Naseem Shah reacts after last over heroics in 2nd ODI vs Afghanistan
Pakistan’s tearaway fast bowler Naseem Shah has reflected on his last-over heroics in the second ODI against Afghanistan at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota on August 24. The Babar Azam-led side won the game by one wicket and took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-game series.
Batting first, Afghanistan posted 300/5, thanks to Rahmanullah Gurbaz (151) and Ibrahim Zadran’s (80) 227-run opening partnership. When Pakistan required 11 runs off the final over, Naseem and Shadab Khan were at the crease. Fazalhaq Farooqi who came in to bowl the last over, dismissed the all-rounder, which later became the major talking point of the game. However, the no. 10 batter Naseem hit a boundary off the penultimate delivery to give his side a dramatic one-wicket win.
Reflecting on his performance, Naseem stated that he was grateful for the chances he got this year. The 20-year-old also said that when Shadab was dismissed, he trusted himself to help the team win.
“I would like to say that this year, with the chances I have got at the fag end of the innings, I hope I don’t get a heart attack someday. I am very thankful to Allah and his grace as I always try to believe in myself in situations like that,” Shah was heard saying in a video shared by Pakistan Cricket.
“When I went inside, I believed in Shadab. I believed that we will finish the match. But when Shadab got out, I felt that the situation was now all mine. The bowlers are the same and I had the trust in myself to get the team over the line,” he added.
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Naseem went on to say that he is happy that he has been taking Pakistan over the line in quite a few games. Moreover, with the ball, he picked one wicket conceding 45 runs in his nine-over spell.
“I will say that it is a very happy thing and we needed this win a lot. I believed that I can do it. I try to be prepared for such situations as I practice a lot of batting in the nets. I know that my turn is coming when all the breathing lines stop. So I tried again to make the team win and did it. I am just trying to earn respect and rest is all upto almighty,” he further said.
