Fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi returned career-best figures of 4-22 to lead Pakistan into the Twenty20 World Cup semi-finals with a five-wicket win over Bangladesh in a do-or-die clash on Sunday.
Chasing a modest 128 for victory in Adelaide, Pakistan achieved their target with 11 balls to spare and join arch-rivals India in the final four from Group 2.
Following the win, politicians, journalists and activists took to Twitter to congratulate the Pakistani cricket team for qualifying for the T20 World Cup semi-finals.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that this is a “big moment,” praising both the Pakistan and Netherlands teams for playing well.
Big moment. Congratulations to all of you. Well played, Pakistan 🇵🇰 … and Netherlands 🙂
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) November 6, 2022
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Umar also congratulated the team, making a humorous remark about the “tension” experienced by cricket fans during the match.
He hoped that the semi-finals would be a “repeat of 1992”, a World Cup match in which Pakistan beat England by 22 runs in the finals under the captaincy of PTI chief and former premier Imran Khan.
Congratulations greens for making it to the semi finals. Waisey itni tension diye baghair bhee yeh kaam ho sakta tha 😊 inshallah repeat of 1992
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) November 6, 2022
Jamaat-e-Islami Chief Siraj ul Haq congratulated the team, saying that “the nation’s prayers and best wishes are with you”. He hoped that a victory in the final would be in the team’s destiny, God willing.
Read Shaheen stars as Pakistan reach T20 World Cup semis with win over Bangladesh
شاباش پاکستان کرکٹ ٹیم
قوم کی دعائیں نیک تمنائیں آپ کے ساتھ ہیں
فائنل میں جیت آپ کا مقدر ہو۔ ان شاءاللہ— Siraj ul Haq (@SirajOfficial) November 6, 2022
Political analyst and journalist Mazhar Abbas extended his congratulations to the Pakistan team and the entire nation.
He termed Pakistan’s victory against Bangladesh a “great win” into the semi-finals and praised the “great” cricketer Shaheen Afridi.
Further, he recognised cricketer Mohammad Haris for his “impressive” performance in the last two matches but remarked that “he should not have played the shot he got out”.
#PakvBan Pakistan Team ko mubarak, Pak ko mubarak. Great win against Bangladesh through into the semi. This young boy Haris really impressed me in the last two matches though he should not have played the shot he got out. Hats of two great Shaheen Shah Afridi.
— Mazhar Abbas (@MazharAbbasGEO) November 6, 2022
Journalist Ihtisham Ul Haq informed that the green shirts were “now on the top of the table’.
Meanwhile, PML-Q leader Moonis Elahi said that “Pakistanis make the impossible possible if they have the passion to win and the dedication to succeed.”
جیت کا جذبہ اور کامیابی کی لگن ہو تو پاکستانی ناممکن کو ممکن کر دکھاتے ہیں۔پاکستان کی بنگلہ دیش کے خلاف #T20WorldCup میں شاندار جیت اور سیمی فائنل کے لئے کوالیفائی کرنے پر قوم کو بہت بہت مبارکباد اور ٹیم پاکستان کو بہت بہت شاباش! ##PAKvsBAN
— Moonis Elahi (@MoonisElahi6) November 6, 2022
