Desk Report:
Abu Dhabi Sheikh Zayed Stadium was like a movie stage yesterday. Let alone the result of the Sri Lanka-Pakistan match. The competition was on to see who could imitate whom in the celebration. The incident of Wanindu Hasaranga-Abrar Ahmed’s exchange of celebrations has already gone viral on social media.
It started during Sri Lanka’s innings. Wanindu Hasaranga went to spin Pakistani legspinner Abrar Ahmed to the leg side with the first ball of the 13th over. However, Hasaranga was bowled by Abrar’s googly. Abrar then imitated the celebration of calling the Sri Lankan all-rounder on his (Hasaranga’s) mobile phone. But Hasaranga was no less. He retaliated to Abrar when he got the opportunity. The Sri Lankan all-rounder imitated Abrar’s ‘eye gesture’ celebration twice. Fakhar Zaman went to pick up Mahish Tikshan on the fifth ball of the sixth over of the innings. After taking a one-handed catch with a dive at mid-off, Hasaranga celebrated like Abrar. The same Abrar who had signaled to return to the dressing room by winking at India’s Shubman Gill in this year’s Champions Trophy.
During Hasaranga’s celebration, the camera turned to the Pakistani dressing room. Abrar burst out laughing at the Sri Lankan legspinner’s celebration. Pakistani wicketkeeper Mohammad Haris also did not stop joking. Haris himself had fun celebrating Hasaranga’s mobile phone. Less than an over after Fakhar’s departure, Hasaranga retaliated against Abrar. Hasaranga celebrated the winking gesture by bowling Saim Ayub on the fourth ball of the seventh over.
Despite the target of 134 runs, Pakistan came under a lot of pressure, losing 5 wickets for 80 runs in 11.1 overs. Hussain Talat-Mohammad Nawaz left the field with an unbreakable partnership of 58 runs off 41 balls for the sixth wicket. Salman Ali Aggar’s team also improved its net run rate by winning by 5 wickets with two overs in hand. 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.
