SHARJAH: The much-anticipated Pakistan vs Afghanistan T20 clash in Sharjah opened the tri-series with a thrilling start as Pakistan secured victory with an all-round show. The men in green chased down their target with composure and crushed Afghanistan’s hopes in style.
Afghanistan, tasked with scoring 183 runs, managed only 143 in 19.5 overs. Their captain Rashid Khan played a fighting knock, smashing 39 off just 16 balls with one four and five towering sixes. Despite his fireworks, the Afghan team fell short of Pakistan’s dominance.
At one stage, Afghanistan appeared in control. By the seventh over, they were cruising at 60/1 with Rahmanullah Gurbaz hammering Pakistan’s bowlers. But Mohammad Nawaz turned the tide by bowling Gurbaz around his legs. The opener had struck a 27-ball 38 with three fours and a six before his departure.
Darwish Rasooli (21) and Sediqullah Atal (23) then tried to steady the innings. They built a brief 25-run partnership, but Haris Rauf broke through by dismissing Atal in the 12th over. That wicket triggered a collapse. Afghanistan’s middle order crumbled, losing four wickets for just four runs, tumbling to 97/7 in 14.1 overs. Rashid Khan resisted with his explosive hitting, but once he departed, Pakistan’s bowlers cleaned up the tail.
Haris Rauf spearheaded the attack with an outstanding 4/31 in 3.5 overs. Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, and Mohammad Nawaz backed him with two wickets each.
Earlier, Pakistan had set a competitive total of 182/7. Captain Salman Ali Agha played a captain’s knock, anchoring the innings with an unbeaten 53 off 36 balls, featuring three fours and three sixes. His calm yet powerful batting proved decisive.
Pakistan started briskly with Sahibzada Farhan blasting 21 off 10 deliveries, including one four and two sixes. However, he fell early in the third over with 26 runs on the board. Fakhar Zaman then joined Saim Ayub, and the pair added 29 runs before Ayub fell to Rashid Khan for 14. Fakhar too departed soon after, scoring 20, and Hasan Nawaz followed cheaply with nine. At 83/4 in 11.1 overs, Pakistan looked shaky.
That’s when Salman Ali Agha and Mohammad Nawaz counterattacked, adding 53 runs off just 28 balls for the fifth wicket. Nawaz smashed 21 from 11 deliveries with one four and two sixes before Mujeeb ur Rahman ended his stay. Agha then combined with wicketkeeper Mohammad Haris (15) to post another 31-run stand before Haris fell. Agha carried his bat till the end, guiding Pakistan to a strong finish.
Afghanistan’s bowlers struggled to contain runs. Fareed Ahmad claimed two wickets but conceded 47 in his four overs. Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, and Mujeeb ur Rahman picked up one each but proved expensive.
This Pakistan vs Afghanistan T20 contest was more than just cricket—it was charged with crowd passion. Sharjah Cricket Stadium buzzed with energy as fans from both nations poured in. Afghan supporters outnumbered Pakistan’s fans, while Indian spectators also joined to back Afghanistan. Organisers separated fans with colour-coded tickets—green for Pakistan’s supporters and blue for Afghan fans—with dedicated stands and entry routes for each side.
Despite the blazing Sharjah heat, excitement ran high. Afghan fans expressed hope before the game, but Pakistan’s controlled performance silenced the stadium in the end.
This tri-nation series, played from August 29 to September 7, is crucial preparation for the upcoming Asia Cup in the UAE from September 9 to 28. The series was originally planned as a bilateral between Pakistan and Afghanistan, but the PCB suggested turning it into a tri-series and shifting it to the UAE to help players adapt to local conditions before the Asia Cup.
Historically, the two sides have met seven times in T20 internationals. With this win, Pakistan extended their lead to four victories, while Afghanistan remain with three.
Pakistan XI: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Ali Agha (capt), Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Haris (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem.
Afghanistan XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Karim Janat, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan (capt), Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmed.