PAK-A vs AFG, ICC Champions Trophy Warm-up Match Report: Pakistan Shaheens Crush Afghanistan by 144 Runs

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PAK-A vs AFG, ICC Champions Trophy Warm-up Match Report: Pakistan Shaheens sent a strong message ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, registering a thumping 144-run victory over Afghanistan in the warm-up match at Lahore.

Mohsin Riaz and Hussain Talat led the charge with the bat, while Arafat Minhas and Shadab Khan spun a web around the Afghan batting lineup to script a resounding win.

Match Details

Pakistan Shaheens Set a Stiff Target with 314/8

Opting to bat first, Pakistan Shaheens put up an imposing total of 314/8 in 50 overs, riding on solid contributions from their top and middle order. Opener Mohsin Riaz anchored the innings with a well-crafted 61 off 83 balls, providing stability early on. Though his strike rate of 73.49 wasn\'t aggressive, it laid the foundation for a late flourish.

The real fireworks came from Hussain Talat, who played a sublime knock of 70 off 75 balls, peppered with eight boundaries. He was ably supported by Irfan Khan, who turned up the heat with a blistering 57 off just 48 deliveries, striking at 118.75.

Jahandad Khan’s brief yet impactful 26 off 10 balls (three sixes) injected late momentum, ensuring that Pakistan Shaheens crossed the 300-run mark. Extras also played a significant role, with 41 runs coming through extras, including a staggering 27 wides from the Afghan bowlers.

Pakistan Shaheens Innings

Afghanistan’s Bowling Effort – Fareed Ahmad Shines Amidst Chaos

Afghanistan’s bowling unit struggled to contain the aggressive Pakistani batting, conceding runs at a rate of 6.28 per over. The only bright spot was Fareed Ahmad, who finished with 3/60 in 8 overs, consistently picking crucial wickets.

The spin duo of Noor Ahmad and Mohammad Nabi bowled economical spells, with Noor returning 2/37 in 10 overs. However, a lack of discipline from the pacers, particularly in terms of wides, hurt Afghanistan’s chances of restricting the Shaheens to a lower total.

Afghanistan Bowling

Afghanistan’s Batting Collapses Under Pressure

Chasing a daunting 315-run target, Afghanistan got off to a shaky start and never really recovered. Wickets tumbled at regular intervals, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz (7 off 12) falling early to a brilliant run-out by Irfan Khan.

Despite a resilient 39 off 55 balls from Ibrahim Zadran, the Afghan innings lacked momentum. Rahmat Shah showed some fight with 43 off 53, but his departure triggered a collapse. The middle order crumbled under pressure, with Hashmatullah Shahidi (8), Azmatullah Omarzai (2), and Gulbadin Naib (5) all falling cheaply.

Veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi (24 off 42) tried to hold things together, but with wickets falling from the other end, his knock wasn\'t enough to make a dent in the chase. Afghanistan was eventually bundled out for 170 in 38.4 overs, handing Pakistan Shaheens a massive 144-run victory.

Afghanistan Innings

Pakistan Shaheens\' Bowlers Dominate

Pakistan Shaheens\' bowlers were relentless, with every bowler chipping in. Arafat Minhas was the standout performer, picking up 3/26 in 4 overs, while Shadab Khan strangled the batters with his leg-spin, returning figures of 2/32 in 8 overs.

Abbas Afridi (2/31 in 6 overs) and Mohammad Amir Khan (1/34 in 6 overs) ensured there was no respite for Afghanistan. The fielding unit also backed the bowlers with two crucial run-outs that further derailed the Afghan chase.

Pakistan Shaheens Bowling

Match Summary

• Pakistan Shaheens Batting Stars: Hussain Talat (70), Irfan Khan (57), Mohsin Riaz (61)
• Afghanistan Bowling Best: Fareed Ahmad (3/60), Noor Ahmad (2/37)
• Afghanistan Batting Resistance: Rahmat Shah (43), Ibrahim Zadran (39)
• Pakistan Shaheens Bowling Best: Arafat Minhas (3/26), Shadab Khan (2/32), Abbas Afridi (2/31)