Pakistan was on the cutting edge as it went into Sunday’s Group 2 match against Bangladesh and came out with a five-wicket win. The win saw them reach the T20 World Cup semi-finals of Group 2. After South Africa lost to the Netherlands in the first Group 2 match of the day, the match between Bangladesh and Pakistan was an instant knockout for the two teams to reach the last. four phases. Pakistan limited Bangladesh to 127/8 in 20 overs, then hit the target in 18.1 overs. The match had a controversial moment when Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan was handed out, which could have made all the difference according to former India star Robin Uthappa.
Shadab skipped twice on consecutive balls in the 11th, including an LBW sack of Bangladesh skipper Shakib, but there was controversy about it. Shakib watched the decision and replays showed the ball grazed the bat before it hit the pad. However, Shakib was also issued by the third umpire.
“Certainly, the evidence we saw on television clearly wasn’t out. There was definitely a rim on the outside. Sure, the bat didn’t hit the surface of the pitch. That can’t be confused, that’s where that noise came from. I was incredibly surprised to see that decision,” former Sri Lanka coach Tom Moody said on ESPNcricinfo.
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“Tom is putting it mildly. I’d be stunned if I were Shakib Al Hasan. There was, so much of the ground. That could be the difference between a 127 and a 150, with Shakib on it. Shakib wasn’t running, but he would love to score in this match. That could be the difference,” added Robin Uthappa, member of India’s 2007 World T20 winning team.
Later, at the post-match presentation, Shakib said nothing about the resignation. “Halfway through we were 70/1. We wanted to get somewhere around 145-150 – would have been a decent total on that field. I knew it was going to be tough for the new batters, so they wanted to push set of batters through to the end that has not happened. In terms of results this is the best performance we have had in the T20 World Cups. Could have been better. But having said that, with the new guys coming in, with the changes, this is the best we have I could have done better on my own performance. As long as I’m fit and performing, I’d love to play,” said Shakib.
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