Pakistan completed the whitewash by defeating Afghanistan in the final match of the series on Saturday and climbed to the top spot in the One Day International (ODI) rankings.
Chasing a target of 269 runs, the Afghanistan team was bowled out for 209 runs in 48.4 overs.
Leg-spinner Shadab Khan was the pick of the Pakistani bowlers with figures of 3-42 in 10 overs.
Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf and Shaheen Afridi took two wickets each.
Clinical bowling display to seal the series 3️⃣-0️⃣ 💪
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) August 26, 2023
Pakistan reclaim the top spot in the ODI rankings 🥇#AFGvPAK | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/JNSnvtl0rA
Earlier, Pakistan won the toss and decided to bat first, giving Afghanistan a target of 269 runs.
Pakistan scored 268-8 in 50 overs. Mohammad Rizwan (67) and Babar Azam (60) scored half-centuries for the men in green.
Pakistan have already won the series 2-0 and will be looking for a clean sweep in Colombo, Sri Lanka where Afghanistan are hosting the series.
Before today’s match, Pakistan captain Babar Azam remarked that the first 10 overs will be tough.
He said that we will increase the pressure on the Afghan team by giving a big target, adding that four changes have been made in the playing XI.
He added that Saud Shakeel, Muhammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf and Muhammad Wasim Jr. are playing today instead of Osama Mir, Iftikhar Ahmed, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf.
On the other hand, Afghanistan suffered a setback when all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai was ruled out of the third ODI due to a side strain.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board said that Azmatullah has been replaced by all-rounder Gulbuddin Naib.
During the last match, there was a fierce clash between the two sides.
The Man in Green continued his excellent form, even losing the match at one point. However, Naseem Shah – who led Pakistan to victory against the same opposition in the Asia Cup 2022 – once again led Pakistan to a thrilling victory in the last over, helping the team to a much-needed 11 runs from 6 balls. .
Playing XI
Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (captain), Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Muhammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Muhammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Muhammad Wasim Jr., Shaheen Afridi.
Afghanistan: Rehmanullah Garbaz (wicket), Ibrahim Zadran, Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Gulbuddin Naib, Riaz Hasan, Shahidullah Kamal, Mohammad Nabi, Farid Ahmad Malik, Rashid Khan, Mujeebur Rahman, Fazalul Haq Farooqui.
