KABUL at Sharjah Stadium on Friday.
The match that started at 3:30pm (Afghan time) at the Sharjah’s international cricket stadium came 11 years after Afghanistan joined the International Cricket Council.
Afghanistan, who have played 18 one-day internationals against fellow Associate teams, are playing their first match against a top Test playing nation.
Pakistan, who thrashed England in the three-Test series 3-0 earlier this week, have been boosted by the return of all-rounder Shahid Afridi.
Afghan captain Nawroz Mangal told Pajhwok Afghan News over the telephone from Sharjah a day earlier that the players, except Hamid Hassan, were fully prepared for the event.
Hassan, the budding Afghan fast bowler, was seriously injured last month during a friendly match with England. He is currently under treatment.
Mangal said it was a great event and achievement for Afghans to play a top level game against Pakistan, and a good chance for them to display their skills on the international level.
The team manager, Shafiqullah Stanikzai, also said the squad had a tough practice ahead of the match.
Afghanistan: Nawroz Mangal (captain), Mohammad Nabi, Mohammad Shahzad, Noor Ali Zadran, Karim Sadiq, Samiullah Shinwari, Mirwais Ashraf, Gulbadain Naib, Dawlat Zadran, Shahpoor Zadran, Amir Hamza.
Pakistan: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain) Younis Khan, Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Farhat, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Asad Shafiq, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Wahab Riaz.
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