Pakistan Outclass Afghanistan in UAE T20I Tri-Series Opener at Sharjah
Sharjah (August 29, 2025) – Pakistan began their UAE T20I Tri-Series campaign on a winning note as skipper Salman Ali Agha’s blistering half-century powered the Green Shirts to a commanding victory over Afghanistan at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
Pakistan Batting Performance
After winning the toss and opting to bat first, Pakistan posted 182/6 in 20 overs.
Sahibzada Farhan gave a flying start with 21 off 10 balls.
Fakhar Zaman (20), Saim Ayub (14), and Hasan Nawaz (9) could not capitalize.
Skipper Salman Ali Agha anchored the innings with a brilliant 53 off 36 balls, smashing 3 fours and 3 sixes.
Mohammad Nawaz added a quickfire 21 off 11 balls, while Mohammad Haris contributed 15.
For Afghanistan, Fareed Ahmad took 2 wickets but was expensive, conceding 47 runs in 4 overs. Rashid Khan, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Mohammad Nabi, and Azmatullah Omarzai claimed one wicket each.
Afghanistan’s Run Chase
Chasing 183 runs, Afghanistan struggled against disciplined Pakistani bowling and were bowled out for 147 in 19 overs.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (32 off 19) and Ibrahim Zadran (28 off 24) gave resistance at the top.
Mohammad Nabi tried to revive hopes with 26 off 18 balls.
However, regular wickets halted momentum and Afghanistan fell short by 35 runs.
Pakistan Bowling Stats
Mohammad Wasim Jr.: 3/26 (4 overs)
Naseem Shah: 2/22 (4 overs)
Abrar Ahmed: 2/28 (4 overs)
Mohammad Nawaz: 1/30 (4 overs)
Shaheen Afridi: 1/34 (3 overs)
Match Summary
Pakistan: 182/6 (20 overs) – Salman Ali Agha 53*, Sahibzada Farhan 21, Mohammad Nawaz 21
Afghanistan: 147 (19 overs) – Gurbaz 32, Ibrahim Zadran 28, Mohammad Nabi 26
Result: Pakistan won by 35 runs
Player of the Match: Salman Ali Agha (53 off 36 balls)
Analysis
Pakistan’s victory highlighted their balanced approach with both bat and ball. Agha’s captaincy knock set the tone, while Wasim Jr. and Naseem Shah dismantled Afghanistan’s batting order. Afghanistan will need to regroup quickly for their next clash in the tri-series.