Sharjah, September 7, 2025: Pakistan clinched the tri-nation T20I series title with a resounding 75-run victory over Afghanistan in the final at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday, thanks to a match-winning performance from spinner Mohammad Nawaz, who bagged a five-wicket haul including a hat-trick.
Chasing a modest target of 142, Afghanistan were bundled out for just 66 runs in 12.4 overs. Their innings never recovered after Shaheen Afridi struck early, removing opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz (5) in the first over.
Afghanistan reached 28-1 before the collapse began. Sediqullah Atal (13) was dismissed by Abrar Ahmed, and then Nawaz produced a sensational spell that ripped through the middle order. He removed Darwish Rasooli and Azmatullah Omarzai in consecutive deliveries before completing a hat-trick with the dismissal of Ibrahim Zadran (9), aided by sharp wicketkeeping from Mohammad Haris. Nawaz added a fourth victim in the same over, dismissing Karim Janat (0) to leave Afghanistan tottering at 32-5.
The slide continued as Mohammad Nabi (3) fell to Abrar and Nawaz struck again to remove Afghan skipper Rashid Khan (17), finishing with 5/19 in four overs. Sufiyan Muqeem and Abrar Ahmed polished off the tail with two wickets each, while Shaheen Afridi claimed one.
Earlier, batting first, Pakistan posted 141-8 in their 20 overs. Their innings started poorly as Sahibzada Farhan was dismissed for a duck by Fazalhaq Farooqi. A 49-run stand between Saim Ayub (17) and Fakhar Zaman (27) provided some stability, but Afghanistan’s spinners struck back quickly. Noor Ahmad removed Saim, and Rashid Khan dismissed Fakhar in the next over before also accounting for Hasan Nawaz (15) and later skipper Salman Ali Agha (24).
Lower-order cameos from Mohammad Nawaz (25 off 21) and Faheem Ashraf (15 off 8) helped Pakistan push past 140. For Afghanistan, Rashid Khan returned with 3/38, while Noor Ahmad and Fazalhaq Farooqi picked up two wickets each, and AM Ghazanfar claimed one.
Pakistan’s total proved far beyond Afghanistan’s reach as Nawaz’s brilliance sealed a memorable final and the series title.
