Salman Mirza to flex his left arm for Afg Vs Pak, ahead of Asia Cup

Pakistan’s rising pace star, left arm fast bowler Salman Mirza has set his sights on India’s top order ahead of their blockbuster Asia Cup encounter. But before that showdown, Mirza will be accompanying the men in green for the T20 Tri-Series in the UAE.

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Here is what we know so far about the Afg Vs Pak match tomorrow and what to expect from Salman Mirza:

PAKISTAN, AFGHANISTAN, AND UAE LOCK HORNS

Sharjah is all set to light up with T20I action as Pakistan, Afghanistan, and hosts United Arab Emirates (UAE) gear up for a high-voltage tri-series beginning August 29. With the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 looming on the horizon in India and Sri Lanka, this series promises to be a crucial dress rehearsal for the three sides. All of them will be looking to fine-tune combinations and build momentum ahead of the Asia Cup next month as well.

The tournament opener pits Pakistan against familiar foes Afghanistan, which as a team has been rising rapidly through the ranks, even reaching the semi-finals of last year’s T20 World Cup.

The iconic Sharjah Cricket Stadium, no stranger to drama and upsets, will host the entire series as the three sides play each other twice in a round-robin format. The top two teams will then clash in the grand finale on September 7.

HISTORY SUGGESTS TIGHT CONTESTS AHEAD

In five T20I meetings at Sharjah, Pakistan holds a narrow 3-2 edge over Afghanistan, which hints at another close battle on the cards.

Pakistan heads into the series looking to shake off an inconsistent run, having recently gone down against Bangladesh and West Indies.

Afghanistan, meanwhile, return to T20I action for the first time since December, when they edged past Zimbabwe 2-1.

UAE, playing on home soil, will be buoyed by their surprise series win over Bangladesh in May and will be eager to prove they can punch above their weight once more.

PAKISTAN’S RISING PACE STAR

The 31-year-old speedster, Salman Mirza, burst into the spotlight with the Lahore Qalandars in the PSL, and now he is ready to embrace the pressure of the arch-rivalry against India, but only after flexing his bowling muscles against the other neighboring cricket rival, Afghanistan.

Speaking in an interview, Mirza had said, “A lot of us will be facing India for the first time. It’s a pressure game, but that’s where cricketers grow. India’s top order is aggressive, that’s where I’ll focus.”

India, the reigning T20 World Cup champions, arrive in the UAE as Asia Cup favourites. Led by the in-form Suryakumar Yadav, their blend of firepower up top and a well-rounded spin attack makes them a formidable threat, especially on slow, turning tracks.

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Mirza also said that Pakistan’s campaign won’t revolve solely around India. “India games draw all the attention, but Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh are strong sides too. We’re focused on every opponent,” he added.