Sharjah, August 29, 2025: Pakistan have won the toss and opted to bat first against Afghanistan in the opening match of the T20I tri-series at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. The clash marks the beginning of an exciting tri-nation series featuring Pakistan, Afghanistan, and UAE, acting as a warm-up for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025.
Squads
Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Ali Agha (C), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (WK), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem
Afghanistan: Rashid Khan (C), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Ishaq, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Janat, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, AM Ghazanfar, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Farid Ahmad Malik, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Head-to-Head Record
Pakistan have historically dominated Afghanistan in T20Is, winning 4 out of 7 encounters, while Afghanistan have won 3. Their only bilateral series in 2023 saw Afghanistan take the series 2-1, showing their capability to challenge the Green Shirts.
| Matches Played | Pakistan Wins | Afghanistan Wins |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | 4 | 3 |
Form Guide
Both sides enter the tri-series with solid momentum, each winning 3 of their last 5 matches:
Pakistan: W, L, W, W, L (most recent first)
Afghanistan: W, W, L, L, W
Pakistan are coming off a hard-fought 2-1 T20I series win against West Indies, while Afghanistan impressed with a 2-1 victory over Zimbabwe in their latest assignment.
The opener promises to be a thrilling encounter under the Sharjah lights, with both teams eager to assert dominance ahead of the Asia Cup.
