Pakistan thrashes Afghanistan – Nawaz’s Magical Spell Secures Tri-Series Title
In a night filled with drama, dew, and dazzling spin bowling, Pakistan lifted the UAE T20I tri-series title after crushing Afghanistan by 75 runs at Sharjah. What initially looked like an underwhelming score of 141 from Pakistan turned into a mountain too high for Afghanistan, thanks to Mohammad Nawaz’s incredible five-wicket haul, including a hat-trick that dismantled the Afghan batting order. The result not only crowned Pakistan as champions but also served as a massive confidence boost ahead of the Asia Cup, which begins next week.
Match Overview
The final promised intensity, with Pakistan and Afghanistan having shown glimpses of brilliance throughout the series. Afghanistan’s passionate supporters packed the Sharjah stadium, hoping for a historic win, while Pakistan’s decision to bat first raised eyebrows.
Toss and Early Decisions
Salman Agha, captaining Pakistan, won the toss and chose to bat first. His reasoning was simple yet strategic: no team had lost a match batting first in the tournament. This decision highlighted Pakistan’s intent to set a challenging total under pressure. However, the early loss of Sahibzada Farhan for a first-over duck raised concerns.
Pakistan’s Batting Struggles
Despite efforts from Fakhar Zaman and Nawaz, Pakistan’s innings never really got going. Afghan spinners found grip and turn on the Sharjah pitch, making life difficult for Pakistan’s middle order. Every time a batter looked set, a wicket would fall, breaking momentum.
Afghanistan’s Targets and Hopes
Chasing 142 under lights, Afghanistan were the favourites at the halfway mark. With batters like Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, and Najibullah Zadran in the lineup, the target seemed well within reach. However, what followed was a complete collapse that no one in the stadium had seen coming.
Pakistan’s Innings Breakdown
Pakistan’s innings was a story of starts without conversions. Every batter seemed to get going but failed to cross the 30-run mark. The Afghan spinners dictated terms, keeping Pakistan’s scoring rate in check.
Early Collapse and Farhan’s Duck
The tone of Pakistan’s batting was set early when Sahibzada Farhan edged one to the slips without scoring. It was a disappointing end to his series, where he failed to make an impact. His dismissal brought early pressure, forcing Pakistan to adopt a cautious approach.
Middle-Order Contributions from Zaman and Nawaz
Fakhar Zaman’s 27 and Mohammad Nawaz’s quick-fire 25 off 21 balls were the highlights of the innings. Zaman looked fluent but couldn’t carry on, while Nawaz’s two sixes gave Pakistan much-needed acceleration. These contributions ensured Pakistan crossed the 140-mark, a total that seemed competitive given the conditions.
Rashid Khan’s Impact with the Ball
Rashid Khan once again demonstrated his world-class skills. In his spell, he bowled with precision, picking up three wickets for 38 runs. However, an expensive over where Pakistan scored 17 against him tilted the momentum slightly. Salman Agha and Faheem Ashraf’s brave hitting disrupted Rashid’s rhythm and pushed Pakistan past the 140-run barrier.
Pakistan’s Final Score – Was 141 Enough?
At the halfway stage, many believed Pakistan were at least 20 runs short. The Sharjah pitch was tricky, but Afghanistan had the batting firepower to chase 142. However, Pakistan’s bowlers, led by Shaheen Afridi and Nawaz, had other plans. As history unfolded, 141 proved to be not just enough, but more than sufficient.
Afghanistan’s Chase Under Pressure
If the first innings was about struggle and survival, the second innings was about demolition. Afghanistan’s chase never really started, as Pakistan’s bowlers tightened the screws right from the beginning.
Shaheen Afridi Strikes Early
Shaheen Afridi set the tone with the new ball, removing Rahmanullah Gurbaz cheaply. Gurbaz’s wicket was a huge blow, as he was Afghanistan’s key powerplay hitter. With early pressure applied, Afghanistan slipped into defensive mode, a mindset that proved costly later.
Nawaz’s Magical Spell – A Hat-Trick and More
The moment Mohammad Nawaz was introduced into the attack, the entire rhythm of the game shifted. Coming in during the fifth over, Nawaz struck immediately with a controversial lbw decision that went in Pakistan’s favour. From there, he was unstoppable. In just six balls, Afghanistan lost four wickets, including a breathtaking hat-trick.
His hat-trick was a masterclass in spin bowling. First, Darwesh Rasooli was trapped with a sharp turner. Next ball, Azmatullah Omarzai edged one to the slips for a golden duck. On the hat-trick ball, Nawaz cleverly tossed one up, drawing Ibrahim Zadran out of the crease—Mohammad Haris made no mistake with a sharp stumping. The Afghan crowd fell silent, stunned at how quickly the chase unravelled.
If that wasn’t enough, Nawaz added another victim just three balls later, trapping Karim Janat in front. By the end of his spell, his figures read 5 for 19, including a hat-trick that will go down in Pakistan’s T20 history.
Afghan Batters Crumble Under Pressure
The Afghan chase resembled a sinking ship with no rescue in sight. From 28 for 2, they collapsed to 32 for 6 in just a few overs. None of their star batters showed the intent or composure needed in a final. Ibrahim Zadran, Najibullah Zadran, and Mohammad Nabi all failed to steady the innings, leaving Rashid Khan with the impossible task of saving a doomed chase.
The inability to rotate strike, combined with panic shots against Nawaz, highlighted Afghanistan’s lack of experience under big-match pressure. They never built a partnership, and by the 12th over, they were bowled out for just 66—one of their lowest totals in recent years.
Crowd Reactions and Shocking Collapse
Sharjah is often known for its electric Afghan-majority crowd, but on this night, silence dominated the stands. The collapse was so sudden that many fans were left stunned, barely believing their team had lost five wickets for just four runs.
On the flip side, Pakistani supporters roared with every wicket, chanting Nawaz’s name as he ripped through the Afghan batting order. Social media lit up instantly, with fans calling it “Nawaz Night” and praising his ability to rise in crucial moments.
Turning Points of the Match
Every big game has defining moments, and this final had plenty.
Pakistan Choosing to Bat First
The decision to bat first was bold. While many questioned it after the innings ended, the call ultimately proved correct as Afghanistan crumbled under scoreboard pressure.
Nawaz’s Double Strike in the Fifth Over
Back-to-back wickets changed the entire atmosphere of the game. From a comfortable chase to sudden panic, Nawaz’s double strike flipped the momentum instantly.
The Hat-Trick Moment and Ibrahim Zadran’s Stumping
Ibrahim’s dismissal for Nawaz’s hat-trick was the knockout punch. Afghanistan never recovered after that.
Afghanistan’s Collapse Between Overs 5–10
Losing five wickets for just four runs sealed their fate. This collapse will be remembered as one of Afghanistan’s most shocking batting implosions in T20 cricket.
