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.

Asia cup 2025 is scheduled to commence from September 9. All the six teams are vying for the coveted m trophy. Pakistan are placed in Group B alongside Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Hong Kong. Just before the Asia cup could start, Pakistan will be playing a tri-series against Afghanistan and United Arab Emirates. Before the tri-series could start, there was a press conference held, and the reporter termed Afghanistan as the second best team in Asia after India.

Listening to that comment Pakistan skipper, Salman Ali Aga gave an unusual expression as he smirked just after the question was asked. It is worth noting that Afghanistan has been a force to reckon with on the international stage off lately. They have beaten the mainstream teams in the recently concluded ICC tournaments. They even beat Pakistan in the World Cup 2023 and they have beaten teams like South Africa, and England on the world stages.

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Watch the video here:

as ever, Salman Ali Agha’s facial expressions saying a lot more than his words ever will.. pic.twitter.com/TghQPez6vm

— Cani (@caniyaar) August 28, 2025

Pakistan, Afghanistan and UAE Tri-series schedule:

Schedule

Match 1: Afghanistan vs Pakistan on August 29 at 8:30 PM IST

Match 2: UAE vs Pakistan on August 30 at 8:30 PM IST

Match 3: UAE vs Afghanistan on September 1 at 8:30 PM IST

Match 4: Afghanistan vs Pakistan on September 2 at 8:30 PM IST

Match 5: UAE vs Pakistan on September 4 at 8:30 PM IST

Match 6: UAE vs Afghanistan on September 5 at 8:30 PM IST

Final: TBD vs TBD on September 7 at 8:30 PM IST.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has revealed the 17-member squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 and the tri-series at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium against Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). They have taken a huge decision by dropping both their veteran batters, Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan.

Neither player was in the T20I plans of the Salman Ali Agha-led side for the last few months. Babar and Rizwan tend to play slowly inside the first six overs of the T20I innings, which doesn’t match the excitement of the shortest format these days.

Pakistan’s squad for Asia Cup 2025

Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khusdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicket-keeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Waseem Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Sufiyan Muqeem

Let’s take a look at Pakistan’s strongest playing eleven for Asia Cup 2025

Fakhar Zaman expected to bat at number three for Pakistan

Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan are expected to open the batting for the Green Brigade in the shortest format. The former has smashed 705 T20I runs in 34 innings at a strike rate of 137.15. During the third and final T20I of the series against West Indies in Lauderhill, he notched up 66 runs.

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Sahibzada has slowly started to get along with their T20I plans, having drilled 315 runs in 15 innings at an average of 21 and a strike rate of 127.01 with the help of three fifties at the best score of 74 runs. Fakhar Zaman can be slotted at number three as the southpaw has smashed 1949 runs in 89 T20I innings at a strike rate of 131.77.

Mohammed Harris can play key role in Pakistan’s middle order

Mohammed Harris is expected to be the first-choice wicket-keeper batter of the side in the middle order. The right-handed batter has smashed a total of 391 runs in 23 innings at a strike rate of 145. Salman Ali Agha, the leader of the national side, will have to shoulder the responsibility of the national side.

The 31-year-old has clubbed 380 runs in 18 innings at a strike rate of just 115, with three fifties at the best score of 56 runs. Hasan Nawaz and Mohammed Nawaz will also be the vital two members of the side.

Mohammed Nawaz has the skill to smack the big shots around the park, coming late in the batting order, besides picking up wickets and drying up the runs in the middle overs of the innings. The southpaw has smacked 518 runs in 43 innings at a strike rate of 132.48 and picked up 60 wickets at an average of 24.36 and an economy rate of just over seven.

The middle order has been the biggest issue for the Green Brigade, and that’s where they will need to improve their batting and find better spinners in the middle overs to pick wickets.

No Nassem Shah for Pakistan in Asia Cup 2025

It was surprising to see the selectors ignoring Naseem Shah for the Asia Cup 2025, which suggests that the selectors won’t have much trust in the premier pacer and could leave him out during the T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka.

Shaheen Afridi, without any doubt, will be the leader of the pace attack. The left-arm pacer has overall picked up 104 T20I wickets in 81 innings at an average of 22.25 and a strike rate of 16.9, along with an economy rate of just under eight. He has picked up crucial wickets for the side with the new ball.

On the other hand, Haris Rauf can challenge the batters with his expressive pace in the middle overs. Rauf has bagged a total of 120 wickets in 85 T20Is at an average of under 22 and an economy rate of 8.30, with the figures of 4/18 in an innings.

Sufian Muqeem has also recorded 21 wickets in 13 T20I innings at an average of under 12 and an economy rate of under six. His spin bowling has been hard to understand for the opposing sides, which could prove to be an advantage for the Green Brigade.

