In the opening match of the Asia Cup, Pakistan secured a resounding victory over Nepal, prevailing by a substantial margin of 238 runs. Pakistan asserted their dominance by posting an imposing total of 342 for 6 in their innings, batting first. The match’s early momentum was set by Shaheen Shah Afridi, who swiftly claimed two wickets in the very first over, ultimately leading to Nepal’s dismissal for a mere 104 runs.
Shadab Khan delivered a standout performance, impressively capturing four wickets while conceding only 27 runs in 6.4 overs. Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf also displayed their bowling prowess. Although Aarif Sheikh (26) and Sompal Kami (28) put up a valiant resistance, Nepal’s innings concluded in just 23.4 overs.
Prior to Nepal’s innings, Pakistan’s commanding total was propelled by the brilliant batting of Babar Azam, who amassed 151 runs, and Iftikhar Ahmed, who remained unbeaten with 109 runs. Their remarkable partnership yielded an impressive 214 runs for the fifth wicket.