ASIA CUP: Host Pakistan Trounces Nepal By Huge Margin

Asia Cup returned to Pakistan with a rider after 16 long years, with scanty spectators in the stands’. The inaugural match of the tournament expectedly saw hosts Pakistan winning the match against newbie Nepal. Opting to bat first, Pakistan had a jittery start as it lost its both openers Imam-ul-Haq and Fakhar Zaman for 25. The season campaigner Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan tread along cautiously before the latter was run out. Agha Salman too went cheaply. Up came the celebrated Iftikhar Ahmad who alongside skipper Babar went berserk and thrashed the Nepali bowlers in left, right and centre. Babar made a well compiled 151 of 131 deliveries with 14 fours and 4 sixes. Ifikhar remained unbeaten for 109 of mere 71 deliveries with 11 fours and 4 sixes. The Pakistan team managed a total of 342-6 in stipulated overs.

Setting to chase 343, Nepal seemed never in control and lost two of its batters in the very first over against a fiery Shaheen Shah Afridi. Apart from Sompal Kami and Aarif Sheikh, no other batter could offer against a gritty bowling line up. Shadab was the pick of the bowlers on behalf of Pakistan who scalped four important wickets. The hosts restricted Nepal to a paltry total of 104 in 24th over, trouncing them by 238 runs.

Notably, the current edition of Asia Cup is being played on a ‘hybrid’ model, where the actual host Pakistan is sharing the tournament with Sri Lanka. As per the model, Pakistan will get only 4 matches to be played at its grounds’.