The recent Super Four clash between Pakistan and Bangladesh in the Asia Cup wasn’t just about runs and wickets; it ignited a fiery debate on social media, all thanks to a pointed tweet from former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif. Latif highlighted the curious case of Mushtaq Ahmed, who serves both as Pakistan’s spin coach and Bangladesh’s spin bowling coach, by posting a picture of Ahmed smiling while Bangladesh struggled on the scoreboard.
During the tense Super Four encounter between Pakistan and Bangladesh this past Thursday, social media was abuzz, not just with match commentary, but with a provocative tweet from former Pakistan skipper Rashid Latif. Latif shared a striking image: Mushtaq Ahmed, who paradoxically holds coaching positions with both Pakistan’s High Performance Centre and Bangladesh’s national team as spin bowling coach, was captured smiling. In the background, a scoreboard starkly displayed Bangladesh’s dire situation at 51 for 5. Latif’s caption deliberately emphasized Ahmed’s unique dual role, ironically calling him a ‘great bowler’.
The implications of Latif’s tweet, especially given its timing, were significant. Pakistan was in a precarious position, battling fiercely to defend a modest total of 135 runs. However, under immense pressure, speedsters Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf rose to the occasion, each claiming three crucial wickets. Their stellar performance ultimately limited Bangladesh to 124 for 9, securing an 11-run victory for Pakistan. Earlier in the innings, Mohammad Haris had been the standout performer with the bat, scoring 31 runs to help set Pakistan’s target of 135 for 8.
Meanwhile, in another gripping contest on Friday, India continued their dominant form, extending their unbeaten streak to six matches. They narrowly defeated Sri Lanka in a thrilling Super Over, a result that, while exciting, was a mere formality given India had already secured their spot in the final. Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka put on a magnificent batting display, almost single-handedly steering his team to an upset victory with a blistering century. Yet, Arshdeep Singh’s exceptional bowling in the Super Over clinched the win for India after both teams were tied at 202 runs in the regular innings. Abhishek Sharma’s explosive 61 off just 31 balls was a highlight, complemented by vital contributions from Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma with the bat.
With Pakistan’s win, a highly anticipated showdown is now set for Sunday: the Asia Cup final in Dubai will see arch-rivals Pakistan and India battle it out. This marks their third encounter in the tournament, with India having triumphed in both previous group stage and Super Four matches. These prior games, however, were not without their drama, marred by controversies, notably the noticeable absence of traditional post-match handshakes, adding an extra layer of intensity to the upcoming final.