Pakistan vs Afghanistan Asia Cup: Arrest warrant issued for Pak hero Akmal

A local court in Lahore issued an arrest warrant for Pakistan wicket keeper batsman Umar Akmal who is playing in the Asia Cup in Bangladesh.

The warrant was issued for breaking traffic rules and getting into a brawl with a traffic warden, Pakistan media reported.

The court has ordered Akmal to be presented before the bench on March 11 following his arrest.
The Asia Cup final is scheduled on March 8.

Akmal was involved in this controversy earlier this month on February 1.

He was detained and released a day later on bail. Umar has denied all charges and claimed that he was harassed by the cop.

Earlier, Umar Akmal hit a fighting hundred to help Pakistan overcome early wobbles against Afghanistan to win their crucial Asia Cup match by 72 runs in Dhaka on Thursday.

Pakistan owed their recovery to Akmal's 89-ball 102 not out, which lifted them from a precarious 117-6 to 248-8 in 50 overs before they wrapped up their rivals for 176 in 47.2 overs.

Afghanistan, playing their inaugural match in the five-nation tournament, impressed despite the defeat, but their lack of experience stopped them from causing an upset.

Chasing a daunting target, the Afghans were 139-2 in the 36th over before losing their last eight wickets for 37 runs as Mohammad Hafeez (3-29) and Saeed Ajmal (2-25) gave Pakistan a win with a bonus point.

Asghar Stanikzai (40) and Nawroz Mangal (35) shared a 74-run partnership for the third wicket but they failed to match the required net run-rate which climbed on them, undoing their run-chase.

Shahid Afridi dismissed Stanikzai to break the partnership before Mangal ran himself out to spark a collapse.

Noor Ali Zadran had given Afghanistan a solid start with a 63-ball 44 with seven fours, before he fell victim to Ajmal's dot balls.

Hafeez had Najibullah Zadran (one) and Samiullah Shinwari (14) to complete the win.

Earlier, it was Akmal who saved Pakistan's blushes with a dominating second one-day century, his first in five years.

In all he hit seven boundaries and three sixes, helping Pakistan to put on 59 runs in the last five overs.

Akmal, let off at 28, led the fightback through a 60-run seventh wicket stand with Anwar Ali (21) to lift Pakistan's innings.

Pakistan began fluently with a stand of 55 between Ahmed Shehzad (50), who hit seven boundaries in his 74-ball innings, and Sharjeel Khan (25).

But once spinner Hamza Hotak (1-22) had provided the breakthrough by dismissing Khan, Afghanistan grabbed six wickets in the space of 62 runs.

Hafeez fell for ten, Misbah-ul Haq was run out for nought without facing a ball, Sohaib Maqsood went for 13 and Shahid Afridi for six.

Misbah, the world's highest run scorer in one-day cricket last year, was the dismissal which jolted Pakistan badly.

But Akmal held the innings together to ensure Pakistan reached a respectable total.

Mirwais Ashraf, Shinwari and Dawlat Zadran took two wickets apiece.

India, who beat Bangladesh by six wickets, will face Sri Lanka on Friday.

Sri Lanka won the tournament's opener by 12 runs against Pakistan on Tuesday.

AFGHANISTAN INNINGS

Hafeez makes it three picking the last wicket of Afghanistan. Afg 176 all out in 47.2 overs.

Samiullah Shenwari b Mohammad Hafeez 14 (20b 1x4 0x6)

Hafeez gets his second as Zadran departs. Afg 175-9 in 46 overs.

Shapoor Zadran c Saeed Ajmal b Mohammad Hafeez 1 (7b 0x4 0x6)

Afghanistan are 174-8 in 45 overs.

That was a straight ball from Ajmal and Zadran is bowled. Afg 172-8 in 44.1 overs.

Dawlat Zadran b Saeed Ajmal 0 (1b 0x4 0x6)

Another run out and Ashraf returns to the hut. Afg 172-7 in 44 overs.

