Pakistan kicked off their 2016 Under-19 World Cup campaign with a comfortable six-wicket win over Afghanistan at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Bangladesh, on Thursday.
Pakistan captain Gauhar Hafeez won the toss and put Afghanistan in, a decision which paid immediate dividends as the opposition slumped to 29/3 in 8 overs before being bowled out for 126.
Karachi pacer Hasan Mohsin accounted for all three batsmen at the top with his tidy swing bowling.
Coming in at number five, Tariq Stanikzai, 53 off 76, then mounted an Afghan comeback of sorts but did not find support from the other batsmen as legspinner Shadab Khan ran through the line up with astonishing figures of 5-9-4.
Stanikzai’s solid fifty ensured that Afghanistan crossed three figures.
Pakistan stumbled briefly in the chase, losing three wickets for 81 runs but the Afghan total was never enough to cause an upset.
Zeeshan Malik (29), Mohammad Umar (25) and Hasan Mohsin (28) contributed to the chase as Pakistan crossed the finish line in 31.3 overs.
Hasan Mohsin was named player of the match for his all-round show.
Pakistan take on Canada next on January 31.
