NEW DELHI: After Pakistan laid down a marker ahead of the Asia Cup with Mohammad Nawaz’s hat-trick in a 75-run win over Afghanistan in the tri-series final in Sharjah on Sunday, captain Salman Agha said the team is “ready” for the tournament, starting September 9.Afghanistan will begin their Asia Cup campaign on Tuesday against Hong Kong in a Group B clash in Abu Dhabi, with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh completing the group.
Pakistan, meanwhile, are in Group A alongside arch-rivals India, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates.“We will play two spinners whenever we need. We assess the conditions and playing two spinners worked for us. It was tough for us to play against their spinners. It was always about preparing for Asia Cup. I think we are doing really well as a team. We have ticked most of the boxes, we are in good shape and ready for the Asia Cup,” Agha said after the match.“I think it was a kind of wicket where 140 was going to be challenging. We knew it was going to be tough for them. He (Nawaz) has been outstanding with the bat, ball and in the field since his comeback. I can go to him when we are in tough situation,” he added.Nawaz was the star with figures of 5-19 — his best in T20 internationals — as Pakistan skittled Afghanistan for just 66 in 15.5 overs while defending a modest 142-run target on a tricky pitch. Afghan captain Rashid Khan took three wickets to help restrict Pakistan to 141-8, with Fakhar Zaman top-scoring with 27.The hat-trick was a spectacular display: Nawaz dismissed Darwish Rasooli and Azmatullah Omarzai off successive deliveries for ducks, then removed Ibrahim Zadran for nine on the first ball of his next over. He became just the third Pakistani bowler after Faheem Ashraf and Mohammad Hasnain to achieve a T20I hat-trick.Rashid (17) and Sediqullah Atal (13) were the only batters to reach double figures as Afghanistan recorded their second-lowest T20I total, behind the 56 all out against South Africa in last year’s World Cup semi-finals.
