Introduction
Cricket fans in Sharjah were treated to a night of fireworks as Pakistan outclassed Afghanistan by 75 runs to win the UAE Tri-Series T20 Final 2025. Backed by disciplined batting, clinical bowling, and a magical spell from Mohammad Nawaz, Pakistan walked away with the silverware in style. Afghanistan, who entered the final with high hopes, crumbled under pressure against Pakistan’s relentless bowling attack.
Pakistan’s Steady Batting Effort
Winning the toss, Pakistan’s captain Salman Agha decided to bat first, trusting his batting lineup to set a defendable target on a tricky Sharjah surface. The innings began shakily as opener Sahibzada Farhan was dismissed for a duck in the first over.
However, Pakistan recovered through Fakhar Zaman (27 off 26), who steadied the innings with a mix of patience and power. Alongside him, skipper Salman Agha (24 off 27) provided crucial stability in the middle overs.
The innings gained momentum when Hasan Nawaz (15 off 8) and Mohammad Nawaz (25 off 21) played brisk cameos, hitting timely boundaries to frustrate Afghan bowlers. Faheem Ashraf (15 off 8) added a late flourish with aggressive strokes.
Despite Afghanistan’s spinners keeping things tight, Pakistan managed to post 141/8 in 20 overs — a competitive total on a spin-friendly pitch.
Afghanistan’s Bowling Highlights
Afghanistan’s bowlers, especially their spinners, impressed under the Sharjah lights.
- Rashid Khan once again showed his class, picking up 3 wickets for 38 runs.
- Youngster Noor Ahmad bowled beautifully, finishing with 2/17 in 4 overs.
- Fazalhaq Farooqi was effective with the new ball, removing Farhan early and claiming two wickets overall.
While their bowlers did well to restrict Pakistan under 150, Afghanistan’s batting was expected to seal the chase comfortably — but the script changed dramatically.
Afghanistan’s Batting Collapse
Chasing 142, Afghanistan’s hopes were dashed early. Pakistan’s left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi struck in the first over, dismissing wicketkeeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz.
From there, it was a freefall. Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, and Karim Janat all departed cheaply. At the halfway stage, Afghanistan were reeling at 44/6, with victory all but out of reach.
The only resistance came from skipper Rashid Khan, who hit 17 runs off 18 balls, including two sixes. However, once he fell, the innings collapsed swiftly. Afghanistan were bowled out for just 66 runs in 15.5 overs, suffering one of their heaviest T20 defeats.
Nawaz’s Magical Spell
The hero of the night was undoubtedly Mohammad Nawaz. The left-arm spinner bamboozled Afghan batters with variations in flight, pace, and angle. His match-winning figures of 5/19 in 4 overs included a rare T20I hat-trick, making him the talk of the cricketing world.
Nawaz’s wickets included key batters like Ibrahim Zadran, Rasooli, Omarzai, and Rashid Khan. His performance earned him both the Player of the Match and Player of the Series awards.
Other Bowling Contributions
While Nawaz stole the show, Pakistan’s other bowlers also chipped in:
- Abrar Ahmed (2/17) maintained pressure with his leg-spin.
- Sufiyan Muqeem (2/9) cleaned up the lower order.
- Shaheen Afridi (1/7) set the tone by striking early in the powerplay.
Together, they dismantled Afghanistan’s batting, proving Pakistan’s bowling depth and adaptability.
What This Win Means
The result is a massive confidence boost for Pakistan ahead of the Asia Cup 2025. Their ability to defend a modest total shows the strength of their bowling lineup, particularly in spin-friendly conditions.
For Afghanistan, the defeat was a harsh reminder of their batting fragility. Despite having world-class spinners, they need stronger contributions from their top and middle order to challenge stronger opponents consistently.
Key Match Stats
- Pakistan: 141/8 (20 overs)
- Afghanistan: 66 all out (15.5 overs)
- Result: Pakistan won by 75 runs
- Top Performer: Mohammad Nawaz – 5/19 (including a T20I hat-trick)
Conclusion
The UAE Tri-Series Final 2025 will be remembered for Pakistan’s dominance and Mohammad Nawaz’s brilliance. With a commanding 75-run win, Pakistan not only lifted the trophy but also sent a warning to rivals ahead of the Asia Cup. Afghanistan, meanwhile, must regroup quickly and address their batting woes if they are to make an impact in future tournaments.
Pakistan’s triumph in Sharjah wasn’t just about winning silverware — it was about showing composure, discipline, and match-winning flair at the right time.
Read other articles;https://battingfirst.com/rcb-vs-pbks-dream11-prediction/ Battingfirst.com
