Afridi confident of Pakistan's World T20 chances
Pakistan are currently at the top of ICC's T20I rankings with 132 points.
KARACHI (Web Desk) - Hailing national team’s T20 tri-series title win over Australia, former Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi said on Monday the players were headed in the right direction ahead of a World T20 in 2020.
“I think it’s still a long way to go and I think the way our boys are playing is very good. All the youngsters, they’re doing a great job and Inshallah we’re hoping they’re going to do well for Pakistan,” Afridi told Sports360.
The victory put Pakistan at the top of ICC’s T20I rankings with 132 points, having won nine successive T20I series.
Opener Fakhar Zaman shared in a century stand with Shoaib Malik as Pakistan recovered from an early wobble in their pursuit of Australia s 183 for 8, and Malik then showed all the experience of an 18-year international career to see his team home with an unbeaten 43.
It looked as though Australia had produced a masterstroke in opening the bowling with Glenn Maxwell s offspin as debutant Sahibzada Farhan was stumped off the first ball he faced and Hussain Talat sliced a catch to point three balls later to derail Pakistan s chase.
Australia threatened to storm to victory, but Zaman quickly set about re-building the innings. First, he added 45 with captain Sarfraz Ahmed to take his team out of immediate danger, and he then added 107 for the fourth wicket with Malik to seize the advantage for Pakistan.
