World Cup and Asian Games: Pakistan become first team to play two cricket matches on the same time

Two Pakistan cricket teams were in action at the same time in international cricket on 6th October.

Pakistan have begun their ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 campaign in India against Netherlands. Pakistan have been struggling against their Dutch rivals at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad, but they have also created a new record as they took on the field against Netherlands in Hyderabad. Pakistan also become the first team in international cricket to play two different games at the same time in different tournaments.

Pakistan's other game in China

Pakistan’s other team, led by Qasim Akram, was playing against Afghanistan in the Asian Games Men Cricket T20I game in China when Babar Azam-led Pakistan entered Hyderabad to play their first World Cup in 2023. Pakistan are now the only team in the history of the game to field two different teams in two different countries to play in two different tournaments. Along with Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and India are also taking part in Asian Games 2023 in China with a second-string squad.

Afghanistan and Ireland also had a unique record of playing two different games on the same day. In the Desert T20 Challenge Cup 2017, both semi-finals and finals were played on the same day at the same venue. On January 20, Afghanistan played the first semi-finals game against Oman and qualified for the finals. Next, Ireland played their semi-finals against Scotland and also qualified for the finals. Then, in the finals, both Afghanistan and Ireland played against each other in Dubai.

But Pakistan have become first ever team to play two different international cricket matches at the same time. And also, the first ever team to play two different formats of international cricket on the same day.

Afghanistan to play India for Gold

Afghanistan defeated Pakistan to qualify for the finals of Asian Games 2023 in China. Afghanistan will take on India in the gold medal match on October 7. Afghanistan defeated Pakistan by 4 wickets in the semi-finals to qualify for the battle for gold in Asian Games 2023. Batting first, Pakistan could only post 115 runs on the board that Afghans chased down in just 17 overs. Noor Ali Zadran (39) and captain Gulbadin Naib (26) played match-winning knocks.

In Hyderabad, wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan (68) and Saud Shakeel (68) steered Pakistan’s innings towards a challenging total with their 120 runs for the 4th wicket. Pakistan's top-order had a poor day as Fakhar Zaman (12), Imam-ul-Haq (15), and skipper Babar Azam (5) departed early in the opening power-play to give Pakistan a troubled start. Netherlands had a brilliant opening spell of bowling, with a mix of pace and spin bowling.