SHARJAH (Dunya News) – Pakistan have defeated Afghanistan by 39 runs in first match of tri- series opener.
Chasing a target of 183 runs, Afghanistan was bowled out for 143 in the final over. Rashid Khan with 39 and Rahmanullah Gurbaz with 38 were the standout performers for Afghanistan.
For Pakistan, Haris Rauf claimed 4 wickets, while Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Nawaz, and Sufiyan Muqeem each took 2 wickets.
Earlier, the Green Shirts won the toss and elected to bat first against Afghanistan in the opening clash of the tri-nation T20 International series at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday.
At the end of their innings, Pakistan were 182 for a loss of 7 wickets.
Brilliant knock by the skipper Salman Ali Agha gets to his fourth T20I fifty #BackTheBoysInGreen | #PAKvAFG pic.twitter.com/yBiBuWVAGc
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) August 29, 2025The encounter has drawn significant anticipation as the tournament unfolds between 29 August and 7 September, providing crucial preparation for the upcoming ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup in the UAE from 9 to 28 September.
Originally planned as a bilateral series between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) converted it into a three-team event, adding the UAE as hosts. The move was aimed at allowing players to adapt to Emirati conditions ahead of the continental championship.
In head-to-head T20I history, Pakistan and Afghanistan have met seven times, with Pakistan winning four encounters while Afghanistan have secured three victories, setting the stage for another closely-fought contest.
Fan arrangements
Sharjah Cricket Stadium brimmed with excitement as fans gathered hours before the first ball. Organisers introduced unique measures to ensure smooth crowd management, including separate stands, pavilions, and entry routes for both Pakistani and Afghan supporters. Tickets were also colour-coded — green for Pakistan fans and blue for Afghan fans — to maintain order in the stands.
Squads
Pakistan’s squad for the tri-series features Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Sufiyan Muqeem.
Afghanistan, led by Rashid Khan, have named Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Ishaq, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Janat, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, AM Ghazanfar, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Farid Ahmad Malik and Fazalhaq Farooqi in their line-up.