Irfan Applauds Bowlers Following Shaheens’ Narrow Victory Over Nepal

DARWIN: Following their thrilling one-run victory against Nepal at Marrara Cricket Ground No 2 on Friday, Pakistan Shaheens captain Muhammad Irfan Khan restated that winning the Top End T20 Series trophy is his team’s ultimate objective.

The Shaheens, captained by Irfan, recorded their fourth triumph in the ongoing 11-team series, as a combined bowling display enabled them to defend a somewhat small total.

The Shaheens chose to bat first and managed to score 144/9 in their allotted 20 overs, thanks to a stunning cameo from skipper Irfan at the end.

After joining the game at number seven, with the score at 58/5, Irfan initiated a remarkable comeback with an undefeated 42 off only 26 balls, which included three boundaries and a six.

Nepal ultimately fell just one run short of the target, in spite of an anchoring half-century from their captain Rohit Paudel and a quickfire cameo from all-rounder Dipendra Singh Airee. Left-arm spinner Faisal Akram held his composure to defend eight runs in the final over successfully.

During the post-match presentation, Muhammad Irfan Khan complimented his bowlers for protecting a modest total, emphasizing that the batting conditions were challenging.

He stated, “The conditions were difficult, and we quickly lost wickets. We made an effort to bat the entire 20 overs, and that effort was successful.”

He further stated, “Our bowlers performed exceptionally well, which is why we were victorious in the match.”

Irfan, who was a member of the Pakistan team that traveled to Australia for a series of three ODIs and three T20Is the previous year, pointed out that the conditions here are dry, unlike the ‘typical Australian conditions’.

Irfan continued, “The conditions were different on prior tours, and this year presents a new challenge. We constantly try to adjust to the circumstances.”

He added, “The weather in Darwin is dry; it is not typical of Australia.”

The captain then repeated Pakistan Shaheens’ ambition to win the Top End T20 Series trophy, stating that the team will continue to put in a lot of effort to accomplish it.

Irfan said, “We came here with the intention of winning the trophy, and we will continue to work toward that goal.”

He concluded by praising the supporters, saying, “The audience is incredibly enthusiastic, and I really appreciate it; it gives us a significant boost when we are playing.”