Pakistan vs Afghanistan 1st T20I: Thrilling Start to the UAE Tri-Series 2025
Pakistan vs Afghanistan The opening match of the UAE T20I Tri-Series 2025 between Pakistan and Afghanistan took place on August 29, 2025, at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. This high-stakes game drew massive attention on Google trends as both teams geared up for the upcoming Asia Cup. Pakistan delivered a strong performance to kick off the series with a win, showcasing solid batting and bowling efforts against a fighting Afghan side.
Pakistan vs Afghanistan :Playing 11 for Both Teams
Here are the playing elevens for the match:
Pakistan Playing 11: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Agha (c), Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Haris (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem.
Afghanistan Playing 11: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Karim Janat, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan (c), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad.
Pakistan vs Afghanistan : Pitch Report
The pitch at Sharjah Cricket Stadium was slow and tricky for batters, making stroke play difficult as the ball gripped and turned. It favored bowlers, especially spinners, in the later stages, leading to a par score around 160-170. Conditions were hot with temperatures reaching up to 39 degrees Celsius, adding to the challenge for players.
Pakistan vs Afghanistan ;Toss Report
Pakistan captain Salman Agha won the toss and elected to bat first, aiming to set a competitive total on a pitch expected to slow down further in the second innings.
Pakistan vs Afghanistan : Batting Stats
Pakistan posted a formidable 182/7 in their 20 overs, thanks to a captain’s knock from Salman Agha. Afghanistan, in reply, managed 143 all out in 19.5 overs despite some resistance.
Pakistan Batting Stats
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sahibzada Farhan | 21 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 210.00 | c Mujeeb b Omarzai |
| Saim Ayub | 14 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 87.50 | c Fareed b Rashid |
| Fakhar Zaman | 20 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 117.65 | c Ibrahim b Nabi |
| Salman Agha (c) | 53* | 36 | 3 | 3 | 147.22 | Not out |
| Hasan Nawaz | 9 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 69.23 | c Atal b Fareed |
| Mohammad Nawaz | 21 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 190.91 | c Rasooli b Mujeeb |
| Mohammad Haris (wk) | 15 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 115.38 | c Atal b Fareed |
| Faheem Ashraf | 14 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 280.00 | run out (Gurbaz/Fareed) |
| Extras | 15 | – | – | – | – | (b 4, lb 6, w 4, nb 1) |
Fall of wickets: 26-1 (2.3), 55-2 (6.5), 63-3 (7.3), 83-4 (11.1), 136-5 (15.4), 167-6 (19.2), 182-7 (20).
Pakistan vs Afghanistan ; Afghanistan Batting Stats
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk) | 38 | 27 | 3 | 1 | 140.74 | b Mohammad Nawaz |
| Ibrahim Zadran | 9 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 81.82 | b Shaheen Afridi |
| Sediqullah Atal | 23 | 19 | 0 | 2 | 121.05 | c Shaheen b Haris Rauf |
| Darwish Rasooli | 21 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 161.54 | c & b Sufiyan Muqeem |
| Karim Janat | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | c Hasan Nawaz b Haris Rauf |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | st Haris b Mohammad Nawaz |
| Mohammad Nabi | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 | c Faheem b Sufiyan Muqeem |
| Rashid Khan (c) | 39 | 16 | 3 | 3 | 243.75 | c Hasan Nawaz b Haris Rauf |
| Mujeeb Ur Rahman | 4 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 44.44 | b Shaheen Afridi |
| Fazalhaq Farooqi | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 | b Haris Rauf |
| Fareed Ahmad | 1* | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 | Not out |
| Extras | 4 | – | – | – | – | (lb 1, w 3) |
Fall of wickets: 22-1 (2.5), 93-2 (11.2), 93-3 (11.5), 93-4 (12.1), 95-5 (12.6), 98-6 (13.6), 137-7 (17.3), 141-8 (18.5), 142-9 (19.3), 143-10 (19.5).
Pakistan vs Afghanistan ; Bowling Stats
Afghanistan Bowling Stats (Pakistan Innings)
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fazalhaq Farooqi | 3 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 10.33 |
| Mujeeb Ur Rahman | 4 | 0 | 22 | 1 | 5.50 |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | 2 | 0 | 28 | 1 | 14.00 |
| Mohammad Nabi | 3 | 0 | 18 | 1 | 6.00 |
| Rashid Khan | 4 | 0 | 26 | 1 | 6.50 |
| Fareed Ahmad | 4 | 0 | 47 | 2 | 11.75 |
Pakistan Bowling Stats (Afghanistan Innings)
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | 4 | 0 | 28 | 2 | 7.00 |
| Mohammad Nawaz | 4 | 0 | 23 | 2 | 5.75 |
| Faheem Ashraf | 2 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 9.00 |
| Haris Rauf | 3.5 | 0 | 31 | 4 | 8.09 |
| Sufiyan Muqeem | 4 | 0 | 25 | 2 | 6.25 |
| Salman Agha | 2 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 8.50 |
Pakistan vs Afghanistan ;Best Moments of the Match
- Salman Agha’s Captain’s Knock: The Pakistan skipper played a crucial unbeaten 53 off 36 balls, including 3 fours and 3 sixes, rescuing his team from a middle-order wobble and pushing the total to 182.
- Haris Rauf’s Fiery Spell: Rauf turned the game with 4 wickets for 31 runs, dismissing key batters like Atal, Janat, Rashid, and Farooqi, breaking Afghanistan’s momentum.
- Rashid Khan’s Explosive Cameo: The Afghan captain smashed 39 off just 16 balls with 3 fours and 3 sixes, bringing excitement and nearly pulling off a chase before falling to Rauf.
- Early Breakthroughs: Shaheen Afridi’s dismissal of Ibrahim Zadran for 9 set the tone, while Gurbaz’s aggressive 38 kept Afghanistan in the hunt briefly.
These moments highlighted the intensity of the rivalry and kept fans on the edge.
Pakistan vs Afghanistan : Match Result
Pakistan’s all-round display earned them a convincing victory, with Haris Rauf named Player of the Match for his outstanding bowling.
Conclusion
In the end, Pakistan’s dominant display in the first T20I of the UAE Tri-Series 2025 against Afghanistan proved why they’re a force to reckon with, securing a convincing 39-run victory. Standout performances from captain Salman Agha with his unbeaten fifty and Haris Rauf’s match-winning four-wicket haul stole the show, while Afghanistan’s spirited fight, led by Rashid Khan’s explosive cameo, added thrill to the rivalry. This trending clash on Google not only kicked off the series on a high note but also sets the stage for more exciting encounters as both teams prepare for the Asia Cup. Cricket fans, stay tuned for what’s next!