Salman Agha’s 53 and Haris Rauf’s four-wicket haul powered Pakistan to a 39-run victory over Afghanistan in the tri-nation T20 opener in Sharjah, 24NewsHD TV reported on Friday. The all-round performance helped Pakistan dominate the match, setting a strong tone for the tournament.
Chasing a target of 183 runs, Afghanistan’s batting lineup faltered under pressure and was bowled out in the final over for 143.
Despite fighting contributions from Rashid Khan, who top-scored with 39 runs, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who made 38, Afghanistan fell well short of the target.
Pakistan’s bowling attack proved decisive in sealing the victory.
Haris Rauf was the standout performer, claiming four wickets with his pace and accuracy, while Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Nawaz, and Sufyan Muqeem supported him with two wickets each.
The combined effort ensured Pakistan’s comfortable win and a strong start to the series.
Earlier, after winning the toss and electing to bat first, Pakistan posted 182 runs in 20 overs after loss of seven wickets.
The Green Shirts, showcasing a balanced batting display, capitalized on key partnerships to put up a competitive total on the board.
Captain Agha Salman anchored the innings brilliantly, remaining unbeaten on 53 runs from 36 balls.
After losing opener Sahibzada Farhan for 21 runs off 10 balls and Saim Ayub for 14 off 16 deliveries, Pakistan needed stability at the crease.
Fakhar Zaman added 20 runs from 17 balls, while Hassan Nawaz could manage only 9 runs off 13 deliveries.
The middle order provided brief but valuable cameos, with Mohammad Nawaz scoring 21 runs from 11 balls and Mohammad Haris contributing 15 off 13 deliveries.
Faheem Ashraf added late fireworks, smashing 14 runs off just 5 balls to lift the scoring rate.
The target of 183 is expected to test Afghanistan’s batting lineup, as Pakistan aims to begin the tournament on a winning note.
Fareed Ahmad took two wickets after receiving 47 runs in four overs.
Earlier, Pakistan’s skipper, Agha Salman, expressed full confidence in his team’s preparation ahead of the first encounter of the series, stressing that outside criticism holds little weight for the players.
He stated that the squad is well-prepared and determined to deliver strong performances once again.
Afghanistan XI:
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Karim Janat, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan (capt), Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmed
Pakistan XI:
Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Ali Agha (capt), Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Haris (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem
