T20 World Cup: Pakistan-Afghanistan warm-up match called off due to rain

BRISBANE: The T20 World Cup 2022 warm-up match between Pakistan and Afghanistan was called off due to persistent rain. 

Pakistan were 19-0 in 2.2 overs, when umpires decided that no further play was possible due to heavy downpour. 

Earlier, Mohammad Nabi came to Afghanistan's rescue after Pakistan bowlers got rid of their top-order. 

Nabi, who scored an unbeaten 51 in 37 balls, played a captain's knock to help Afghanistan post 154-6 after having slipped to 48-4 inside eight overs. 

Pakistan bowlers failed to capitalise after an impressive start as runs leaked, 55 in the last five overs, in the final part of the innings. 

Shaheen Shah Afridi returned to his form in just his second game after injury and picked up the first wicket in the opening over of the match. A toe-crushing yorker to Afghanistan's opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz not only forced the batter to lose his wicket but also to go back to the dugout with his teammate's support due to toe pain. 

Hazratullah Zazai also fell prey to Shaheen in his second over as Afghanistan struggled to gain rhythm. 

Ibrahim Zadran, 35 runs in 34 balls, took the responsibility thereafter but a couple of quick wickets put him under pressure too until the arrival of captain Nabi. 

Zadran and Nabi scored 33 runs together before Shadab Khan removed the former. Later on, Nabi got a partner in Usman Ghani after his team was struggling at 82-6 in 13.3 overs. 

The two batters scored 72 runs together to take Afghanistan to a modest total. Usman's 20-ball 32 also played a crucial role in bringing things right back on track for Afghanistan. 

Shaheen and Haris Rauf bagged two wickets each, while Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab shared a wicket apiece.  

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