Pakistani batsman Sahibzada Farhan has garnered considerable praise for his daring performance against India in the Asia Cup, despite his team’s eventual loss in the final. His fearless approach at the crease became a major talking point during the tournament.
Farhan first caught the eyes of fans during the Super Four clash in Dubai. He spectacularly reached his half-century by hitting a short delivery from Axar Patel deep over midwicket for a six, famously mimicking the firing of an AK-47 with his bat. This bold celebration captivated the crowd and quickly became a viral sensation across social media.
His impressive form continued into the final match, where he achieved a significant milestone: becoming the first batter to strike three sixes off India’s formidable pace spearhead, Jasprit Bumrah, in T20Is. Farhan’s explosive innings saw him score 57 runs off just 34 balls, establishing a crucial 84-run opening partnership with Fakhar Zaman.
However, despite Farhan’s heroics, Pakistan failed to capitalize on the strong start. They suffered a dramatic collapse, losing their last nine wickets for a mere 33 runs, largely due to India’s Kuldeep Yadav, who claimed 4 wickets for 30 runs. Pakistan was eventually bowled out for a total of 146 runs.
India successfully chased the target, overcoming the loss of three early wickets. Tilak Varma emerged as the hero, hitting a six in the penultimate over to secure a thrilling five-wicket victory for India. Varma remained unbeaten on 69 runs, ably supported by Shivam Dube’s 33, ensuring India retained the Asia Cup and concluded the tournament undefeated.
Adding another layer of drama to the event, Pakistan’s Interior Minister and PCB chief, Mohsin Naqvi, attracted global attention during a contentious trophy handover. When Indian players notably declined to accept the trophy from him, in what was widely interpreted as a political snub, Naqvi defiantly kept the trophy. He later announced that India was welcome to collect it from ACC headquarters.
In recognition of his actions, Mohsin Naqvi is reportedly slated to receive the prestigious Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Excellence Gold Medal. According to a report in The Independent, organizers believe his “principled and courageous stance” successfully “restored national pride.” The award ceremony is planned for Karachi, with PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari invited as the chief guest.