Pak vs Afg: Pakistan win toss, opt to bat first

SHARJAH: Pakistan have decided to bat first after winning the toss in the tri-nation series opener against Afghanistan at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday.

T20I Tri-Series in UAE

Pakistan v Afghanistan at Sharjah Cricket Stadium

Toss: Pakistan win the toss and elect to bat first.#PAKvAFG | #BackTheBoysInGreen

— PCB Live Scores (@TheRealPCB_Live) August 29, 2025

The contest is being held under strict security measures, as crowds from both sides have a history of skirmishes, most notably during the 2022 Sharjah clash, when crowd trouble marred Pakistan’s one-wicket victory over Afghanistan.

Just like in the 2023 UAE series, separate seating arrangements have been made for supporters of both sides.

Before the match, Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan appealed to fans to show restraint and uphold the spirit of cricket.

Addressing at a press conference, Rashid Khan said: “My message to everyone who comes to the stadium is that cricket brings unity. It gets the nations together. It shows the right message, the peace message. It brings people and nations together.

‘Excited about Afg vs Pak clash’

On the eve of the tri-nation series, skipper Salman Ali Agha expressed excitement about the Afg vs Pak clash, saying: “This tri-series will greatly help us in our preparations for the Asia Cup. I am very excited about it and I know it will be a challenging contest for which we are fully ready.”

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“Leading the Pakistan team is not only an honour for me but also a great responsibility. The team is playing good cricket at the moment and I am hopeful we will continue to deliver strong performances in the matches ahead.”

Pakistan 17-member squad

Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicket-keeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Waseem Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sufyan Moqim.

Tri-nation series schedule

• Friday, August 29 – Afghanistan v Pakistan – 7pm local time
• Saturday, August 30 – UAE v Pakistan – 7pm local time
• Monday, September 1 – UAE v Afghanistan – 7pm local time
• Tuesday, September 2 – Pakistan v Afghanistan – 7pm local time
• Thursday, September 4 – Pakistan v UAE – 7pm local time
• Friday, September 5 – Afghanistan v UAE – 7pm local time
• Sunday, September 7 – Final – 7pm local time