There was only one name on everyone’s lips after Pakistan defeated Afghanistan by chasing down 130 in a nail-biting final over: Naseem Shah. The pitcher turned into an unlikely hero when, needing just one wicket and 11 runs, he smacked two sixes off Fazalhaq Farooqi to win the game.
“Nadeem’s two sixes reminded us of Javed (Miandad) bhai,” Pakistan captain Babar Azam said during the press conference, referencing Chetan Sharma’s six to Javed Miandad during an India vs. Pakistan match played on the same field. Ravi Shastri responded, “I was there, thanks for reminding,” before adding, “I was there.”
Shadab Khan, another member of Naseem’s team, added, “Like we remember the sixes from Javed bhai and Shahid Afridi bhai, Naseem ke chaake bhi uske career ke finish Tak yad kar jayenge (Like we remember the sixes from Javed bhai and Shahid Afridi bhai, these two sixes
Sharjah had to be it—the city has hosted innumerable thrillers throughout the years, and this one was no exception. Till the very last over, there was no way to tell who would win the match, which was finely balanced on a knife edge.