Pavandeep Singh’s 2 for 12 not enough for Semi-finals qualification at the 2023 Asian Games
The 25th ranked Malaysian team were up against 9th ranked Bangladesh for a spot in the Semi-finals of the 2023 Asian Games. The winner of this game would have gone on to play against India, who had already qualified for the semi-finals having beaten Nepal in a very close encounter earlier in the day.
Malaysia had played a close to perfect game right until the last two overs. They needed 6 runs from 11 balls but unfortunately fell short and lost the game by 2 runs. Virandeep was the lone warrior for Malaysia, scoring 52 runs off 39 balls on a very tricky pitch. Bangladesh had won the toss and elected to bat first, and they got off to the worst possible start. They lost wickets in the powerplay , continued to lose wickets in the middle overs, but made a good recovery towards the end of the innings, posting a total of 115.
Pavandeep Singh was the pick of the bowlers for Malaysia picking up 2 important wickets and giving away just 12 runs in his quota of 4 overs. Pavandeep also reached the milestone of becoming only the second Malaysian to pick up 50 T20i wickets for Malaysia in this game.
He took the wicket of the experienced Afif Hossain to get to this milestone. Btimes spoke to Pavandeep who was playing his second Asian Games, having played the 2014 edition in Korea as well. He shared his experience of the event that unfolded a couple of Months ago in Hangzhou, China, The 2023 Asian Games will forever hold a special place in my heart. Representing my country on such a grand stage was both an honor and a challenge, one that tested our skills, resilience, and unity as a
Team. Qualifying for the quarter-finals was a significant milestone, a testament to our hard work and dedication leading up to the Games.nThe quarter-final game against Bangladesh is one that I will remember for a very long time. It was a match that had everything—intensity, excitement, and moments of brilliance from both sides.
We fought valiantly, but narrowly missed out on securing a spot in the semi-finals. The disappointment Was palpable; we were all gutted not to be on the winning side that day. This year’s games showcased not only the established cricketing powerhouses but also the rising talents from associate nations, whose performances were nothing short of spectacular. The close contests in the quarter-finals highlighted the growth and development of cricket among these nations, signaling a bright future for the sport globally.
I am immensely proud of what we achieved and grateful for the opportunity to represent my country on such a prestigious platform. Eagerly looking forward to the future with renewed hope and determination, ready to embrace the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
