Afghanistan Triumphs Over Pakistan in T20 Tri-Series

In a thrilling encounter held in Sharjah, Afghanistan’s men’s spin quartet led the team to an 18-run victory over Pakistan during their Twenty20 International tri-series match.

Moment of Remembrance

Before the match commenced, both teams honored the flood victims in Pakistan and the earthquake victims in Afghanistan with a moment of silence.

Afghanistan’s Batting Performance

Winning the toss and opting to bat, Afghanistan’s captain, Rashid Khan, set a target of 170 runs. Although they fell short, their innings saw notable contributions from Ibrahim Zadran and Sediqullah Atal, both of whom scored fifties.

Pakistan’s Bowling Efforts

Faheem Ashraf emerged as Pakistan’s standout bowler, claiming a career-best four wickets for 27 runs, including crucial dismissals of Zadran and Atal. Despite their strong bowling, Pakistan struggled to gain momentum during their chase.

Afghanistan’s Early Innings Challenges

Afghanistan faced an early setback when Rahmanullah Gurbaz was dismissed in the second over by Saim Ayub. The Afghan batters managed just 34 runs in the powerplay, with Zadran and Atal stabilizing the innings to reach 73-1 at the halfway mark.

Pakistan’s Batting Setbacks

Pakistan’s innings began poorly, with both openers back in the pavilion after scoring only 27 runs. Although captain Salman Ali Agha and Fakhar Zaman attempted to revive the chase, their efforts were in vain as Afghanistan’s bowlers consistently picked up wickets.

Tournament Context

Despite the loss, Pakistan still leads the tri-series table, with both teams preparing to face the UAE ahead of the final scheduled for Sunday. The series serves as a warm-up ahead of the Asia Cup set to start on September 9, with Pakistan aiming to solidify their lineup under coach Mike Hesson.