ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan decided to bat first after winning the toss against Pakistan in a high-voltage Twenty20 World Cup match in Dubai on Friday.
Pakistan, which has already defeated India and New Zealand, took some early wickets and restricted Afghanistan to 65 for 5 runs in the first 10 overs.
Afghanistan named an unchanged team from the win over Scotland in its only game so far.
In 2019, a 50-over match between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Leeds, England was scarred by fighting and a pitch invasion.
Players needed security escorts off the pitch as fans poured out of the terraces after Afghanistan suffered an agonizing defeat.
Friday’s game in Dubai is expected to be tense as both teams are undefeated and chasing semifinal places.
On Thursday, Afghan star spinner Rashid Khan pleaded with fans to behave when the two neighbors meet in the T20 World Cup.
“Definitely it’s always a good game against Pakistan, but this should remain as a game,” Rashid said on Thursday.
“I request all the fans to stay cool and calm and just enjoy the game. What happened in the 2019 match should not have happened.”
Rashid claimed four wickets and fellow spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman took five as Afghanistan started their T20 World Cup in style, bowling out Scotland for just 60 in reply to their mammoth 190-4. Afghanistan smashed 11 sixes and 13 boundaries in their rout of Scotland in Sharjah.
Pakistan, on the other hand, crushed India by a whopping 10 wickets, followed by their rout of New Zealand in the previous two games.