At the outset of the Tri-Nation Series, had anyone been asked to predict the finalists, most would have confidently named Pakistan and Afghanistan. A United Arab Emirates final berth would have been the real shock. That surprise is now off the cards. After losing to Pakistan in their opening clash, Afghanistan struck back in the return fixture, claiming victory by 18 runs. With this result, both Pakistan and Afghanistan are tied at 4 points each from 3 matches.
Match Summary – Afghanistan vs Pakistan (Sharjah, Tuesday)
| Team | Innings Performance | Total Score | Overs |
| Afghanistan | Strong 113-run 2nd wicket stand between Sediqullah Atal and Ibrahim Zadran | 159/5 | 20 |
| Pakistan | Struggled with regular wicket losses; fightback by Haris Rauf late on | 151/9 | 20 |
| Result | Afghanistan won by 18 runs |
Winning the toss and opting to bat first, Afghanistan lost Rahmanullah Gurbaz (8) early, caught at the boundary attempting to hit Saeem Ayub over the top. However, Sediqullah Atal and Ibrahim Zadran steadied the innings, building a commanding 113-run partnership.
- Ibrahim Zadran: 65 runs (45 balls, 8 fours, 1 six)
- Sediqullah Atal: 64 runs (45 balls, 3 fours, 3 sixes)
Once Atal departed, Afghanistan faltered, losing wickets at intervals. None of the other batters reached double figures, apart from the openers. Pakistan’s Faheem Ashraf was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 4 wickets for 27 runs in his four overs.
Pakistan’s response began poorly:
- Saeem Ayub was dismissed for a golden duck.
- Shahibzada Farhan followed soon after, scoring 18 off 13 balls before falling to Fazalhaq Farooqi.
The Afghan spin attack then took control, dismissing Pakistan’s middle order:
- Fakhar Zaman – 25
- Salman Ali Agha – 20
- Mohammad Nawaz – 12
- Faheem Ashraf – departed quickly after a brief stay
The only significant resistance came from Haris Rauf, who played an explosive cameo:
- 34 runs off 16 balls (4 sixes) – unbeaten
Despite Rauf’s late surge, Pakistan’s innings closed at 151/9, 18 runs short of the target.
Afghan bowlers shared the wickets efficiently, keeping constant pressure on Pakistan’s batting line-up:
| Bowler | Wickets | Economy | Notable Victims |
| Fazalhaq Farooqi | 2 | Tight early burst | Ayub, Farhan |
| Rashid Khan | 2 | Controlled middle overs | Fakhar, Nawaz |
| Mohammad Nabi | 2 | Breakthrough spells | Middle order |
| Noor Ahmad | 2 | Restrictive bowling | Late wickets |
While Haris Rauf walked off unbeaten, he could only watch his side slump to defeat. Afghanistan’s all-round performance ensured they levelled the series tally with Pakistan, setting up a thrilling race to the Tri-Nation Final.
