Afghanistan stun Pakistan with 18 run win in Sharjah

With the whole cricketing world stunned by Afghanistan’s fearless rise in T20 cricket, their clash against Pakistan in Sharjah was a spectacle that lived up to the hype. The Afghan side, led by Rashid Khan, walked onto a batsman-friendly pitch after winning the toss and electing to bat, ready to take on Pakistan’s vaunted bowling attack.

Afghanistan Innings

The Sharjah crowd roared as Afghanistan’s openers, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Sediqullah Atal, stepped out to face Pakistan’s pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi. But the dream start didn’t materialize. Gurbaz, a firecracker with the bat, looked to dominate early but fell in the second over. Trying to loft spinner Saim Ayub over cover, he miscued, and Hasan Nawaz pouched a simple catch. Gurbaz’s 8 off 10 balls left Afghanistan at 10/1 after 1.6 overs, and the pressure was on to rebuild.

Second successive half-century for Sediqullah Atal, as he continues to make big strides in international cricket. 🤩👏

Top knock, Atala! 🙌👍#AfghanAtalan | #AFGvPAK | #GloriousNationVictoriousTeam pic.twitter.com/lC841r2GbB

— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) September 2, 2025

Sediqullah Atal, unfazed, linked up with Ibrahim Zadran, and the duo set about steadying the ship. Atal played with a calm head, picking singles and stroking elegant cover drives, while Zadran unleashed his attacking instincts, finding gaps with surgical precision. Their partnership was a blend of grit and flair, frustrating Pakistan’s bowlers. By the end of the powerplay at 6 overs, Afghanistan had reached 52/2, a solid platform for a potentially match-defining total.

The Atal-Zadran show grew into the heartbeat of Afghanistan’s innings. Atal reached his fifty with a flourish, smashing three fours and three sixes in a dazzling 64 off 45 balls. His knock was a masterclass in pacing, knowing when to hold back and when to cut loose. Zadran was equally commanding, carving out 65 off 45 balls with eight crisp fours and a towering six. His shots through cover and midwicket had the crowd on their feet, and Pakistan’s fielders could only watch as the ball raced away. The pair’s 113-run stand for the second wicket dominated the middle overs, pushing Afghanistan past 100 and putting Pakistan on the ropes. Haris Rauf and Mohammad Nawaz, leaking runs at 12.66 and 12.00 economy rates, bore the brunt of their assault.

The partnership finally broke in the 15th over when Faheem Ashraf, Pakistan’s bowling hero, struck. Atal, looking to keep the scoreboard racing, skied one to Hasan Nawaz, departing for 64 and leaving Afghanistan at 123/2. The stage was set for the middle order to push on, but Azmatullah Omarzai couldn’t find his rhythm. Scratching around for 4 off 6 balls, he holed out to Ashraf in the 17th over. Ashraf struck again in the same over, removing Zadran for 65, caught by Mohammad Nawaz. At 146/4, Afghanistan’s momentum faltered as wickets began to tumble.

Mohammad Nabi, the seasoned campaigner, tried to ignite a late surge but could only manage 6 off 5 balls before falling to Ashraf, caught by Fakhar Zaman in the 19th over. With the innings nearing its end, captain Rashid Khan and Karim Janat took charge. Janat, unbeaten on 8 off 5 balls, played smartly, while Rashid smashed 8 off 4 balls, including a monstrous six in the final over that sent the Afghan fans into a frenzy. Their late cameo lifted Afghanistan to a competitive 169/5 in 20 overs, boosted by 6 extras (4 wides, 2 leg byes). The total felt defendable on a pitch expected to slow down as the lights took over.

INNINGS CHANGE! 🔁#AfghanAtalan have put on a decent batting effort to post 169/5 runs on the board in the first inning. @IZadran18 (65) and Sediqullah Atal (64) were the picks of the batters with half-centuries. 👍#AFGvPAK | #GloriousNationVictoriousTeam pic.twitter.com/9oBkTQVc6X

— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) September 2, 2025

Faheem Ashraf was Pakistan’s standout bowler, finishing with a brilliant 4/27 in 4 overs. His knack for striking at key moments kept Afghanistan from running away with the game. Saim Ayub bowled tidily, taking 1/18 in his 4 overs, while Shaheen Shah Afridi was economical but wicketless, conceding 27 runs. Haris Rauf had a nightmare, leaking 38 runs in 3 overs, and Mohammad Nawaz and Sufiyan Muqeem struggled, going wicketless for 24 and 33 runs, respectively.

Pakistan Innings

Chasing 170, Pakistan’s innings imploded almost instantly under the heat of Afghanistan’s fiery bowling attack. Fazalhaq Farooqi set the tone, tearing into openers Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub. Ayub lasted just one ball, nicking a sharp delivery to wicketkeeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz for a duck, leaving Pakistan at 8/1 in the second over. Farhan fought back briefly, cracking a four and two sixes in his 18 off 13 balls, but Farooqi had his measure in the 4th over, bowling him with a vicious swinging yorker. At 29/2 after 3.2 overs, Pakistan were in disarray.

