T20I tri-series opener: Pakistan beat Afghanistan by 39 runs 

Sharjah (Web Desk): Pakistan kicked off their tri-nation T20 series campaign with a confident victory over Afghanistan, showcasing a balanced display of batting and bowling at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday.

Tasked with defending a target of 183, Pakistan’s bowlers held their nerve and bundled out Afghanistan for 143 in 19.5 overs, despite a spirited late charge from Rashid Khan.

Rashid provided a glimmer of hope for Afghanistan with an explosive 39 off just 16 balls, which included one boundary and five towering sixes. However, his resistance came too late in the innings to change the outcome. At one stage, Afghanistan appeared well in control, cruising at 60 for 1 by the end of the seventh over, largely due to Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s aggressive start.

The opener smashed 38 off 27 deliveries, hitting three fours and a six, before being bowled by Mohammad Nawaz in the eighth over — a breakthrough that altered the rhythm of the match.

After Gurbaz’s dismissal, the middle-order tried to steady the chase. Darwish Rasooli added 21, while Sediqullah Atal scored 23, but their 25-run stand couldn’t withstand the rising pressure. Haris Rauf struck in the 12th over, removing Atal and triggering a collapse that saw Afghanistan lose five wickets for just four runs, slumping from 93 for 3 to 97 for 7. Rashid’s counterattack brought some entertainment, but once he fell, the tail crumbled swiftly.

Pakistan’s bowling unit was sharp and effective, with Haris Rauf leading the way by picking up four wickets for 31 runs in 3.5 overs. Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, and Mohammad Nawaz each claimed two wickets, maintaining control throughout the second half of the innings.

Earlier in the day, Pakistan posted a competitive total of 182 for 6 after being asked to bat first. Despite losing Sahibzada Farhan early — who blasted a quick 21 off 10 balls with one four and two sixes — Pakistan built momentum through contributions from Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub.

The pair added 29 for the second wicket before Ayub fell to Rashid Khan, scoring 14 off 16 balls with two boundaries. Fakhar was soon dismissed for 20, followed by Hasan Nawaz’s brief stay at the crease, which left Pakistan at a shaky 83 for 4 in the 12th over.

The recovery came through a crucial 53-run partnership between skipper Salman Ali Agha and Mohammad Nawaz. Agha played a captain’s knock, anchoring the innings with a composed unbeaten 53 off 36 balls, decorated with three fours and three sixes. Nawaz chipped in with a rapid 21 off just 11 deliveries, including a four and two sixes, before being removed by Mujeeb Ur Rahman.

Agha continued the onslaught with Mohammad Haris, who added 15, guiding Pakistan to a strong finish. Afghanistan’s bowlers shared the wickets, with Fareed Ahmad picking up two, although he was expensive, conceding 47 runs in four overs.

This fixture marked the opening contest of the tri-series, which runs from August 29 to September 7 in the UAE.

The series, a last-minute shift from an originally scheduled bilateral series between Pakistan and Afghanistan, was relocated to help teams acclimate to local conditions ahead of the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup, slated to begin on September 9.

The result adds another chapter to the growing rivalry between Pakistan and Afghanistan in T20 internationals. Out of their eight meetings so far, Pakistan now holds the edge with five wins compared to Afghanistan’s three.

Teams

Pakistan:

Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Ali Agha (captain), Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem

Afghanistan:

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wicketkeeper), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Karim Janat, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan (captain), Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmed