Desk Report:
If you scroll through the scorecards of Cricinfo and Cricbuzz, you will see that Sri Lanka and Pakistan played yesterday at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. But that does not tell the whole story of the match. Because Bangladesh was also involved in this match. If Pakistan lost to the Sri Lankans, Bangladesh would have benefited more.
If Pakistan had lost to Sri Lanka last night, then Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka would have had 2 points each. Pakistan would have had 0 points. Even chasing the target of 134 runs set by the Sri Lankans in Abu Dhabi, Pakistan was in a situation where they were about to lose. Pakistan, led by Salman Ali Agha, became 80 for 5 in 11.1 overs. But with the ‘unpredictable’ tag attached to Pakistan’s name, there would be drama in their game, so what team’s match would not have it! Hussain Talat-Mohammad Nawaz’s unbroken partnership of 58 runs for the sixth wicket with 41 balls, Pakistan won by 5 wickets with two overs in hand. Salman’s Pakistan scored 138 runs for 5 wickets in 18 overs.
Bangladesh is in a lot of trouble due to Pakistan’s win. Bangladesh, India, Pakistan – all three teams have 2 points. But India is on top with a net run rate of +0.689. Pakistan and Bangladesh, who are in second and third, have net run rates of +0.226 and +0.121. Bangladesh, led by Liton Das, will play against India in Dubai today. Not only today, Liton-Mustafizur Rahman will have to take the field tomorrow as well. Bangladesh will play against Pakistan in their last match of the Super Four in Dubai tomorrow. Now if Bangladesh loses today, then India will book a ticket to the final. Then the Bangladesh-Pakistan match will become an unwritten semi-final.
