Pakistan defeated Afghanistan by 39 runs in the opening T20I of the UAE Tri-Series 2025. After opting to bat, Pakistan posted 182/7 in their 20 overs, led by captain Salman Agha’s unbeaten 53. Supporting contributions came from Fakhar Zaman (20), Mohammad Nawaz (21), and Mohammad Haris (15). Despite some breakthroughs by Fareed Ahmad, who picked up three wickets, Afghanistan’s bowlers failed to stop Pakistan’s late flourish, conceding boundaries in the death overs as the batting lineup ensured a strong target on the board.

PAK vs AFG: Pakistan Batting Performance

The innings began aggressively with Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub playing attacking strokes, but both departed during the powerplay. Fakhar Zaman provided momentum before being dismissed by Mohammad Nabi. The middle overs were anchored by Salman Agha, who played a captain’s knock with precision and power, striking three fours and three sixes. Nawaz and Faheem Ashraf chipped in late to boost the total past 180. Afghanistan’s bowlers struggled for consistency, with Fareed Ahmad’s three wickets overshadowed by his expensive economy rate of nearly 12.

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PAK vs AFG: Afghanistan’s Chase

Chasing 183, Afghanistan got off to a positive start with Rahmanullah Gurbaz hitting 38 off 27 balls. However, Shaheen Afridi struck early to dismiss Ibrahim Zadran, shifting momentum. Sediqullah Atal (23) and Darwish Rasooli (21) tried to rebuild, but a sudden collapse saw Afghanistan slide from 93/3 to 97/6. Azmatullah Omarzai and Karim Janat fell without impact, leaving the side struggling. Pakistan’s bowlers maintained pressure with consistent breakthroughs, not allowing partnerships to develop, and ensured the chase kept slipping further out of Afghanistan’s grasp.

PAK vs AFG: Rashid Khan’s Effort

Skipper Rashid Khan gave Afghanistan a glimmer of hope with a counterattacking 39 off just 16 balls, smashing four boundaries and three sixes. His fearless hitting kept Afghanistan alive momentarily, but wickets falling at the other end denied any real partnership. Once Rashid was dismissed in the 18th over, the chase fizzled out. Mujeeb (4) and Fareed Ahmad (16) tried to hang in, but the run rate was beyond reach. Afghanistan were bowled out for 143 in 19.5 overs, falling well short of the target.

PAK vs AFG: Bowling Highlights and Result

Pakistan’s bowlers delivered a collective masterclass. Haris Rauf starred with figures of 4/31, dismantling Afghanistan’s middle and lower order. Shaheen Afridi took 2/20, striking early and late, while Mohammad Nawaz dismissed Gurbaz and Omarzai with his controlled spin. Youngster Sufiyan Muqeem also impressed, claiming 2/25 with clever variations. Their disciplined attack left Afghanistan’s batters with no answers. Pakistan’s 39-run win gave them a confident start in the tri-series, underlining their balance in batting and bowling, while Afghanistan must reassess their middle-order fragility before the next match.