SHARJAH, UAE: Pakistan kicked off their T20I tri-series campaign with a commanding 39-run victory over Afghanistan, setting the tone for an action-packed series at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
The night belonged to Salman Ali Agha, who anchored Pakistan’s innings with an unbeaten 53 off 36 deliveries, showcasing precision and power with three towering sixes and three crisp boundaries. His crucial 53-run partnership with Mohammad Nawaz in the death overs propelled Pakistan to a competitive 182 for 7 in the allotted 20 overs.
Afghanistan, despite some resilient performances, failed to counter Pakistan’s fiery bowling attack. Haris Rauf led from the front with a destructive spell of 4 for 31, dismantling Afghanistan’s middle order and delivering a game-changing double strike in the 12th over. Shaheen Shah Afridi kept the pressure on with figures of 2 for 21, while spinners Mohammad Nawaz (2 for 23) and Sufiyan Muqeem (2 for 25) tightened the grip, bowling Afghanistan out for 143 in 19.5 overs.
For Afghanistan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz gave a flying start with a spirited 38 off 27 balls, but it was Rashid Khan’s late fireworks — a blistering 39 off just 16 balls*, laced with five massive sixes — that provided a glimmer of hope. However, Rauf’s disciplined death bowling ended the charge, sealing Pakistan’s first win of the series in style.
With this all-round performance, Pakistan look poised for a strong campaign as they gear up to face hosts UAE in their next fixture on Saturday. The team’s form, particularly the balance between aggressive batting and disciplined bowling, signals promising days ahead in the build-up to the Asia Cup.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.