SHARJAH (Dunya News) – In a riveting T20 tri-series contest on Tuesday at Sharjah, Afghanistan triumphed over Pakistan by 18 runs to claim their first victory of the series.
Electing to bat first, Afghanistan posted a formidable total of 169 for 5, thanks to fluent half-centuries from Sediqullah Atal (64 off 45) and Ibrahim Zadran (65 off 45). Faheem Ashraf starred with the ball, fetching a career-best 4 for 27, which kept the chase competitive.
In response, Pakistan faltered mid-chase, reaching 106 for 8 in 16 overs and ultimately finishing at 106 for 8, falling well short of the target.
The early momentum came via Fakhar Zaman's measured aggression – 25 off 18, giving Pakistan initial hope. However, wickets fell steadily around him. Meanwhile, Haris Rauf unleashed a valiant cameo later on, smashing 34 off 21 balls to inject late urgency into the chase. Despite that spark, the target remained elusive.
With this result decided, the tri-series continues. Pakistan will next face the United Arab Emirates on 4 September 2025, while Afghanistan take on the UAE on 5 September 2025. Both matches are scheduled at Sharjah Cricket Stadium as part of the double round-robin format.