Sharjah, UAE – August 29, 2025
Pakistan stamped their authority in the opening clash of the UAE T20I Tri-Nation Series 2025, outclassing Afghanistan by 39 runs at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Skipper Agha Salman’s fiery half-century and Haris Rauf’s devastating four-wicket spell proved too hot for Afghanistan to handle.
Pakistan Pile Up 182 Runs
Batting first, Pakistan set a strong total of 182/7 in 20 overs.
- Captain Agha Salman top-scored with a brilliant 53 off 36 balls.
- Quick cameos from Sahibzada Farhan (21 off 10) and Fakhar Zaman (20 off 17) gave momentum.
- In the final overs, Mohammad Nawaz (21 off 11) and Faheem Ashraf (14 off 5) ensured Pakistan crossed the 180 mark.
Afghanistan Falter Under Pressure
Afghanistan began positively with Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s 38 (27 balls) and later saw Rashid Khan’s explosive 39 off 16 balls. But the chase collapsed once Haris Rauf came into action.
- Rauf’s fiery spell (4 wickets) ripped through Afghanistan’s middle order.
- Afghanistan were eventually bowled out for 143 in 19.5 overs, falling well short of the target.
Match Summary
- Result: Pakistan beat Afghanistan by 39 runs
- Player of the Match: Agha Salman (53 off 36)
- Key Moment: Haris Rauf’s 4-wicket burst in the middle overs
- Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium, UAE
- Series: UAE Tri-Nation T20I Series 2025
What This Win Means
The dominant victory is a huge confidence boost for Pakistan ahead of the Asia Cup 2025, which begins on September 9 in the UAE. Afghanistan, meanwhile, will need to regroup quickly if they want to stay alive in the tri-series.