1
1
1
6
4
1
= 14
Match Details
AFG vs PAK, 1st T20, UAE Tri-Series 2025 live
AFG
143-10(19.5)
Pakistan won by 39 runs 🏆
PAK
(20.0)182-7
+
P'ship : 0(0)
Commentary
All
Highlights
Overs
W
6s
4s
Inn 1
Inn 2
Milestone
Pakistan have hit the ground running. They register a comprehensive win to begin the tri-series on the right note. Afghanistan will be disappointed, but they too have plenty of positives to take from this side. After all, if not for that dramatic collapse in the middle, then this game might have been a lot closer.
But hey! There are no "what ifs" in sport. Rashid Khan and his men have some time to contemplate. But Pakistan come back tomorrow to face UAE. Remember, both those teams are also in the same group in the upcoming Asia Cup. Hence, there is plenty to look forward too.
Join the coverage of match at 7:30 PM IST (6:00 PM local time). For now, it is the troika of Darpan Tikiya, Karthik Raj and Paras Yadav signing off. Sayonara!
But hey! There are no "what ifs" in sport. Rashid Khan and his men have some time to contemplate. But Pakistan come back tomorrow to face UAE. Remember, both those teams are also in the same group in the upcoming Asia Cup. Hence, there is plenty to look forward too.
Join the coverage of match at 7:30 PM IST (6:00 PM local time). For now, it is the troika of Darpan Tikiya, Karthik Raj and Paras Yadav signing off. Sayonara!
Salman Ali Agha (POTM and Pakistan Captain): "I saw in the first seven-eight overs that it the odd ball was holding. So, I knew I would have to take 7-8 balls and then, I knew that I am good enough to hit sixes against any bowlers.
I am not as good as I used to be. We came here 10 days early and we are well prepared. The bowling was outstanding.
Haris and Shaheen are among the best bowlers in the world. I knew they will do their job. Nawaz was especially impressive. It was a 150-160 kind of wicket. Whenever we sit down in team meetings, we talk about scoring above par."
I am not as good as I used to be. We came here 10 days early and we are well prepared. The bowling was outstanding.
Haris and Shaheen are among the best bowlers in the world. I knew they will do their job. Nawaz was especially impressive. It was a 150-160 kind of wicket. Whenever we sit down in team meetings, we talk about scoring above par."
Player of the Match — Salman Ali Agha
Rashid Khan (Afghanistan Captain): "Was needed at the end. Had it in mind that even if we don't win, need to get close to the target. Net run-rate is important in a Tri-series like this. I feel like this wicket was worth 190-200 runs. 175-180, we were happy to chase. We had a good start as well but we lost too many wickets between 13-15 overs. As soon as you lose the momentum, it is tough to get back. At that point, you can't play risky shots. You need to give yourself some time. Rotating the strike can take the pressure off you but we didn't do that. Dot ball kills you, it is more effective that wickets."
Rashid Khan gets the Energetic Batter of the Match award.
12:10 AM IST, 10:40 PM local time: The post-match presentation is coming up. Stay tuned for quotes from both the captains and the Player of the Match.
12:00 AM IST, 10:30 PM local time: Pakistan begin the tri-series with a comprehensive win, defeating Afghanistan by 39 runs.
On paper, that margin might suggest a one-sided thrashing. But Afghanistan had their moments. In fact, at 93/2 after the end of the 11th over, they seemed on course to chase it down. However, then the dramatic collapse happened. They went through a 17-ball period in which 5 wickets fell for only 4 runs.
Haris Rauf ignited the spark. He bowled a double wicket maiden that accounted for the dismissals of Atal and Janat. Then, Sufiyan Muqeem spun a web. Of course, haphazard shot-selection did not help.
Though, Rashid Khan gave his team some hope. He came out fighting and played an exhilarating cameo of 39 (16) with included 5 drool worthy sixes. But he was always fighting a lost battle. In the end, Rauf finished with outstanding figures of 4/31, while Muqeem, Afridi and Mohammad Nawaz returned 2 wickets each.
Earlier, Pakistan's innings too went through the vicissitudes. They got off to a sprightly start due to Sahibzada Farhan's sparkling cameo of 21 (10). But once he was dismissed, the spinners tightened the noose. Together, the troika of Mujeeb, Rashid and Nabi produced 3/66 in 11 overs. Yet, the Green Shirts managed to put up a substantial score of 182/7.
Captain Salman Ali Agha led from the front. While the spinners were hard to put away, he was clever with the options he took against the pacers. Apart from the normal cricketing strokes, he was also not afraid of bringing out the scoops and sweeps against the faster bowlers. However, it were two effervescent cameos at the end — Mohammad Nawaz's 11-ball-21 and Faheem Ashraf's 5-ball-14 — that propelled Pakistan to an above-par total.
On paper, that margin might suggest a one-sided thrashing. But Afghanistan had their moments. In fact, at 93/2 after the end of the 11th over, they seemed on course to chase it down. However, then the dramatic collapse happened. They went through a 17-ball period in which 5 wickets fell for only 4 runs.
Haris Rauf ignited the spark. He bowled a double wicket maiden that accounted for the dismissals of Atal and Janat. Then, Sufiyan Muqeem spun a web. Of course, haphazard shot-selection did not help.
Though, Rashid Khan gave his team some hope. He came out fighting and played an exhilarating cameo of 39 (16) with included 5 drool worthy sixes. But he was always fighting a lost battle. In the end, Rauf finished with outstanding figures of 4/31, while Muqeem, Afridi and Mohammad Nawaz returned 2 wickets each.
Earlier, Pakistan's innings too went through the vicissitudes. They got off to a sprightly start due to Sahibzada Farhan's sparkling cameo of 21 (10). But once he was dismissed, the spinners tightened the noose. Together, the troika of Mujeeb, Rashid and Nabi produced 3/66 in 11 overs. Yet, the Green Shirts managed to put up a substantial score of 182/7.
Captain Salman Ali Agha led from the front. While the spinners were hard to put away, he was clever with the options he took against the pacers. Apart from the normal cricketing strokes, he was also not afraid of bringing out the scoops and sweeps against the faster bowlers. However, it were two effervescent cameos at the end — Mohammad Nawaz's 11-ball-21 and Faheem Ashraf's 5-ball-14 — that propelled Pakistan to an above-par total.
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