3 down after Nawaz dismissed Janat in the 12th over. From that point on, Afghanistan was restrained by the bowlers consistent dismissals and the Men in Green's tight bowling.
Afghanistan reached 129-6 in the last over thanks to Rashid Khan's two boundaries, which also enabled them set a 130-run target for Pakistan.
Haris finished with two wickets for the Men in Green while Nawaz, Shadab, Hasnain, and Naseem each claimed one. Ibrahim Zadran, who finished with 35 runs off 37 balls, was the leading run scorer for Afghanistan.
Pakistan, facing a 130-run target, maintained composure to defeat Afghanistan by one wicket and advance to the Asia Cup final. Last man Naseem Shah broke Afghanistan's hearts by hitting two consecutive sixes with 11 needed off the final over. Pakistan reached 131 for nine in 19.2 overs with Naseem Shah (14*) hitting the back-to-back sixes to win the match. Sunday's championship match will feature Pakistan vs. Sri Lanka.
Shadab Khan scored the most runs for Pakistan, scoring 36 off 26 balls. Babar disappointed again and was out for a golden duck. For Afghanistan, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Fareed Ahmad both took three wickets, and Rashid Khan claimed two dismissals.
Brief scores: Afghanistan 129/6 in 20 overs (Ibrahim Zadran 35, Hazratullah Zazai 21; Haris Rauf 2-26, Naseem Shah 1-19) lost to Pakistan 131/9 in 19.2 overs (Shadab Khan 36, Iftikhar Ahmed 30; Fazalhaq Farooqi 3-31, Fareed Ahmad 3-31, Rashid Khan 2-25) by 1 wicket.
Playing XI:
Pakistan: Babar Azam (C), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Shadab Khan, Asif Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain
Afghanistan: Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi (C), Karim Janat, Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai, Fareed Ahmad, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi