DUBAI: Mohammad Nawaz wants to be a “proper all-rounder” after his batting blitz set up a thrilling win for Pakistan against arch-rivals India in the Asia Cup Super Four.
Chasing 182 for victory, Pakistan achieved the target with one ball and five wickets to spare in Dubai after Muhammad Rizwan hit 71 and Nawaz made 42.
Nawaz, a left-arm spinner who usually bats at eight but was promoted to number four, joined Rizwan when the score was 63-2 and the two put on a key stand.
The 28-year-old Nawaz smashed six fours and two sixes in his 20-ball knock to put the chase on track.
Nawaz, who returned bowling figures of 1-25 in India’s 181-7, also took three catches and was named man of the match.
“To play such an innings in a high-pressure game has definitely given me confidence,” Nawaz told reporters after Sunday’s victory in the regional T20 tournament which acts as a tune-up for the World Cup in October.
“I have got the opportunity to grow as a player and I will try my best to live up to the rising expectations.
“I will work hard and try to perform better as a proper all-rounder for the Pakistan team.”
Nawaz fell in the 16th over and soon Rizwan was out after his second successive half-century.
Khushdil Shah (unbeaten 14) and Asif Ali, who made 16 off eight balls, hauled Pakistan over the line in a tense final over as they avenged their loss to India earlier in the tournament.
“We wanted to take it as deep as we could because the kind of players we have in Khushdil and Asif, even if we need 10-12 runs per over, they can easily get it,” Rizwan said.
India’s Virat Kohli, who returned to form with 60 off 44 balls to hold the Indian innings together until he got run out in the last over, said Nawaz’s knock made the difference.
“They took a chance to promote him and extend his batting stay and if the situation gets difficult they have (recognized) batsmen left,” Kohli told reporters.
“So the way he batted it was a game-changing moment, the way I read the game.”
The top two teams in the Super Four, which also has Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, will make the Asia Cup final on September 11.
Pakistan’s Mohammad Nawaz wants to be ‘proper all-rounder’ after thrilling performance in Dubai
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Pakistan’s Mohammad Nawaz wants to be ‘proper all-rounder’ after thrilling performance in Dubai
- Nawaz, a left-arm spinner, joined Muhmmad Rizwan when the score was 63-2 and the two put on a key stand
- He also returned bowling figures of 1-25, took three catches and was named man of the match after victory against India
Carrick relishing Frank reunion as Man Utd host Spurs
- Carrick has enjoyed a perfect start to life as interim United boss
- Frank remains under intense pressure in his first season at Spurs
LONDON: Michael Carrick will go head to head with Thomas Frank just months after interviewing the Tottenham manager for television as Manchester United seek a fourth successive Premier League win on Saturday.
Former Spurs, United and England midfielder Carrick has enjoyed a perfect start to life as interim United boss — beating Manchester City, Premier League leaders Arsenal and Fulham.
Next in line for United are Spurs, 14th in the table after a miserable Premier League season so far.
Carrick, who replaced the sacked Ruben Amorim last month, interviewed Frank ahead of the Dane’s first Champions League game in charge of Tottenham.
“(Life) certainly can change,” said Carrick as he reflected on the Amazon Prime interview in September. “I really enjoyed it, actually.
“We got on really well. It’s the first time I’ve met him properly and we had a good chat just about general kind of football things... I enjoyed it, so it will be good to see him again.”
Former Brentford boss Frank remains under intense pressure in his first season at Spurs despite their impressive Champions League campaign and a recent uptick in results.
Last week’s 2-2 draw at home to City extended their unbeaten run to four matches.
“They certainly bring a challenge,” Carrick said. “I think you can see especially the way they finished the game the other day.
“They’ve had players injured and ins and outs, and a lot of changes to the team, which makes things a lot more challenging, a lot more difficult from their perspective. But they’re getting players back.”
Tottenham won all four of their meetings against United last season, including May’s Europa League final in Bilbao.
Carrick hopes to end that run against a club at which he spent two seasons before moving to Old Trafford in 2006.
“Coming here (United) was a jump and a big jump at the time,” he said. I certainly felt that pretty quickly and then I think once you step inside this place as a footballer, it turns you.
“So, pretty much from the first day walking into the dressing room and meeting the manager, from then on in that was me.”
