Rashid Khan celebrates a wicket against Pakistan (Twitter)
Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan piled on Pakistan’s misery in the first ODI, after new-ball bowlers Fazalhaq Farooqi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman had rattled their top-order with early wickets.
Much like the two bowlers, Khan also scalped a wicket in his opening over of the contest, as he trapped Pakistan’s number five Agha Salman cheaply in front of stumps to reduce them to 62-4.
Rashid Khan joins Mujeeb and Farooqi to skittle Pakistan
Afghanistan pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi and spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman both claimed a wicket each in the opening two overs of the first ODI against Pakistan in Hambantota. The latter of the two cricketers also removed Mohammad Rizwan a while later to reduce Pakistan to 40-3.
Much like the two bowlers, Rashid Khan also earned a scalp within his first over of the game, as he trapped Agha Salman in front of stumps for just seven.
Khan’s strike further jolted the ‘Men in Green’, as they slumped to 62-4 in 16.3 overs. The legendary spinner also cleaned-up Pakistan’s tailender Shaheen Afridi an hour-and-a-half later in the game.
The 24-year-old eventually finished with figures of 2-40 from his 10 overs.
Afghanistan and Pakistan are currently engaged in a three-match ODI tussle in Sri Lanka, just a week before the commencement of the 2023 Asia Cup in the island nation. The continental event will be followed by the ODI World Cup 2023, set to be played in India later this year. The two teams are slated to go up against each other in both impending much-awaited tournaments.