Emerging Teams Cup All-round India outplay Pakistan for title
KARACHI: Pakistan U23 appeared a mismatch against the India U23 side as they received a nine-wicket thrashing from their arch-rivals in the Asian Cricket Council Emerging Teams Cup final in Singapore yesterday.
India U23 outclassed their counterparts in both batting and bowling after Pakistan U23 chose to bat first — the latter lost seven wickets within a span of 19 runs.
Spinner Baba Aparajith was the chief tormentor against Pakistan’s batting line-up, claiming three wickets for 28 runs in seven overs as Pakistan skittled out for just 159 with three overs to spare.
At one point, the Hammad Azam-led side had lost nine wickets with just 107 runs on board before Usman Qadir and Ehsan Adil put up a 52-run stand for the last wicket.
Adil made an unbeaten 20 while Qadir scored 33 off 32.
Earlier, Umar Waheed chipped in with 41 runs before wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan was dismissed for 21. However, the middle-order failed to capitalise, reducing the side from 88 for three to 107 for nine as Hammad went out for a duck.
Meanwhile, a confident India, having defeated Pakistan during the group stages, allowed no hiccups as they achieved the target in only 33.4 overs. Opener Lukesh Rahul played a commendable knock of 93 while Manprit Juneja also remained unbeaten on 51. Unmukt Chand (15) who was dismissed by Raza Hasan, was the only Indian wicket to fall.
PCB selector satisfied with performance
A senior Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) selector expressed satisfaction regarding the team’s overall performance in the tournament.
“It was a satisfying performance overall,” Salim Jaffer, who is supervising the selection committee in the absence of the chief selector, told The Express Tribune. “Winning the title would’ve been great, but we’re still pleased about reaching the final.”
He said the selectors had taken positives from the tournament.
“Players like Hammad, Raza, Rizwan and Umar Waheed proved themselves. We are happy with their performances as they are the key to Pakistan’s future.”
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