Watch: Iftikhar Ahmed and Asad Shafiq engaged in ugly fight during SPL 2024

During the Sindh Premier League match between Karachi Ghazis and Larkana Challengers at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi, Ghazis cricketer Iftikhar Ahmed got angry with the opposition captain Asad Shafiq. During the eighth over of the second innings, when Challengers batsman Shafiq was dismissed, he started to exchange a few words with Iftikhar.

Iftikhar Ahmed was hit for a six and a four in the over, however, towards the end the bowler had the last laugh and removed Asad Shafiq. However, while Shafiq was walking back to the dressing room, Iftikhar started to get aggressive with Shafiq, due to which the Larkana Challengers captain also stopped and started being aggressive. Though, at last, both the players were taken away by the other team members on the ground.  Iftikhar also got rid of Umaid Asif and Afnan Khan for 0 and 12 runs respectively.

While batting first at the National Bank Stadium, Karachi Ghazis put up a score of 160 runs in 20 overs. Ghazis were off to a terrible start when they lost their first three wickets for a score of just 2 runs. Ahmer Ashfaq, Khawaja Nafay, and Omair Yousuf were removed by the opposition for a duck. Whereas, captain Sahibzada Farhan could only score 13 runs from 11 balls.

Watch: Iftikhar Ahmed and Asad Shafiq involved in a fight

Phadda 😳 @IftiMania got aggressive against Asad Shafiq. Never seen Asad angry and doing such things. Ifti bhai was a bit emotional there 🤦

VC: SPL#PakistanCricket pic.twitter.com/cCu6cunMjR

— muzamilasif (@muzamilasif4) January 31, 2024

However, apart from his heroics with the ball, Iftikhar Ahmed also shined with the bat and added 92 runs from 61 balls for the fifth wicket along with Muneeb Wasif. While Wasif walked back for 31 runs, Iftikhar brought up a half-century. Iftikhar Ahmed played an innings of 69 runs from 43 balls and slammed a total of 5 fours and five sixes throughout his stay at the crease. Haider Ali played a cameo of 20 runs from 13 balls whereas the other lower-order batsmen were not able to add more runs.

Umaid Asif picked up 3 wickets with the ball for the Larkana Challengers whereas Kashif Bhatti and Shahnawaz Dahani ended up with 2 wickets each. Mohammad Ilyas and Afnan Khan picked up 1 wicket and went for 57 runs in 4 overs.

Chasing down the target, Larkana Challengers were reduced to 25/4 in the 6 overs. Yahya Shah, Bismillah Khan, Zeeshan Malik, and Sudails Ulfat had to walk back to the dressing room cheaply. Wickets kept on tumbling for the Challengers and big names such as Tayyab Tahir and Asad Shafiq were not able to do much.

Larkana Challengers were wrapped up for 92 runs and handed over Karachi Ghazis a win by 68 runs. Aimal Khan picked up 4 wickets with the ball whereas Iftikhar Ahmed ended up with 3 wickets. Adeel Meo picked up 2 wickets, and Abdul Jalil ended the innings with 1 wicket.

Iftikhar Ahmed was part of the Pakistan cricket team for the tour of New Zealand wherein the ‘Men in Green’ faced a loss of 4-1 in the five-match series. Iftikhar Ahmed gave a useful contribution with the ball and picked up 3 wickets in the fifth match of the series.

Iftikhar Ahmed will next be seen in the Pakistan Super League and will want to continue his good performance.