Following his match-winning performance against Pakistan, Afghanistan’s batsman Ibrahim Zadran delivered a significant message upon receiving the Player of the Match (POTM) award for his dynamic 87-run contribution in the ICC Men’s World Cup 2023. Zadran dedicated his Player of the Match award (POTM) to the Afghan deportees from Pakistan, expressing his emotions during the post-match presentation.

“I am feeling very glad for myself and for my country. I want to dedicate this man of the match award to those who are sent back to Afghanistan from Pakistan,” Zadran conveyed after the match.

I dedicate this MoM award to Afghan Refugees who were forced to leave Pakistan – Ibrahim Zadran#PAKvsAFG #AFGvsPAK #WorldCup2023 pic.twitter.com/FshePTWgWn

— Ravi Kaushik  (@RaviKaushik99) October 23, 2023

Zadran led the scoring with 87 runs, complemented by Rahmat Shah’s unbeaten 77, and a brisk 65 off 53 balls by Gurbaz. Captain Hasmatullah Shahidi also played a pivotal role, notching up 48 runs from 45 balls.

“I wanted to go out there with a positive mind and positive intent, and I did it. We (Gurbaz and himself) have played a lot of cricket with each other, we have good communication while running between the wickets as we have been playing together since under-16 days,” said the Afghan opener.

Zadran praised his partner, Gurbaz, highlighting the support and cooperation that propelled their substantial 130-run partnership.

“The way Gurbaz supported me – that helped me, and we got the momentum in our favour. I am feeling great for myself and my country,” he added.

As per Pakistani authorities, more than 51,000 Afghans have been deported following the announcement of the deadline for the expulsion of undocumented migrants.

As reported by a Pakistan-based news outlet, the Pakistani government is set to implement a policy change that will, starting from November 1, limit border crossings to individuals possessing valid passports and visas. After this date, it will no longer be permissible for anyone to cross the Pak-Afghan border using a Pakistani identity card or Afghan permit. Notably, there are approximately 1.73 million Afghans residing in Pakistan who currently lack the necessary legal documentation to comply with this new border-crossing regulation.

Afghanistan’s First-Ever Win Over Pakistan In One Day Internationals

The match, hosted at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, India, was a captivating contest. Despite Pakistan’s promising start, Afghanistan’s bowlers effectively contained their run rate. The Afghan batsmen then took control, with Gurbaz and Zadran spearheading the charge. Their partnership laid a sturdy foundation for the pursuit, and subsequent batsmen capitalised on it, guiding Afghanistan to their first ever victory over the arch-rivals, Pakistan.

This defeat dealt a significant blow to Pakistan’s aspirations of securing a semi-final berth in the ongoing ICC Men’s World Cup 2023. They now find themselves in a position where they must win most of their remaining matches and work on improving their net run rate.