Pakistan and Afghanistan skippers combined to create a unique T20I record in the Asia Cup Super 4 clash at Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Both Babar Azam and Mohammad Nabi got out for a golden duck in the crucial clash. This is the first time captains from both sides have registered ducks in a T20I game (all-member nations).
In white-ball international cricket, it has happened only once before. Virat Kohli and Kieron Pollard got out for golden ducks in an ODI clash in 2017. On the other hand, in non full-member nations it has happened once in a T20I game before. Sweden and Greece's captains bagged golden ducks in ICC Men's T20 WC Europe Qualifier.
Nabi came in to bat at no.6 in the 15th over after Najibullah Zadran's wicket. Naseem Shah beat Nabi's bat and hit the stumps to take his only wicket of the match. Afghanistan lost wickets in the middle overs and managed to post just 129/6.
Babar's slump in form continued in the ongoing tournament. After opting to bowl first, he got out off the second ball of the match. Left-arm Afghanistan pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi trapped Babar in front of the wickets. Babar reviewed the decision but it did not go in Pakistan's favour. The early wicket put Pakistan under pressure in the low-scoring affair.
Nabi has not been in the best of forms in the tournament. He registered scores of 8 and 1 against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
On the other hand, Babar has scored just 33 runs from three innings so far including two encounters against India. Before Asia Cup, he had hit three half-centuries against Netherlands in the ODI series.