Wickets continue to tumble in Sharjah! 👊

The skipper @rashidkhan_19 gets into the act as he removes Mohammad Nawaz (12) and Shaheen Afridi (0) with two successive deliveries to get Afghanistan closer! 👏

🇵🇰- 103/8 (15.2 Ov)#AfghanAtalan | #AFGvPAK |… pic.twitter.com/NfklQHyGSi

— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) September 2, 2025

Fakhar Zaman and captain Salman Agha tried to stem the tide, with Zaman playing some bold shots to keep the required run rate in check. His 25 off 18 balls, featuring three fours and a six, gave Pakistan hope as they reached 52/2 by the end of the powerplay. But Afghanistan’s bowlers, led by the wily Mohammad Nabi, had other plans. Nabi struck in the 8th over, getting Zaman caught by Farooqi. Moments later, a stunning piece of fielding from Ibrahim Zadran and Rashid Khan ran out Salman Agha for 20 off 15 balls. Pakistan were reeling at 67/4 after 8.3 overs, and the chase was slipping away.

Hasan Nawaz and Mohammad Nawaz dug in, but Afghanistan’s tight bowling and a soaring required run rate made life tough. Nawaz fell for 9 off 12 balls in the 10th over, caught by Karim Janat off Noor Ahmad’s spin. Mohammad Haris, expected to provide a spark, managed just 1 off 4 balls before Nabi struck again, with Darwish Rasooli taking the catch in the 11th over. At 82/6, Pakistan’s hopes were hanging by a thread.

Mohammad Nawaz battled on, scoring 12 off 16 balls, but Rashid Khan removed him in the 15th over, caught by Sediqullah Atal. Rashid struck again in the same over, dismissing Shaheen Shah Afridi for a golden duck, leaving Pakistan at 103/8. Faheem Ashraf showed some grit with 14 off 18 balls, but Noor Ahmad cleaned him up in the 17th over, reducing Pakistan to 111/9. Just when all seemed lost, Haris Rauf played a sensational cameo, smashing an unbeaten 34 off 16 balls with four towering sixes, giving Pakistan a glimmer of hope. Sufiyan Muqeem chipped in with an unbeaten 7 off 6 balls, but the task was too steep.

𝐀𝐟𝐠𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝐖𝐢𝐧! 🙌#AfghanAtalan have put on a clinical bowling performance to successfully defend their total and win the game by 18 runs. @rashidkhan_19 (2/30), @noor_ahmad_15 (2/20), @MohammadNabi007 (2/20), and @fazalfarooqi10 (2/21) all produced excellent… pic.twitter.com/FOTQNead9d

— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) September 2, 2025

Pakistan finished at 151/9, falling 18 runs short. Afghanistan’s bowlers were relentless, with Fazalhaq Farooqi (2/21), Mohammad Nabi (2/20), Noor Ahmad (2/20), and Rashid Khan (2/30) sharing the wickets. AM Ghazanfar and Azmatullah Omarzai bowled tightly but went wicketless. Extras added 11 runs (5 wides, 4 byes, 2 leg byes). Pakistan’s innings was a tale of early collapses, brief resistance, and a late, valiant but futile fightback.

TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game

The match’s defining moment came during Afghanistan’s innings, when Sediqullah Atal and Ibrahim Zadran forged a breathtaking 113-run partnership for the second wicket. After Gurbaz’s early exit at 10/1, the duo took charge, turning the game on its head over 71 thrilling minutes. Atal’s 64 off 45 balls was a dazzling display of finesse and power, with three fours and three sixes at a strike rate of 142.22.

𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝐑𝐮𝐧𝐬 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩! 🤝

Sediqullah Atal (59*) and @IZadran18 (48*) bring up an incredible 100-run stand for the second wicket. 👏

Keep going, Atalano! 🙌👍#AfghanAtalan | #AFGvPAK | #GloriousNationVictoriousTeam pic.twitter.com/Gcgqabgkk4

— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) September 2, 2025

Zadran’s 65 off 45 balls, with eight fours and a six, was equally commanding, his 144.44 strike rate showcasing his dominance. They toyed with Pakistan’s bowlers, particularly Haris Rauf (12.66 economy) and Mohammad Nawaz (12.00 economy), piling on runs with ease. Faheem Ashraf finally broke through in the 15th over, dismissing Atal at 123/2, but the partnership had set the foundation for Afghanistan’s 169/5, paving the way for their victory.

TCNI’s Hero of the Day

Mohammad Nabi was the undisputed TCNI Hero of the Day, steering Afghanistan to a gripping 19-run win with a match-defining all-round performance. His bowling was the game-changer, delivering 4 overs of crafty spin, taking 2 crucial wickets for just 20 runs at a miserly economy of 5.00. Nabi’s dismissals of Fakhar Zaman (25) and Mohammad Haris (1) broke Pakistan’s back, with his 11 dot balls choking their batting lineup.

𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬: 𝟒
𝐃𝐨𝐭𝐬: 𝟏𝟏
𝐑𝐮𝐧𝐬: 𝟐𝟎
𝐖𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬: 𝟐
𝐄. 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝟓.𝟎𝟎

The President @MohammadNabi007 was sensational with the ball tonight against Pakistan! 👊👏#AfghanAtalan | #AFGvPAK | #GloriousNationVictoriousTeam pic.twitter.com/Ty4dAxIoD8

— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) September 2, 2025

His calm presence guided Afghanistan’s bowling attack, complementing Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad, who also took two wickets each. Nabi’s ability to strike at pivotal moments and restrict runs ensured Pakistan fell short at 151/9, securing Afghanistan’s victory in a heart-pounding T20 clash.