WATCH: Shaheen Afridi, Usman Khan’s intense collision during Pakistan, Ireland T20 WC clash

During Pakistan’s final match of the T20 World Cup 2024 against Ireland, star pacer Shaheen Afridi and fielder Usman Khan experienced a severe on-field collision that left both players sprawled on the ground. The incident unfolded as both men converged to catch a high shot intended to dismiss Irish batter Mark Adair.

Shaheen, backpedaling with his eyes glued to the ball, collided with Usman, who was sprinting up behind him also fixated on the catch. Despite the forceful impact, Shaheen miraculously held onto the ball, securing the wicket. Usman took the brunt of the fall, hitting the ground hard on his back, with his head snapping back upon impact. Shaheen also landed heavily on top of Usman, but managed to keep his grip on the ball.

The collision led to immediate concern as both players lay on the ground, receiving medical attention for several minutes. Fortunately, after some on-field treatment, both were able to continue, and play resumed with Imad Wasim completing his over.

Despite the scare, Pakistan's bowlers put on a commanding display, restricting Ireland to a modest total of 106/9 after opting to bowl first. The Pakistani bowlers, led by Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Amir, and Imad Wasim, executed their plans flawlessly, making life difficult for the Irish batsmen.

Shaheen set the tone for Pakistan right from the outset, striking twice in the opening over to dismiss Ireland's captain Andrew Balbirnie and wicketkeeper Lorcan Tucker, leaving Ireland reeling at 2-2. Amir then compounded Ireland’s woes by removing the dangerous Paul Stirling for just one run, further denting Ireland’s hopes.

At one point, it seemed like Ireland might be bowled out for an extremely low score, but a resilient 44-run partnership between George Dockrell and Gareth Delany provided some stability. Delany was the top scorer for Ireland, smashing 31 runs off 19 balls, including four boundaries. Joshua Little also chipped in with a useful 22 runs off 18 balls, helping Ireland cross the 100-run mark.

Pakistan’s bowlers were the stars of the show, with Shaheen and Imad both taking three wickets each. Shaheen’s early breakthroughs and Imad's consistent pressure made scoring difficult for Ireland. Amir added to his tally by picking up two crucial wickets, while Haris Rauf claimed one, ensuring Ireland couldn’t recover from their early setbacks.