Pakistan on Tuesday secured a semi-final spot in the ongoing T20 World Cup as Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan once again shone with the bat. Pakistan defeated Namibia by 45 runs to register their fourth successive win in the competition.
Batting first, Pakistan made a cautious start as Azam and Rizwan struggled to score freely against Namibian bowlers. However, their patience paid off as they accelerated the run-rate after the 10th over of the match. Azam made 70 by facing just 49 balls while Rizwan remained not out at 79, which he scored by facing just 50 balls.
Pakistan ended their innings at 189-2 in 20 overs.
Namibia never looked comfortable in their run chase as they kept losing wickets at a regular interval. In the end, they could only put up 144-5 in 20 overs. Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim and Hasan Ali shared one wicket each.
In an earlier match, South Africa kept their semi-final hopes alive after they beat Bangladesh by six wickets.
On Wednesday, India will take on Afghanistan with an intention to register their first win in the competition. Team India lost their first two games to Pakistan and New Zealand.
India’s defeat to Pakistan had become hugely controversial as Hindutva fanatics began to target fast bowler Mohammad Shami due to his religious identity as Muslim. Shami was accused of accepting money from Pakistan to script India’s defeat.
Indian skipper Virat Kohli had reacted angrily to an Islamophobic attack on Shami. Kohli’s response made him a target of Hindutva fanatics, who went on to issue rape threats to the Indian skipper’s 9-month-old daughter.
Delhi Commission of Women chief Swati Maliwal has issued a notice to the Delhi Police asking them to immediately arrest the man, who threatened to rape Kohli’s daughter.
In another match on Wednesday, New Zealand will lock horns with Scotland.