Sharjah, September 2, 2025 – Afghanistan clinched a memorable 18-run victory over Pakistan in the UAE T20I tri-series, powered by a dominant display from their spin trio Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, and Noor Ahmad.
Set 170 to win under dewy conditions, Pakistan faltered against Afghanistan’s spinners, collapsing from 62 for 2 to 111 for 9. Haris Rauf’s late unbeaten 34 off 16 balls only narrowed the margin, but Afghanistan’s control was never really in doubt.
Atal–Zadran Partnership the Backbone
Earlier, Afghanistan’s innings revolved around a superb 113-run second-wicket stand between Sediqullah Atal (64) and Ibrahim Zadran (65). After losing Rahmanullah Gurbaz cheaply, the pair shifted gears, dismantling Pakistan’s bowlers with clean hitting – including 20 runs off a Sufiyan Muqeem over. Their partnership became the second-highest second-wicket stand in Afghan T20I history.
Faheem Ashraf was the lone bright spot for Pakistan’s bowling attack, finishing with career-best T20I figures of 4 for 27. His clever variations at the death prevented Afghanistan from breaching 170.
Spinners Turn the Game
Despite heavy dew, Afghanistan’s spinners were unplayable. Nabi broke through with Fakhar Zaman’s wicket, Rashid Khan ran out Salman Agha with sharp fielding, and Noor Ahmad – making his first appearance in the series – struck immediately to dismiss Hasan Nawaz.
From there, Pakistan’s batting crumbled. Misjudged strokes, poor running, and relentless spin pressure left them chasing shadows. Noor and Nabi bagged two wickets apiece, while Rashid chipped in with key breakthroughs.
Pakistan’s Fight Too Little, Too Late
Pakistan briefly threatened through Fakhar Zaman’s aggressive powerplay, but once the spinners applied the squeeze, the chase unraveled. Haris Rauf’s late fireworks saved face but could not mask Pakistan’s struggles against spin.
Emotional Win for Afghanistan
The victory carried extra weight for Afghanistan, coming just days after a devastating earthquake back home that claimed over 1,400 lives. Their spirited performance in Sharjah highlighted both resilience and growing dominance in T20 cricket.
