Shahid Afridi gave a fitting reply to unwarranted criticism over comments he made on arrival in India with a brilliant all-round showing as Pakistan opened their ICC World T20 campaign with a 55-run victory over Bangladesh, at the Eden Gardens, in Kolkata, on Wednesday.
The skipper led by example, blasting 49 off only 19 balls in Pakistan’s massive total of 201 for five after opting to bat.
He then bowled his superfast leg-breaks to grab two wickets for 27 runs in four overs as Bangladesh were restricted to 146 for six in their stipulated 20 overs.
Afridi was fittingly named Man of the Match.
The victory was sweet revenge of sorts as Pakistan were ousted from the Asia Cup by Mashrafe Mortaza's men only a couple of weeks back.
On Wednesday afternoon, on a batsman-friendly track, Afridi showed why he is known as 'Boom boom', as balls disappeared thick and fast into the stands.
He hit four sixes and an equal number of boundaries, his knock being the difference between 150 and 200.
Before the Afridi carnage, Ahmed Shehzad (52 from 39 balls; 8x4) and Mohammad Hafeez (64 from 42b; 7x4, 2x6) had laid the foundation for the huge total with a 95-run partnership from 68 balls.
Having lost the early wicket of Sharjeel Khan (18) in the third over, Hafeez and Shehzad laid the foundation with a second-wicket partnership that came off just 68 balls.
A day after getting his suspect action tested in Chennai, left-arm spinner Arafat Sunny, who was drafted into the side in place of Abu Hider Rony, provided the first breakthrough, dismissing Khan after Pakistan elected to bat.
Bangladesh's bowlers struggled to adjust their length to the conditions and either bowled full or two short and it did not help their cause. Barring a spectacular acrobatic catch by Soumya Sarkar to dismiss Hafeez, the fielding looked sloppy.
There were also some heated exchanges between Tamim Iqbal and Hafeez but it did not last long with the Pakistani batsman getting out in the next over.
Afridi had the perfect platform as he took just one single to settle down before smashing Mortaza for consecutive boundaries and a six.
He was exquisite with his shot selection and had all the time to improvise as he raced to 25 from nine balls, toying with Bangladesh’s bowlers.
Such was his power that his mistimed shots went over the boundary and the 25,000-plus crowd in stands mostly comprised die-hard Afridi fans.
His blitzkrieg along with half centuries from Hafeez and Shehzad meant that their batting came to fore ahead of the March 19 match against traditional rivals India, who will be looking for survival after their loss to New Zealand on Tuesday.
In reply, Bangladesh were nowhere in the game after pacer Mohammad Aamir provided the perfect start, unsettling Soumya Sarkar's off-stump off the third delivery.
Amid loud cheers, Afridi brought himself on in the sixth over and angled one into Sabbir Rahaman (25). The batsman was cramped for room and bowled.
Incidentally, Pakistan's highest T20 International total was also scored against the same opposition when they piled 203 for 5 in April 2008.
