The in-form batsman saved his best for last, smacking Wahab Riaz for six sixes in an over to finish with 94 not out from 50 balls.
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Iftikhar Ahmed resumed his hot streak with an unbeaten 94-run knock-off 50 balls to help Quetta reach 184-5 in 20 overs against Peshawar Zalmi on Sunday in an exhibition match. Iftikhar began upping the ante in Aamir Jamal’s over, smashing back-to-back boundaries against the pacer. Pakistan batters Iftikhar and Khushdil Shah combined for 51 runs to put Quetta back on pace for a competitive total. Wahab returned in the 17th over to eliminate Khushdil, who tried to take on the left-arm pacer’s short ball but was caught at the boundary for 36. Iftikhar was in no mood to stop, smashing Jamal for a six over a fine leg and then a four in the next over.
Iftikhar completed his fifty in 42 balls and blasted a six over long off on the next ball in the innings’ final over. The in-form batsman saved his best for last, smacking Wahab Riaz for six sixes in an over to finish with 94 not out from 50 balls. In other news, Pakistan will retain the hosting rights for the 2023 Asia Cup, although the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) may be obliged to hold the matches featuring India, including the final, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
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Last year, Indian cricket board secretary and Asian Cricket Council President Jay Shah announced that India will not travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup and insisted on a different venue. In response, Ramiz Raja, then PCB Chairman, declared that if India does not participate in the event, we will not participate in the ICC World Cup 2023, which is scheduled in India. In a press conference in Lahore two weeks ago, current PCB chairman Najam Sethi stated that he will explain their views in an emergency ACC meeting, which took place in Bahrain on Saturday. According to sources, Shah informed Sethi that the Indian government will not permit Team India to travel to Pakistan for security reasons.
The head of the PCB stated that practically every international team had lately visited Pakistan and had received good protection. India will receive the same level of security as other teams, thus they should visit Pakistan. Shah, on the other hand, was resolute in his attitude. The UAE was also discussed as an alternative during the aforementioned conference. Other members, particularly in India, want the event to be held in the UAE. Due to the high ground and hospitality costs in the UAE, Sri Lanka is being considered as an alternative. However, it was agreed that Pakistan would retain hosting rights regardless of where the event took place.
Another alternative was to hold Indian matches just in the UAE, with the rest of the teams playing in Pakistan. If India advances to the final, the event will be relocated to Dubai, UAE. This option may result in additional costs. According to sources, Sethi reportedly told Shah that if you don’t play in Pakistan, Pakistan won’t play in India. Because the issues in the 2023 Asia Cup (Pakistan), World Cup 2023 (India), and 2025 Champions Trophy are the same, a final decision on the venue will be made in March when the ICC and ACC Executive Board meetings take place one after the other (Pakistan).
