SHARJAH – Pakistan began their T20I tri-series campaign in style, overpowering Afghanistan by 39 runs in the opening clash at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday.
Haris Rauf and Salman Agha were the standout performers, ensuring Pakistan earned a much-needed morale-boosting victory.
Batting first, Pakistan posted a competitive total of 182 for seven in their allotted 20 overs. Contributions from the top and middle order provided a strong foundation before late fireworks from Salman Agha added crucial runs. In reply, Afghanistan looked well-placed at 93/2, needing 90 runs from 52 balls, but a dramatic collapse saw them lose eight wickets for just 50 runs. They were eventually bowled out for 143 in 19.5 overs.
For Afghanistan, the defeat was particularly painful given the promising start. The middle and lower order failed to cope with Pakistan’s disciplined bowling attack, led by Haris Rauf, who took key wickets to derail their chase. This marked Afghanistan’s fourth instance in their last nine T20Is where they have lost all ten wickets – a worrying sign ahead of the remaining matches.
Sharjah’s pitch once again proved tricky for teams batting second. Historical statistics show that only four out of 23 chases exceeding 150 runs have been successful here, and this game reinforced that trend. Had Afghanistan won the toss, they might have preferred to bat first, a strategy that has often worked in their favour.
The tri-series now moves forward with Pakistan looking to continue their momentum, while Afghanistan seeks a strong comeback.