Malik, Akmal keep Pakistan hopes alive

Preview: A hurt Pakistan are set to intimidate minnows United Arab Emirates with their four- pronged pace attack in a round robin league game of the Asia Cup Twenty20 cricket tournament, here on Monday.

Malik made 63 off 49 balls while Akmal added 50 off 46 balls.

Chasing UAE’s score of 129/6, Pakistan got off to a rocky start as rival skipper Javed grabbed three quick wickets. They have played three ODIs before in 1994, 1996 and 2015.

Malik proved his detractors wrong with a responsible innings as he found an able ally in Akmal. The duo contributed 29 runs to the total and after Mushtaq’s (9) wicket fell, Anwar knit another useful partnership of 31 with Muhammad Usman. He hit a big six off Nawaz while Afridi, bowling for the first time in the tournament was also on the receiving end of some aggressive batting.

Anwar took on the debutant left-arm spinner, Mohammad Nawaz and Shahid Afridi.

Pakistan coach Waqar Younis believes that whenever his team bats first, they are more confident even though their batting collapsed against India last night.

UAE have in brought Usman Mushtaq for Saqlain Haider for the match.at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka. With Amir out, the other bowlers didn’t exude the threat that came with the tainted pacer.

The 7 feet tall Mohammed Irfan used his height to get Mohammed Shahzad (5) with a delivery that grew big on the right hander as he only managed to glove it to Sarfraz Ahmed behind stumps. Just when he was looking good for a half-century, Irfan got him to nick one behind the stumps.

Shaiman Anwar struck a fluid 46 from 42 balls to anchor their innings, while late runs from Muhammad Usman (21) and Javed (27no) lifted UAE into three figures.

Amjad Javed celebrates after striking twice in his 1st over.