Afghanistan shock Pakistan in T20I tri-series ahead of Asia Cup in Sharjah

Afghanistan Stuns Pakistan by 18 Runs in Sharjah T20I Tri-Series Ahead of Asia Cup.

Afghanistan delivered a strong warning to Pakistan ahead of the Asia Cup with an 18-run victory in a low-scoring thriller at Sharjah on August 2. After a shaky start to their innings, Afghanistan’s spinners turned the game on its head to secure a memorable win.

Batting first, Afghanistan lost early wickets, including Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and appeared vulnerable. However, a crucial 113-run partnership between Sediqullah Atal and Ibrahim Zadran, who scored 65 off 45 balls, rescued the innings and helped post a defendable total of 169. The rest of the lineup contributed minimally but enough to set a challenging target.

Chasing 170, Pakistan started positively but were quickly under pressure. Fazalhaq Farooqi removed Saim Ayub for a golden duck and dismissed Sahibzada Farhan early. Afghanistan’s spin trio—Rashid Khan (2/30), Mohammed Nabi (2/20), and Noor Ahmed (2/20)—then dominated the middle order, ensuring no batter could build a partnership. Despite brief resistance from Salman Ali Agha and Fakhar Zaman, Pakistan fell short, finishing at 151/9.

The win boosts Afghanistan’s confidence ahead of the Asia Cup, reflecting steady progress in T20 cricket. For Pakistan, the loss exposes areas to address before they begin their Asia Cup campaign against Oman on September 12.