SHARJAH: Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first in the final of the T20I tri-nation series against Afghanistan at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Both teams entered the high-stakes contest with momentum on their side. Pakistan have suffered just one defeat in their last five completed T20 internationals, while Afghanistan are riding a three-match winning streak.
The final brings added intrigue given the head-to-head record between the sides. Pakistan and Afghanistan have faced each other nine times in T20Is, with Pakistan narrowly leading 5–4. Their only bilateral series, played in 2023, went in Afghanistan’s favour with a 2–1 victory.
Pakistan’s playing XI for the decider features Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, skipper Salman Ali Agha, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Haris (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, and Sufiyan Muqeem.
Afghanistan are fielding Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Karim Janat, Azmatullah Omarzai, captain Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, and Fazalhaq Farooqi.
The two sides have already clashed twice in the current series. Pakistan dominated the opener with a 39-run win, posting 182/7 courtesy of Salman Ali Agha’s 36-ball 53 before bowling Afghanistan out for 143. Rashid Khan’s quickfire 39 off 16 balls was the only notable resistance.
Afghanistan, however, struck back in the return fixture, registering an 18-run victory. Ibrahim Zadran’s 65 and Sediqullah Atal’s 64 lifted them to 169/5, before their bowlers restricted Pakistan to 151/9 despite a late cameo of 34 off 16 balls from Haris Rauf.
With both teams evenly matched and recent encounters finely balanced, the Sharjah final is expected to be a fiercely contested showdown.
