The crucial match of the T20 Triangular Series between Pakistan and Afghanistan will be played at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium today.
The eyes of the Green Shirts are focused on booking a seat in the final, cricket fans are once again waiting to see a thrilling and memorable match, the Pakistani team, which has been undefeated so far, is determined to maintain its winning streak.
Saim Ayub will once again be the center of attention at the top order, Hassan Nawaz is expected to hit hard, the bowlers will also try to prove their effectiveness in the death overs.
On the other hand, the Afghan side will also try to wash away the stain of the initial defeat at the hands of the Green Shirts, they will depend on their spin weapons.
In the ongoing T20 Triangular in the UAE, Pakistan has won both its matches played so far, Afghanistan was defeated by 39 runs in the first match, while in the second match, the host United Arab Emirates was defeated by 31 runs and consolidated its lead on the points table.
This excellent performance has boosted the morale of the team and the players are excited to raise the flag of victory once again.
On the other hand, Afghanistan lost in the opening match due to the poor performance of the batting line, but in this match, the Afghan players, led by captain Rashid Khan, will enter the field with the determination to make a full comeback.
Today’s match will be no less than a test for the Afghan team. The initial defeat has worried the team management and now all eyes are focused on improving the batting. Players like Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran and Mohammad Nabi will have a heavy responsibility to play big innings to bring the team back into the competition.
Bowlers like Mujeeb-ur-Rehman, Naveen-ul-Haq and Fazal-ul-Haq Farooqui in the Afghan bowling line can become a challenge for the Pakistani batters. Captain Rashid Khan’s spin bowling can also turn the tide of the match at any time.
The Pakistani team will continue to be led by Salman Ali Agha. Other players include Fakhar Zaman, Hassan Nawaz, Muhammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Faheem Ashraf, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Muhammad Nawaz, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Hassan Ali, Muhammad Wasim, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Safyan Muqim.
The Afghanistan team is led by Rashid Khan, while the squad includes Darwish Rasuli, Ibrahim Zadran, Muhammad Ishaq, Rehmanullah Gurbaz (wicketkeeper), Siddiqullah Atul, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Jannat, Muhammad Nabi, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Farid Ahmed, Fazal-ul-Haq Farooqi, AM Ghazanfar, Mujeeb-ur-Rehman, Naveen-ul-Haq and Noor Ahmed.
The Sharjah Cricket Stadium has always been a memorable ground for Pakistan cricket. The national team has played 126 One-Day Internationals here so far, winning 83 of them. Similarly, in 10 T20 matches, the national team won 7, lost 2, and drew one.
A total of 8 T20s have been played between Pakistan and Afghanistan so far, in which Pakistan won 5 while Afghanistan won 3. In Sharjah alone, there have been 6 matches between the two teams, where Pakistan won 4 and Afghanistan won 2, this record also increases the importance and interest of today’s match.
For Afghanistan, this series is a direct preparation for the Asia Cup 2025 as it is their first white-ball cricket series after the Champions Trophy 2025. For Pakistan, this series is also a great opportunity to test the performance of the players before the Asia Cup.
The matches between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Sharjah have always been full of excitement and emotions. Cricket fans are once again excited and it is expected that the stadium will be packed this time too. Cricket fans are eager to support their favorite team and the players of both teams are also determined to showcase their talents to the fullest.