Mirwais Ashraf run out 4 (12b 0x4 0x6)

Afghanistan are 164 for six in 42 overs.

Skipper of Afghanistan is gone. Decision was delayed for a while before Bowden decided to raise his hand. Afg 159-6 in 40.4 overs.

Mohammad Nabi lbw b Umar Gul 15 (13b 3x4 0x6)

Afghanistan losing the plot here. Zadran attempted to cut Hafeez but plays on to the stumps. Afg 151-5 in 39.5 overs.

Najibullah Zadran b Mohammad Hafeez 1 (6b 0x4 0x6)

Afghanistan need 100 from 66 balls with six wickets in hand.

Shahid Afridi bowls a splendid spell to finish his 10 overs conceding only 31 runs with a wicket. Eight runs came off his last two balls. Afg 149-4 in 39 overs.

That's another wicket lost for Afghanistan. Not the one they wanted at this time especially with a settled batsman Mangal as he is run out. Afg 140-4 in 37.1 overs.

Nawroz Mangal run out 35 (57b 3x4 0x6)

Afridi finally strikes. He has been bowling consistently well and finally is rewarded. Afg 139-3 in 37 overs.

Asghar Stanikzai c Mohammad Hafeez b Shahid Afridi 40 (91b 3x4 0x6)

The 50-run partnership comes up for the duo. But they have consumed too many balls reaching there. They can't afford to the same for long. Afg 116-2 in 32.2 overs.

Afghanistan need 146 from 120 balls. Afg 103-2 in 30 overs.

Required Run rate goes up to seven. Afghanistan need to get some runs to keep the run rate under check. Afg 84-2 in 27 overs.

Afghanistan need 175 runs from 156 balls. Afg 74-2 in 24 overs

Afghanistan are 70-2 in 22 overs.

Afghanistan lose their second wicket as Ajmal strikes. Afg 65-2 ub 18.5 overs

Noor Ali Zadran lbw b Saeed Ajmal 44 (63b 7x4 0x6)

Zadran batting beautifully on 44 as Afghanistan reach 65-1 in 18 overs.

Asghar Stanikzai has just scored seven from 26 overs. Afghanistan 59 for 1 in 15 overs.

Afghanistan is playing cautiously but they need to keep the scoreboard ticking. They need 200 from 37 overs. Afg 49-1 in 13 overs.

Zadran batting on 32 as Afghanistan reach 42-1 in 10 overs.

Afghanistan lose their first wicket after a great start. Both openers were dealing in boundaries before Shahzad edges one to the wicketkeeper. Pak 21-1 in 5 overs.

Mohammad Shahzad c Umar Akmal b Umar Gul 9 (12b 1x4 0x6)

Positive start from Afghanistan openers. Afg 17-0 in 2 overs

Mohammad Shahzad and Noor Ali open for Afghanistan. Umar Gul bowls for Pakistan.

PAKISTAN INNINGS

Umar Akmal scored a brilliant century as Pakistan managed to put on a superb 248 for eight in in 50 overs.

Pakistan were struggling at 117 for six at one stage before Umar Akmal who pulled off a thrilling unbeaten 102 in the last over ensured Pakistan had a strong total.

Afghanistan were particularly impressive on the field with bowlers Dawlat Zadran, Mirwais Ashraf and Samiullah Shenwari all taking two wickets each.

Umar Gul departs but has done his job. A six and a boundary before he is bowled. Pak 217-8 in 48 overs.

Umar Gul b Dawlat Zadran 15 (12b 1x4 1x6)

He had his luck but it was still a brilliant innings at an important time for Pakistan. Umar Akmal 50 off 60balls including two boundaries and a six. Pak 179-7 in 43.2 overs

A stunning catch from Nawroz Mangal and Pakistan lose another crucial wicket. Pak 177-7 in 42.4 overs.

Anwar Ali c Nawroz Mangal b Mirwais Ashraf 21 (36b 2x4 0x6)

Pakistan reach 164-6 in 40 overs as Umar Akmal batting on 39.

