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Pakistan’s middle-order batsman Iftikhar Ahmed faced a wave of criticism following his attempt at a no-look shot during the Global T20 Canada 2024 match between the Bangla Tigers Mississauga and the Montreal Tigers. Known for his powerful hitting, Ahmed struggled to clear the boundary on this occasion, highlighting his recent challenges in finding form.
His performance in the T20 World Cup 2024 was underwhelming, contributing to Pakistan’s early exit from the tournament. Despite his struggles, Ahmed received clearance from the PCB to participate in the Global T20 Canada, contrasting with the board’s decisions regarding other key players like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi. His recent setbacks raise concerns about his future in international cricket.
Watch – Iftikhar Ahmed dismissed after failed No-Look Shot attempt.
Iftikhar Ahmed, playing for the Bangla Tigers Mississauga in the Global T20 Canada 2024, had a modest start in his first match. The right-handed batsman scored 28 runs from 24 deliveries, including two boundaries and a six, before Zahoor Khan dismissed him. Ahmed, aged 33, was promoted to bat at No. 4 during the chase of 190 runs, entering the fray in the 7th over.
His attempt at a no-look shot against Zahoor Khan in the 18th over was notable during the match, which saw the Bangla Tigers succumb to a 33-run defeat against the Montreal Tigers in Ontario on Friday, July 26th.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz stood out in the Bangla Tigers’ innings, smashing 64 runs off just 39 deliveries with an impressive display of six boundaries and five sixes. Despite his efforts, the rest of the batting lineup struggled to make significant contributions. Hazratullah Zazai managed 13 runs, while Iftikhar Ahmed and Gurbaz were the only others to reach double figures as the team posted 156-8.
Earlier in the match, the Montreal Tigers, batting first, amassed 189 runs for the loss of six wickets. Ashton Agar (41), Tim Seifert (44), Dilpreet Bajwa (41), and Ben Manenti (40) all made valuable contributions to their team’s total. David Wiese was effective with the ball for the Bangla Tigers, taking two wickets for 30 runs in his four overs, while Shoriful Islam kept things tight, conceding only 15 runs across his spell.
Bangla Tigers Mississauga third in points table.
In the initial contests of Global T20 Canada 2024, Brampton Wolves, Toronto Nationals, and Montreal Tigers emerged victorious, placing them at the summit of the points table. They lead with impressive net run rates of +2.950, +2.068, and +1.650, respectively.
Conversely, Bangla Tigers Mississauga, Vancouver Knights, and Surrey Jaguars faltered in their opening encounters, relegating them to the bottom three positions in the standings. They currently hold negative net run rates of -1.650, -2.068, and -2.950, reflecting their challenging start to the tournament.
