It was a record-breaking innings for Mujeeb Ur Rahman in the third ODI against Pakistan on Saturday (August 26). While the right-handed batter, who is usually known for his off-break bowling ability, smashed the fastest ODI half-century for Afghanistan, not long after he also went on to become the first batter from Afghanistan ever to get out hit wicket. The incident happened at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo as Pakistan went on to register a 59-run victory to complete a series clean sweep and achieve the number 1 ranked side in the world.
Mujeeb initially smashed the Pakistan bowlers all around the park during his attacking innings. While his previous best score in professional cricket was 27, the way he batted on Saturday seemed to suggest he was a different batter altogether. He scored 64 runs off 37 deliveries after coming to bat at number 9 in an innings as dramatic as its end. To add more context to his innings, Afghanistan needed 269 to win but found themselves reeling at 97/7 when thet lost the wicket of Rashid.
It was from here that Mujeeb, fully aware that there is no point in trying to build a long partnership as he may run out of partners with the target still some distance behind, began to counter attack. And the ploy worked for longer than Pakistan would have anticipated, as Mujeeb got to his fifty off 26 deliveries. Eventually while trying to play a shot on the on side off Shaheen Afridi, Mujeeb disturbed the stumps with his legs to get out hit wicket.
Both the teams will now head to Asia Cup 2023 which begins on August 30. The tournament will be played across Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Pakistan will begin their campaign against Nepal in Multan on the opening day while Afghanistan will play Bangladesh in their first match of the tournament on September 3 in Lahore.