Pakistan bowlers upstaged the Afghanistan batting line-up to win the inaugural match of the T20 Tri-series at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, United Arab Emirates.

While chasing the target of 183 runs, Afghanistan got all out for 143 runs in 19.5 overs.

Afghanistan were 93/2 after 11.2 overs, when Pakistan bowlers picked up five wickets for just four runs to turn the match upside down, wrenching the scoreboard to 97/7 in 14.1 overs.

Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf hampered the Afghanistan batting line-up by taking four wickets, including the Afghan Captain’s, after conceding 31 runs in 3.5 overs.

Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Nawaz, and Sufiyan Muqeem grabbed two wickets each.

From Afghanistan, Opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz scored 38 runs while Captain Rashid Khan played a furious knock of 39 runs on just 16 balls, hitting five glamorous sixes, before getting caught by Hassan Nawaz.

After winning the toss, Pakistan put a total of 182 runs on board at a loss of seven wickets in the 20 overs. Skipper Salman Agha scored 53 runs on 36 deliveries, smashing three sixes and three fours.

Sahibzada Farhan and Muhammad Nawaz managed to score 21 runs each, while Fakhar Zaman made 20 runs before losing his wicket to Mohammad Nabi.

Afgan pacer Fareed Ahmed took two wickets while Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, and Mujeeb Ur Rahman grabbed one apiece.

This win marked a victorious beginning of the Pakistan team’s journey in the T20 Tri-series ahead of the Asia Cup 2025.