Shahid Afridi's all rounder performance guided Pakistan to a massive victory over Bangladesh Wednesday in their opening match of the ICC World T20 2016 at Kolkata's Eden Gardens.
The 37-year-old Pakistan skipper, who has recently been under fire due to his team's poor performance in the Asia Cup, first scored 49 off just 19 balls. He then picked up key wickets off in-form Bangladeshi batsmen Tamim Iqbal and Shabbir Rehman.
"My performances always play a key role, and I was really hungry to perform. For the last few series I didn't play well. But I was focused on my performance because I know how important it is for me and my country. It's a big event as captain, as senior player, I have to lead by example," Afridi said during post match ceremony.
A second wicket 95-run stand between Mohammad Hafeez (64) and opener Ahmed Shahzad (52) and Shahid Afridi's 19-ball 49 run knock powered Pakistan to 201 for five in 20 overs. It was Pakistan's highest ever score in the history of the World T20. Bangladesh, in reply, managed to score only 146-6 in their quota of 20 overs as Mohammad Amir and Afridi together took four wickets.
Pakistan will face archrival India in their second match of the World T20 on Saturday at Kolkata's Eden Garden. Afridi said that the massive victory against Bangladesh was a morale booster for his teammates ahead of crucial India encounter.
"I don't want to talk about the past, I don't live in past. I think we should learn from our mistakes. We have done well against these guys and India have been playing good cricket, even with the last loss. We won this match and everyone is feeling good after this win," he said.
Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza admitted that it was difficult to chase 200 with Pakistani's lethal bowling attack. "Two hundred is always difficult with Pakistan's bowling attack and after six over it was almost impossible. Shakib batted very well and we got 150, so its not that bad," Mortaza said.
"We have to bowl better, we didn't bowl well today. First six overs we couldn't get much runs with the bat either. You can't practice much, you have to be mentally strong."
Brief Scorecard
Pakistan: 201 for five - Mohammad Hafeez 64, Ahmed Shahzad 52, Shahid Afridi 49; Taskin Ahmed 2-34, Arafat Sunny 2/32. Bangladesh: 146 for six - Shakib Al Hasan 50 not out; Mohammad Amir 2-27, Shahid Afridi 2-27.
Check out full scorecard here and here and videos of the match here and here.
