Asia Cup 2022: Afghan captain Nabi says his bowlers did not finish well in last-over defeat to Pakistan

Sharjah: Afghanistan captain Mohammed Nabi said they did not well in the final overs as his bowlers failed to execute the plans well in their last-gasp one-wicket defeat to Pakistan in the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup 2022, which ended their hopes of reaching the final.

Chasing 120 to win, Pakistan needed 20 off 10 balls with two wickets in hand. No.10 batter Naseem Shah smashed back-to-back sixes in the final over of a thriller to help set up a clash with Sri Lanka in the final of Asia Cup 2022.

“With Pakistan, it is always an exciting match. We gave two options to the bowlers, slower balls and yorkers, and sadly we couldn’t execute it when we needed to. we did not finish the match well,” said Nabi after the match on Wednesday night.

Nabi said his bowlers did well initially to take the chase of 130 by Pakistan to the final over but they failed to finish the job.

“The boys were brilliant with the ball and the field. We didn’t finish well, we didn’t control our nerves at the end. We didn’t give up at any stage. We thought that chasing 130 is tough, like Bangladesh the other day. The fielders supported the bowlers a lo,” Nabi said in the post-match ceremony on Wednesday.

He defended giving the final over to Fazalhaq Farooqi.

“Look Fazalhaq Farooqi is our main bowler. He bowled the 18th over and took two wickets. He bowled brilliantly. Our plan was bowl perfect yorkers. We gave two options to the bowlers, slower balls and yorkers, and sadly we couldn’t execute it when we needed to,” said Nabi.

Nabi said the pitch was a bit difficult for batting.

“It was not a batting pitch. On perfect batting pitches, you score 180 or 190 and maybe more. But on this pitch, it was not possible. A low total is tough to defend. We played good cricket and gave the opposition a tough time,” said Nabi in the post-match press conference.

He said his team would try to win the inconsequential last Super Four stage match against India to end the tournament on a winning note. “We will play with the same energy,” he said.

–IANS