Abrar Ahmed, Pakistan’s leg-spinner, has had a superb performance in the ongoing Asia Cup Super Fours match against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi, removing Wanindu Hasaranga with a googly before emulating the all-rounder’s typical celebration.
After Pakistan won the toss, Sri Lanka was put in to bat first, but their innings never really took off. Despite a strong start, the team dropped wickets on a frequent basis. Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed both Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka within the first three overs. Haris Rauf cut short Kusal Perera’s cameo, while Hussain Talat’s twin strike in the seventh over, removing skipper Charith Asalanka and Dasun Shanaka with successive balls, saw Sri Lanka lose five wickets for less than 60 runs.
Kamindu Mendis attempted to calm the innings, with some help from Hasaranga. But Abrar Ahmed ended their 22-run stand. In the 13th over,
Abrar threw a greater length outside off googly. Hasaranga, attempting to sweep across the line, misread the variation and the ball smashed into the stumps. As Hasaranga turned to walk off after scoring 15 off 13 balls, Abrar mimicked the Sri Lankan’s famed mobile celebration.
Check out the video below:
Abrar Ahmed celebrated Wanindu Hasaranga wicket in the same style like Hasaranga 😅#PAKvSL | #Cricket | #Pakistan | #AbrarAhmed | #AsiaCup2025 | #AbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/f2VnNKRb5w
— CricketQuickBuzz (@CricketQuickBuz) September 23, 2025
By the end of the 16th over, Sri Lanka’s scorecard read at 97/6. Abrar, who had finished his quota of four overs by then, gave just eight runs and picked a solitary wicket. At the time of writing, Kamindu Mendis and Chamika Karunaratne are at the crease and looking to take their score to a defendable total.
Sri Lankan all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga got his sweet revenge on Abrar Ahmed during the second innings. The incident took place when Fakhar Zaman looked to anchor the innings, only for Maheesh Theekshana to get a mis-hit from him. Hasaranga dived low to his right at mid-off and plucked a one-handed catch. The stunner not only sent Zaman packing for 17 but also saw Hasaranga cheekily imitating Ahmed’s signature head-nod gesture.
🔥 Incredible one-handed catch by Hasaranga 🇱🇰! Fakhar Zaman out for 17 as Sri Lanka strike back! 🇵🇰#AsiaCup2025 #PakistanCricket #srilankacricket #starzplay pic.twitter.com/XzCPlXlses
— Cricket on STARZPLAY (@starzplaymasala) September 23, 2025
In the very next over, Hasaranga himself came on to bowl and produced a beauty to dismiss Saim Ayub with a googly. Once again, Hasaranga repeated the Abrar celebration while staring towards the Pakistan dugout. Abrar, sitting at the dugout, had a smile on his face.
Wanindu Hasaranga celebration 🤣 proper revenge, A day without humilation is a day wasted for these pakis.pic.twitter.com/vYeQEJNi22
— Harishwar Reddy (@ReddyMnc16) September 23, 2025
India
