Pakistan captain Babar Azam on Sunday called cricket a ‘funny game’ after his team grabbed the opportunity with both hands and booked their semi-final berth in T20 World Cup with a five-wicket win over Bangladesh in their last Super 12 game here. Pakistan got a golden opportunity to make it to the semis after South Africa lost to a spirited Netherlands to crash out of the tournament before the Pakistan v Bangladesh match at the same ground.

Left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi’s four-wicket haul (4-22) helped Pakistan restrict Bangladesh to 127/8 in 20 overs in a virtual quarter-final. In reply, Pakistan chased down the total with 11 balls to spare and five wickets in hand. “Cricket is a funny game. I appreciate my team, the way they have played,” said Babar at the post-match presentation.