Shaheen guides Pakistan U-19 to victory

LAHORE: Pakistan’s young pacer Shaheen Afridi’s 6-15 in a seven-wicket victory over Ireland kept Pakistan in hunt for a place in the Super League of the Under-19 World Cup being played in New Zealand.

After losing to Afghanistan in the opener, Pakistan needed a win to stay in the fray and Shaheen— who had made a record-breaking first-class debut in September last year, grabbing an eight-wicket innings haul in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy for Khan Research Laboratories against Rawalpindi—did the trick for his side.

Coming in first change after part-time spinner Ali Zaryab used the new ball, Shaheen gave little away and his effectiveness and accuracy can be gauged from the fact that he bowled three batsmen and had three caught behind.

Ireland was reduced to 34-4 in the 12th over with Shaheen taking three of those wickets, and there was to be no comeback as Ireland fell to its second loss after going down to Sri Lanka by seven wickets on Sunday. Joshua Little, who has already played senior international cricket, scored 24 not out off 20 balls to help take the team close to the three-figure mark.

Pakistan made quick work of chasing the total as opener Zaid Alam blasted 43 not out off 19 balls with seven fours and a six and captain Hassan Khan made an unbeaten 27 off 20 balls.

Shaheen, who was later declared player of the match told the ICC website: “The captain opened with spin, and that was the plan the team had taken. It didn’t work, so the ball came to me and I just tried to do my best. I’m happy for it. New Zealand conditions are very good, there’s a lot of seam movement.”

In the other match of the event, Left-arm spinner Anukul Roy finished with a superb haul of five for 14 as three-time champions India completed a facile 10-wicket victory over Papua New Guinea (PNG) for a second successive win.