In Sharjah, the Pakistan vs Afghanistan T20 Tri-series got underway with a lot of excitement. Pakistan dominated the first clash and secured a convincing 39-run win. They performed strongly in both batting and bowling, while Afghanistan impressed in moments but failed to maintain momentum.
Pakistan chose to bat first and immediately faced pressure as they lost early wickets. However, skipper Salman Ali Agha quickly stabilized the innings. He played with great confidence, racking up an impressive 53 runs without losing his wicket, all off just 36 balls. His knock not only calmed nerves but also lifted the team’s total.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Nawaz supported him with quick runs in the middle overs. Together, they rebuilt the innings and shifted momentum back to Pakistan. As a result, the team finished with 182 for 7, a total that looked highly competitive.
Pakistan’s Scorecard – 182 (7 wkts, 20 ov)
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
| Sahibzada Farhan | 21 | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| Saim Ayub | 14 | 16 | 2 | 0 |
| Fakhar Zaman | 20 | 17 | 1 | 1 |
| Salman Ali Agha (c)* | 53 | 36 | 3 | 3 |
| Hassan Nawaz | 9 | 13 | 1 | 0 |
| Mohammad Nawaz | 21 | 11 | 1 | 2 |
| Mohammad Haris (wk) | 15 | 13 | 1 | 0 |
| Faheem Ashraf | 14 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
Bowling Figure
- Mujeeb Ur Rahman – 4 ov, 22 runs, 1 wkt
- Azmatullah Omarzai – 2 ov, 28 runs, 1 wkt
- Mohammad Nabi – 3 ov, 18 runs, 1 wkt
- Fareed Ahmad – 4 ov, 47 runs, 2 wkts
Chasing 183, Afghanistan started positively. Rahmanullah Gurbaz played aggressively and smashed 38 off 27 balls, giving his side early hope. Later, Rashid Khan stunned the crowd with a blistering cameo. Additionally, He hammered 39 runs off just 16 deliveries, which included five massive sixes. With his strike power, Afghanistan briefly looked capable of pulling off the chase.
However, the game turned suddenly. From a strong position of 93 for 2, Afghanistan collapsed to 97 for 7 within a few overs. Consequently, Pakistan took full command of the match. Pakistan’s bowlers attacked with intent and never allowed Afghanistan to settle. Haris Rauf led the charge brilliantly. He grabbed 4 wickets for 31 runs and ripped through Afghanistan’s middle order. His fiery spell crushed their chances of recovery.
Afghanistan’s Scorecard – 143 (10 wkts, 19.5 ov)
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk) | 38 | 27 | 3 | 1 |
| Ibrahim Zadarn | 9 | 11 | 2 | 0 |
| Sediqullah Atal | 23 | 19 | 0 | 2 |
| Darwish Rasooli | 21 | 13 | 1 | 1 |
| Karim Janat | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Mohammad Nabi | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Rashid Khan (c) | 39 | 16 | 1 | 5 |
| Mujeeb Ur Rahman | 4 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Fareed Ahmed | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Fazallhaq Farooqi | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Bowling Figures
- Shaheen Afridi – 4 ov, 21 runs, 2 wkts
- Mohammad Nawaz – 4 ov, 23 runs, 2 wkts
- Haris Rauf – 3.5 ov, 31 runs, 4 wkts
- Sufiyan Muqeem – 4 ov, 25 runs, 2 wkts
Sufiyan Muqeem, Mohammad Nawaz, and Shaheen Afridi all left their mark throughout crucial parts of the match. Each bowler contributed effectively, and together they bowled Afghanistan out for just 143 runs.
In the end, Pakistan’s all-round performance delivered the result. First, in the batting innings, Salman Ali Agha gained the lead. Then, Haris Rauf and the bowlers sealed the game with relentless pressure. This victory not only gave Pakistan a winning start but also boosted their confidence ahead of the upcoming Asia Cup. On the other hand, Afghanistan showed flashes of brilliance. Yet, their middle-order collapse exposed their weakness. If they want to compete strongly in the series, they must build
To conclude, the first clash of the Pakistan vs Afghanistan T20 Tri-series clearly belonged to Pakistan. They controlled key moments, dominated with bat and ball, and walked away with a comfortable win. With this performance, Pakistan set the tone for the rest of the series, while Afghanistan must regroup quickly to stay alive in the competition.
