Afghanistan’s Spinners Stun Pakistan in Asia Cup Warm-up Thriller
Sharjah, UAE – In a contest that sent shockwaves through the cricketing world, Afghanistan delivered a stunning blow to Pakistan, securing a hard-fought 18-run victory in a T20 tri-series match that served as a crucial prelude to the upcoming Asia Cup. A masterful display of spin bowling, coupled with a resilient batting performance, saw the Afghan side outclass their rivals in a thrilling encounter at the iconic Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
The match began with Afghanistan winning the toss and opting to set a target. Their innings was anchored by a spectacular 113-run partnership between the in-form Ibrahim Zadran and the talented Sediqullah Atal. Both batsmen showcased remarkable composure and skill, each notching up impressive half-centuries. Zadran’s elegant 65 and Atal’s powerful 64 laid a formidable foundation for the Afghan total. Despite their efforts, Pakistan’s Faheem Ashraf staged a late comeback with a brilliant bowling spell, claiming four wickets for just 27 runs to restrict Afghanistan to a competitive, yet chaseable, 169-5.
Pakistan’s pursuit of the target was met with immediate resistance from the Afghan bowlers. The pace spearhead, Fazalhaq Farooqi, struck early, dismissing both openers to put Pakistan on the back foot. However, it was the spin trio of Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, and Noor Ahmad that truly turned the tide in Afghanistan’s favor. The spinners weaved a web around the Pakistani batsmen, who struggled to read the variations and succumbed to the mounting pressure. The trio shared six wickets between them, effectively derailing Pakistan’s chase and exposing their vulnerabilities against quality spin.
Despite the regular fall of wickets, Fakhar Zaman (25) and Sahibzada Farhan (18) showed glimpses of resistance, but failed to capitalize on their starts. A late onslaught from Haris Rauf, who blazed his way to a 16-ball 34*, provided a flicker of hope for the Pakistani camp, but it proved to be too little, too late. Pakistan’s innings eventually concluded at 151-9, falling short of the target by 18 runs.
This victory is a testament to Afghanistan’s rising stature in international cricket and will serve as a massive confidence booster for the team heading into the Asia Cup. For Pakistan, this defeat is a timely wake-up call, highlighting the need to address their batting frailties against spin. Both teams will be looking to learn from this encounter as they continue their preparations for the marquee tournament, which promises to be an exciting spectacle of high-octane T20 cricket.
