T20I Tri-Series: after losing to Afghanistan, Pakistan face UAE tomorrow

SHARJAH: Pakistan will head into their next tri-nation clash against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) tomorrow with momentum on their side after posting 207 in the previous meeting. Saim Ayub’s explosive 69 and Hasan Nawaz’s rapid 56 were the highlights as Pakistan’s batting line-up flexed its firepower, though a late collapse saw them bowled out in the final over. However, yesterday’s defeat to Afghanistan has again got the viewers questioning if Pakistan would be able to bounce back, despite leading on the points table in the Tri-Series.

The UAE, despite conceding over 200, found positives in Junaid Siddique and Saghir Khan, who picked up three wickets apiece. Their challenge, however, remains in handling Pakistan’s aggressive top order and pace-heavy bowling attack. With Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf rested in the last game, Pakistan could rotate their bowlers again to test combinations ahead of the final.

Tomorrow’s match offers them a chance to reveal their dominance again, while UAE will look for an upset to revive their campaign.

Afghanistan stun Pakistan with gritty 18-run win in Sharjah thriller

Afghanistan delivered a statement victory in the T20I Tri-Series, edging past Pakistan by 18 runs in a high-octane clash packed with drama, discipline, and dazzling performances.

Batting first after winning the toss, Afghanistan posted a competitive 169-5. The star of the show was Sediqullah Atal, who anchored the innings with a composed 64 off 45 balls. Partnered by Ibrahim Zadran’s explosive 65 off 45, the pair stitched together a match-defining 123-run stand for the second wicket. Rashid Khan added late fireworks with 8 off just 4 deliveries to cap off a strong finish.

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In reply, Pakistan’s chase faltered early. While Fakhar Zaman looked dangerous with 25 off 18, he couldn’t convert it into a big knock. The Afghan bowlers, relentless and razor-sharp, struck at regular intervals to derail the momentum. Faheem Ashraf, however, starred with the ball for Pakistan, claiming a career-best 4 for 27.
Shaheen Afridi’s late blitz, an unbeaten 34 off 16 balls, briefly raised Pakistan’s hopes, but it proved too little, too late. They finished at 151-9, falling short in what could have been a memorable comeback.

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Afghanistan’s bowlers were exceptional across the board. Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, and Noor Ahmad bagged two wickets apiece, while Fazalhaq Farooqi and young Allah Ghazanfar dealt early blows.

With this gutsy win, Afghanistan not only bounced back in the tri-series but also sent a clear message: they are no longer underdogs, they are contenders. A perfect mix of batting firepower and bowling precision is making this Afghan side one to fear.

UAE 15-member squad

The UAE squad features a strong batting lineup led by captain and opener Muhammad Waseem, alongside Asif Khan, wicketkeeper-batters Rahul Chopra and Aryansh Sharma, youngster Ethan D’Souza, and opener Alishan Sharafu. The allrounders add depth with Harshit Kaushik, a left-handed batter and left-arm spinner, Muhammad Farooq, a middle-order batter and legbreak option, and Dhruv Parashar, a promising off-spinning allrounder. The bowling attack is spearheaded by experienced seamer Junaid Siddique and left-arm quick Muhammad Jawadullah, supported by left-arm spinners Haider Ali and Muhammad Rohid, off-spinner Muhammad Zohaib, and pacer Saghir Khan.

Tri-nation series schedule

• Thursday, September 4 – Pakistan v UAE – 7pm local time (tomorrow)
• Friday, September 5 – Afghanistan v UAE – 7pm local time
• Sunday, September 7 – Final – 7pm local time