Umar Akmal was lucky there. He completely mistimes his shot before Shenwari drops a high catch. Pak 147-6 in 36.5 overs.

Umar Akmal's innings will be crucial here. He has to stick around for a while. Pak 129-6 in 33 overs.

That was an atrocious shot from the experienced batsman. Afridi walks back as Pakistan are collapsing. Pak 117-6 in 29.3 overs.

Shahid Afridi b Dawlat Zadran 6 (11b 0x4 0x6)

Pakistan collapsing here. Another wicket goes in a disappointing way. Pak 108-5 in 26.5 overs.

Sohaib Maqsood c Asghar Stanikzai b Samiullah Shenwari 13 (25b 2x4 0x6)

Pakistan in trouble here. That was the last thing they wanted. Misbah is upset with both the batsmen at one end. Pak 89-4 in 23.1 overs.

Misbah-ul-Haq run out 0 (0b 0x4 0x6)

Shehzad gets his half century and perishes. The shot was totally uncalled for. Pak 89-3 in 23 overs.

Ahmed Shehzad b Samiullah Shenwari 50 (74b 7x4 0x6)

Shehzad is on 44 as Pakistan reach 83-2 in 22 overs.

Pakistan lose their second wicket. There was no need for Hafeez to play that shot especially after they had got a couple of boundaries. Tries to pull but gets a top edge which is easily taken. Pak 78-2 in 19.5 overs.

Mohammad Hafeez c Mohammad Nabi b Mirwais Ashraf 10 (16b 1x4 0x6)

Hamza Hotak has bowled a beautiful spell here. From his four overs he has conceded only eight runs including a maiden and a wicket. Pak 64-1 in 17 overs.

Pakistan's run rate is just over four. But they have the wickets. Shehzad batting on 31. Pak 61-1 in 15 overs.

Afghanistan earn their first wicket. Sharjeel was looking good before he hoists one to the deep to offer a simple catch. Pak 55-1 in 12.3 overs.

Sharjeel Khan c Noor Ali Zadran b Hamza Hotak 25 (37b 2x4 1x6)

Great shots from Sharjeel to a boundary and a six as Pakistan gain control over the game. Pak 52-0 in 11 overs.

Shehzad gets two back to back boundaries as Pakistan openers slowly opening up. Pak 35-0 in 8 overs.

Afghanistan bowlers are making an impression here. Good stuff by not giving them any room to the openers. Pak 23-0 in 7 overs.

Shehzad gets his first boundary. It's been a slow but cautious start from the Pakistan openers. Pak 14-0 in 5 overs.

Afghanistan bowlers doing a wonderful job here. Pak 7-0 in 4 overs.

A great spell from Shapoor Zadran. He has just given away one run from his two overs. Pak 5-0 in 3 overs.

Sharjeel Khan gets a fine boundary as Pakistan openers get going. Pak 5-0 in 2 overs.

Afghanistan bowl a tight first over. Positive start. Pak 1-0 in 1 over.

PREVIEW

Afghanistan have won the toss and put Pakistan into bat in Match 3 of the Asia Cup at Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium, Fatullah on Thursday.

"First time playing in the Asia Cup and it's a big experience for us and we hope to perform well," said Afghanistan captain Mohammad Nabi.

"We don't mind batting first. One change: Bilawal Bhatti sits out for Anwar Ali," said Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq.

They lost the only one-day international they played against Pakistan, in Sharjah in February 2012.

PLAYING XI

Pakistan: Sharjeel Khan, Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Sohaib Maqsood, Misbah, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Anwar Ali, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Junaid Khan

Afghanistan: Mohammad Shahzad, Noor Ali Zadran, Ashghar Stanikzai, Nawroz Mangal, Mohammad Nabi, Samiullah Shenwari, Najibullah Zadran, Mirwais Ashraf, Hamza Hotak, Dawlat Zadran, Shapoor Zadran

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