They will begin their competition against Oman on September 12, while two days later, they will lock horns with the arch-rivals, India, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The entire event will take place across Dubai and Abu Dhabi, with no game scheduled to take place in Sharjah. Eyes will be on the team in what’s expected to be a new chapter in Pakistan’s T20I side.

Pakistan’s strongest playing XI for Asia Cup 2025

Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammed Harris (wk..), Salman Ali Agha (c), Hasan Nawaz, Mohammed Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Salman Mirza, Sufiyan Muqeem.

Pakistan’s woes in the shortest format continue as their side faced an eight-run defeat in the second T20I of the three-match series and now has already lost it by a 2-0 margin with another game to go in Dhaka. In the first game, the Green Brigade couldn’t put enough runs on the board in the first innings, while in the second, they failed to chase down 134 runs and were 15/5 at one point.

However, there is some different news that has arrived regarding the captain, Salman Ali Agha, whose father has displayed his concern for the health of his son after the defeat. His father reckoned that since the defeat in the second game, his beloved son had avoided eating and drinking and had also locked himself in a room.

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‘Salam Pakistan. After losing the match and series to Bangladesh, my beloved son Salman Ali Agha didn't eat or drink anything. He locked himself in a hotel room. He didn't talk to us. I am worried about my son. Pakistan Zindabad.’ Salman Ali Agha’s father expressed.

Salman Ali Agha’s father concerned with his son’s health after Pakistan’s T20I series defeat against Bangladesh

It was nearly the same sort of surface in Dhaka, to which the visiting coach, Mike Hessan, showed his frustration. He felt that it wasn’t an idea track for the shortest format with the spinners coming into the game from the very first over. It was a very slow surface, and batting got tough as the innings progressed.

Father of Salman Ali Agha:-

Salam Pakistan.

After losing match and series to Bangladesh my beloved son Salman Ali agha didn't eat or drink anything, he locked himself in hotel room, he didn't talk to us. i am worried about my son.

Pakistan Zindanad pic.twitter.com/AtV23IEQqL

— Fakhar Bajwa 🏏 (@BajwaKehtaHaii) July 23, 2025

During the second game, Pakistan restricted the home side to 133 in 20 overs. Apart from Parvez Emon, Jaker Ali, and Mehedi Hassan, no one could get to the double figures. Jaker smashed 55 runs in 48 balls at a strike rate of 114 with one boundary and five sixes. Mehedi drilled 33 runs in 25 balls.

In reply, Pakistan’s top six collected only 18 runs with the best individual score of nine and three ducks. The home side survived Faheem Ashraf, who got 51 runs in 32 balls at a strike rate of 160. They were bundled out for 125 runs in 19.2 overs, which doesn’t provide a strong message just seven months before the T20 World Cup 2026.

As part of a big leadership shake-up, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is said to announce Salman Ali Agha as the country's all-format national team skipper, replacing Shan Masood in Tests and Mohammad Rizwan in ODIs. The formal announcement should be made after Eid holidays.

Salman, who is now Pakistan's T20I captain, has impressed officials and selectors with his captaincy as well as consistency with the bat. His promotion indicates the PCB's willingness to move towards a new era under the influence of young energy and new tactics. Sources suggest that the decision has the backing of PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, newly appointed white-ball coach Mike Hesson, and the selection committee. Together, they believe Salman is best positioned to unify the team across formats and lead with renewed direction.

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Salman Ali Agha's Rapid Rise Signals New Era for Pakistan Cricket

Shan Masood's captaincy stint in Tests has been disappointing, with only three victories in 12 matches, including a historic series defeat to Bangladesh. Rizwan, who leads the ODI side currently, has also been said to be dissatisfied with not having a say in matters of selection under the old regime. The PCB seems to be set to clear the decks and begin afresh.

In addition to the captaincy shift, the PCB is also set to unveil the creation of an "observatory committee" that will monitor team developments and provide advice to the chairman. Sarfaraz Ahmed and Sikander Bakht, both former cricketers, are on the list of contenders for this panel, with more names to be added. Also under consideration is a reorganization of the national selection committee, with greater emphasis being placed on scouting talent from domestic and age-group circuits. Naqvi is also said to favour giving the captain and coach more leeway in matters related to team selection.

Pakistan's next Test assignment will be a two-match home series against South Africa later in the year, launching their ICC World Test Championship campaign. With only five Tests planned for 2025, Salman will have few chances to leave an early impression as a red-ball captain. If handed the role, Salman Ali Agha's ascent will be one of the quickest in Pakistan cricket, representing a new bold direction for the national side.