IND Vs PAK: Shadab Khan Applauds Iftikhar Ahmed After His 109-Run Knock Vs Nepal, Says 'He Is A Great Asset For Us'

Pakistan bowling all-rounder, Shadab Khan heaped praise on Iftikhar Ahmed after the Men in Green’s first match of the Asia Cup 2023 against Nepal on Wednesday (August 30th) at Multan International Stadium. Shadab said that Iftikhar is a great asset to Pakistan.

Babar Azam won the toss and opted to bat first. Pakistani openers, Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq failed to make a mark, however, the 28-year-old skipper played a 151-run knock from 131 balls which helped the Men in Green to dominate the match from the very first.

Apart from Babar Azam, the 32-year-old batting all-rounder, Iftikhar Ahmed too played a stellar inning and scored 109 runs from 71 balls with a strike rate of 153.52.

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In the second inning, the host team was successful in defending the target and dismissed the Nepali batting lineup at 104 runs to clinch a 238-run win.

Shadab Khan took four wickets in his 6.4 over spell and gave away 27 runs. Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf picked two wickets each. Meanwhile, Naseem Shah and Mohammad Nawaz scalped one wicket respectively.

Iftikhar Ahmed has taken the opportunities as times and played some crucial knocks: Shadab Khan

While speaking in the post-match presentation, Shadab Khan said that he could not talk about Babar Azam since the skipper is a world-class player but Iftikhar Ahmed has been brilliant for the way he has been batting for the Men in Green in the last couple of years.

Shadab Khan said that Iftikhar had taken all the opportunities whenever the team needed him and that the player is currently a great asset to us.

“I think I cannot talk about Babar as he is a world-class player. But Iftikhar, the way he us batting for us in the last couple of years, it has been brilliant. He has taken the opportunities as times and played some crucial knocks. We all know how good a player he is. He is a great asset for us,” Shadab Khan said on Iftikhar Ahmed.

When asked about the Pakistani pacers, Shadab Khan praised the fast bowlers and said that they have been amazing with the new ball and picked wickets whenever they needed.

“The platform our fast bowlers provided with the new ball was amazing. When they do, they bowl spell and they provide us wickets after wickets,” said Shadab.

In the upcoming match, Babar Azam’s Pakistan will take on Rohit Sharma-led India on Saturday (September 2nd) at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Sri Lanka.