Pakistan begin Asia Cup campaign with big win
DUBAI: Pakistan romped home to an eight-wicket win over Hong Kong in their Asia Cup opener here on Sunday.
The inexperienced south-east Asian side could make only 116 before Imam-ul-Haq’s unbeaten half-century took Pakistan past the finish line.
The highlight of the match though was Babar Azam becoming the second fastest to get to 2000 runs. Azam took just 45 innings, same as countryman Zaheer Abbas, to reach the mark. South Africa’s Hashim Amla was the fastest, taking just 40 innings.
Electing to bat, Hong Kong took 11 runs off the first over from Mohammed Amir but thereafter it was hard grind as they struggled get going with Usman Shinwari (3-19), Hasan Ali (2-19) and Shadab Khan (2-31) bundling them out in 37.1 overs.
Top-scorer Aizaz Khan (27) and Kinchit Shah (26) fought valiantly during their sixth wicket stand of 53 runs to offer some resistance after Hong Kong were left reeling at 44/5.
Shinwari returned to remove Aizaz and two others as Hong Kong lost three wickets without a run at 97.
Pakistan’s left-handed openers Imam and Fakhar Zaman began well and took their team to 35 without loss at the dinner break. Zaman fell soon after the break. Imam (50*) was then joined by Azam (33) and the two added 52 for the second wicket.
For Hong Kong, the Pakistanborn off-spinner Ehsan Khan took two for 34 to end as the only successful bowler from his side.
BROADCASTER CAN’T DECIDE TEAM: BCCI
India captain Virat Kohli’s absence from Asia Cup has got BCCI into a head on collision with Asian Cricket Council (ACC) after broadcasters Star expressed their displeasure.
The BCCI, however, in a tersely worded reply to ACC has made it clear that neither them or broadcasters have any say in national team selection matters.
Kohli was rested after an 84-day tour of England.
In an email to ACC Game Development Manager Thusith Perera, the host broadcaster expressed their displeasure, stating how Kohli’s absence will impact the financial aspect of the coverage. “The announcement of the absence of one of world’s best batsmen from the Asia Cup, only 15 days before the commencement of the Asia Cup, is a severe dent to us (event broadcaster) and will severely impact our ability to monetise the tournament,” the email stated.
However, BCCI made it clear that selection of the national team is its prerogative and no outside interference would be allowed.
“Please note that selection of best available team for participation in a tournament is sole prerogative of BCCI,’’ BCCI CEO Rahul Johri replied to Perera.
“It is not open for ACC or its broadcaster to insist on selection of any particular player and/or to question the expertise of any selection committee as to which is the best available team for particular tournament,’’ Johri further wrote.