The cricket rivalry between Afghanistan and Pakistan has become one of the most thrilling encounters of the modern T20 era. On 29 August 2025, fans witnessed another dramatic chapter at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium when the two teams clashed in the first match of the UAE T20 Tri-Series.
This evening had everything that makes T20 cricket exciting: batting prowess, brilliant spells of fast bowling, unexpected collapses and Rashid Khan’s signature fireworks at the end. However, despite Afghanistan’s belligerence, Pakistan won by 39 runs.
Pakistan innings: A fluctuating start
Winning the toss, Pakistan decided to bat first on a batting-friendly Sharjah pitch. Their openers started well, rotating the strike and applying pressure on loose deliveries. But the Afghan bowlers kept piling on the pressure and soon the cracks began to show.
At half-time, Pakistan were 83 for 4, which could have easily turned into a modest total. Afghanistan’s spinners bowled with control in the middle overs, keeping the run rate in check and the pressure on.
Agha Salman Steered the Ship
Amidst all this ups and downs, Agha Salman held his ground. He played with maturity beyond expectations and paced his innings beautifully. Instead of going for reckless shots, he maintained balance in the middle overs, taking sensible singles and hitting boundaries off every loose delivery.
Agha Salman’s innings: 53* off 36 balls
Boundaries: 3 fours, 3 sixes
Salman’s innings was the backbone of Pakistan’s innings. His patience not only stabilised the batting order but also allowed the power-hitter batsmen to play freely later on. Thanks to Iftikhar Ahmed’s contribution and some runs from the lower order, Pakistan posted 182 for 7 in 20 overs—a score that was both competitive and defendable on the Sharjah pitch.
Afghanistan’s chase: Promising start spoiled
Chasing a target of 183, Afghanistan batted with full intent. Their openers, especially Rahmanullah Gurbaz, took on the Pakistan pacers. Gurbaz’s stroke play was a sight to behold—cut shots, lofted drives, and fearless aggression against Shaheen Afridi’s swing.
Gurbaz scored a quickfire 38 off 27 balls, giving Afghanistan the necessary foothold. After losing 2 wickets for 92, the Afghanistan dugout looked relaxed. The required run rate was within reach, and the team looked in good shape to challenge the target.
But what followed was one of the most dramatic collapses seen in recent T20 cricket.
The collapse: Five wickets for just four runs
Cricket can change in a matter of minutes, and Afghanistan experienced this bitter truth. From 92/2, they slumped to 97/7, losing five wickets for just four runs in the space of about three overs.
Harris Rauf’s terrific spell
The main destroyer in this was none other than Harris Rauf. Known for his pace and deadly yorkers, Rauf bowled with aggression and precision. He dismissed settled batsmen, broke partnerships and rattled the Afghan middle order.
Harris Rauf: 4 wickets in his spell
His dismissals included quick wickets in two consecutive overs, leaving Afghanistan gasping for stability.
Shaheen Afridi’s early blows
Early in the innings, Shaheen Afridi had put pressure on Afghanistan with his swinging deliveries. His ability to strike in the powerplay meant that Afghanistan’s middle order came under pressure. He turned the match around by taking 2 wickets.
This turn of play changed the course of the match. What seemed like an easy target suddenly turned into a tough contest.
Rashid Khan’s tremendous counterattack
Just when it seemed like the match was completely slipping out of hand, Rashid Khan came to the crease. Considered as one of the best spinners in the world, Rashid has also earned a reputation for explosive batting lower down the order in T20 leagues around the world.
And once again, he showed why bowlers fear him even when he has the bat in his hand.
Rashid’s innings stats:
39 runs off 16 balls
Boundaries: 1 four, 5 sixes
Strike rate: 243.75
Rashid’s innings was brilliant. He tore apart both Pakistan’s pacers and spinners and smashed the Sharjah boundaries with ease. His fearless style revived Afghanistan’s hopes, even if only for a little while.
Every time Rashid smashed the ball into the stands, the Sharjah crowd erupted in joy. For a few overs, it looked like Afghanistan would stage a miraculous comeback. But with no support from the other end, his brilliant knock wasn’t enough to change the course of the match.
Final overs: Pakistan seal the match
Despite Rashid Khan’s brilliant display, Pakistan’s bowlers kept their composure. Haris Rauf finished his spell solidly, while Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah ensured there were no windfalls in the final over. Afghanistan were eventually bowled out for 143 in 19.5 overs and lost by 39 runs.
Final Match Summary
- Pakistan: 182/7 in 20 overs
- Agha Salman – 53* (36)
- Lower order support added crucial runs
- Afghanistan: All out for 143 in 19.5 overs
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz – 38 (27)
- Rashid Khan – 39 (16)
- Failure: 92/2 to 97/7 (lost 5 wickets for 4 runs)
- Result: Pakistan won by 39 runs
Check highlights of the match :- Fancode
Key points from the match
Pakistan’s middle order resilience
Agha Salman proved to be the pivot of Pakistan’s innings. His unbeaten half-century was the difference between a tie and a winning score.
Afghanistan’s sudden collapse
Losing five wickets for just four runs was the turning point of the game. This collapse killed all the momentum in the chase.
Rashid Khan’s feat
Rashid Khan reminded the world why he is one of the most entertaining cricketers with his explosive knock of 39 runs in 16 balls. His short performance gave fans hope, but too late in the innings.
Harris Rauf’s match-winning spell
Rauf’s sheer pace and aggression broke the back of Afghanistan’s batting order. His four wickets ensured that Pakistan was ahead throughout the match.
The result: Drama, collapse and fireworks
The Sharjah crowd witnessed every definition of T20 cricket—big shots, collapses and nervous moments. Pakistan started their campaign in the tri-series with a confident win, thanks to Agha Salman’s calm batting and Harris Rauf’s lethal bowling.
For Afghanistan, it was a tale of two halves. At 92/2, they looked in control. But within minutes, their chase crumbled. The only positive was Rashid Khan’s fearless counterattack, which electrified the stadium and reminded fans of Afghanistan’s fighting spirit.
As the series progresses, both teams will learn important lessons. Pakistan will be happy with their balance, while Afghanistan will want to avoid sudden collapses in future matches. Still, if there is one memory fans will take with them from this night, it will be Rashid Khan’s fireworks—an innings that lit up Sharjah despite the loss.
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