Team India on alert? Pakistan’s Mohammad Nawaz’s hat-trick sends shockwaves before the Asia Cup | Cricket News

Mohammad Nawaz completed with career-best T20I figures of 5 for 19, dismantling Afghanistan for simply 66 in 15.5 overs whereas defending a modest 142 on a difficult floor. (Photo credit score: Agencies)

NEW DELHI: Pakistan despatched out a robust assertion forward of the Asia Cup as Mohammad Nawaz’s hat-trick impressed a thumping 75-run victory over Afghanistan in the tri-series remaining in Sharjah on Sunday. Nawaz completed with career-best T20I figures of 5 for 19, dismantling Afghanistan for simply 66 in 15.5 overs whereas defending a modest 142 on a difficult floor.Earlier, Afghan skipper Rashid Khan claimed 3 wickets to limit Pakistan to 141 for 8 after they selected to bat first. Fakhar Zaman top-scored with 27, including 49 runs for the second wicket with Saim Ayub (17). Nawaz chipped in with a 21-ball 25, whereas captain Salman Agha laboured to 24. Rashid eliminated Zaman in his opening over, before additionally dismissing Hasan Nawaz (15) and Agha, although the latter struck him for 2 sixes.The match turned decisively when Nawaz dismissed Darwish Rasooli and Azmatullah Omarzai off successive deliveries for geese, before trapping Ibrahim Zadran (9) first ball of his subsequent over to finish his hat-trick. In doing so, he turned simply the third Pakistani bowler after Faheem Ashraf and Mohammad Hasnain to say a T20I hat-trick.Afghanistan’s batting collapsed in the chase, with solely Rashid (17) and Sediqullah Atal (13) reaching double figures. Their whole of 66 was their second-lowest in T20Is, behind the 56 all out towards South Africa in final yr’s World Cup semi-final.

“We wanted to prepare in a way that helps us for the Asia Cup and we’ve done that,” stated Pakistan captain Salman Agha. “We’ve been doing really well since the Bangladesh series at home. Now, we’re in very good shape and fully prepared.”Afghanistan will start their Asia Cup marketing campaign on Tuesday towards Hong Kong in Abu Dhabi, with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh additionally in Group B. Pakistan, in the meantime, are positioned in Group A alongside India, Oman and hosts UAE.