Pakistan kicked off their Twenty20 International tri-series campaign in Sharjah with a convincing 39-run victory over Afghanistan on Friday, thanks to skipper Salman Agha’s composed half-century and a fiery spell from fast bowler Haris Rauf.
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Batting first in front of a capacity crowd of 16,000, Pakistan posted a strong total of 182-7 in 20 overs. Right-handed Salman anchored the innings superbly with an unbeaten 36-ball 53 that featured three sixes and as many boundaries. His knock, a blend of patience and calculated aggression, proved to be the backbone of Pakistan’s batting effort. He was well supported by short but impactful cameos, including Sahibzada Farhan’s quickfire 21 off 10 balls at the top and Mohammad Nawaz’s 21 off 11 deliveries in the latter stages, which helped Pakistan gather 51 runs in the final five overs.
Afghanistan began their chase with promise. Opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz struck 38 from 27 balls, including a six and three boundaries, and added 51 runs for the second wicket with Sediqullah Atal, who scored 23. However, Pakistan’s bowlers seized control in the middle overs.
The turning point came in the 12th over when Haris Rauf, bowling with pace and precision, dismissed both Atal and Karim Janat without conceding a run. His spell broke Afghanistan’s momentum and left them reeling. Haris finished with remarkable figures of 4-31, further asserting his reputation as one of Pakistan’s premier strike bowlers. Shaheen Afridi also delivered an incisive performance, taking 2-21, while spinners Mohammad Nawaz (2-23) and Sufiyan Muqeem (2-25) choked the middle order and wrapped up Afghanistan’s resistance.
Afghanistan’s captain Rashid Khan provided a late spark with a whirlwind 39 off just 16 balls, smashing five sixes and a boundary. His counterattack briefly revived Afghanistan’s hopes, but Haris returned to dismiss him, ending the contest decisively. Afghanistan were bowled out for 143 in 19.5 overs.
Reflecting on his innings, Salman Agha, who was named player of the match, said patience was key. “I saw the first seven-eight overs, it was holding [for the spinners and the change-ups of pacers]. I knew if I could get in, I could hit sixes against any bowler—and that is what I did,” he said after the match. Salman also lauded his side’s readiness to face spin-heavy conditions, crediting their early arrival in the UAE for their preparation.
The captain praised his bowling attack, singling out Nawaz for delivering under pressure. “Our bowling was outstanding. Haris and Shaheen are among the best in the world, and even Muqeem was impressive. But the pick of the bowlers for me was Nawaz. He always bowls the tough overs, and he did so brilliantly today,” he said.
Rashid Khan, despite his explosive knock, admitted Afghanistan fell short. “We had it in mind that the run-rate matters and I tried to get close to the target. But I feel this was more of a 190-200 wicket. We couldn’t quite keep up,” he remarked.
The tri-series, which also features hosts United Arab Emirates, will see each team play the others twice before the top two sides meet in the final on September 7. Pakistan will face the UAE in their next match on Saturday, a fixture that will further test their readiness ahead of the Asia Cup beginning on September 9.
With a commanding opening win and standout performances from both bat and ball, Pakistan have sent a clear message: they are shaping up well for bigger challenges ahead.
