August 31, 2025 | Dubai, UAE: Pakistan’s pace bowlers went on a rampage to take a 39-run advantage over Afghanistan in the Afghanistan vs Pakistan match of the Twenty20 tri-series. In the long-awaited Afghanistan-Pakistan confrontation, Shaheen Shah Afridi along with Haris Rauf led the proceedings by employing pace and bounce to frighten Afghanistan’s batting lineup under the Sharjah lights.

A dogged fifty from Captain Salman Agha laid the cornerstone for Pakistan’s total of 182 for seven in the series of Afghanistan vs Pakistan. Afridi had the ball in his hand and Pakistan’s plan was crystal clear. His extremely fast yorker got rid of Ibrahim Zadran at the very start, while Haris Rauf’s energetic middle over spell turned the encounter Pak vs Afghanistan match decisively in Pakistan’s favor.

Pakistan Bowlers Dominate the Afghanistan vs Pakistan Contest

The game then went from bad to worse for the Afghanis who, from 85 for two wickets at the interval, were all out for 104 in this Afghanistan vs Pakistan clash. Rahmanullah Gurbaz stood firm at the beginning, but his wicket to Mohammad Nawaz opened the floodgates. Haris Rauf, who gave away 12 runs in his first over returned with raw pace and some clever variation to bowl a two-wicket maiden that stopped the chase on its tracks. The performance of the left-arm spinner Sufiyan Muqeem was also notable as he kept tight control on the batsmen, who had three wickets fall in just five deliveries,

Bowlers from Pakistan, led by Afridi and Rauf, were brilliant in their shorter delivery and slower one adjustments as they exploited the bounce from Sharjah. The Afghans were able to score only 14 runs in this five over period, and lost five wickets, which was a turning point in the Pak vs Afghanistan match. The brisk 39 of Rashid Khan gave brief hope to the home team, but the asking rate skyrocketed beyond reach very quickly. Rauf’s last wicket ensured the game was out of reach and gave Pakistan a great start in the tri-series of Afghanistan vs Pakistan match.

The Afghanistan vs Pakistan match brought up the question of Pakistan’s bowling strength. The threat of Afridi spinning at the start of the over, Rauf dominating at the middle overs stages, Nawaz’s tricky spin and Muqeem’s discipline were the reasons behind the multiple options to win this game – a crucial aspect before the Asia Cup.

Salman Agha Anchors Pakistan’s Innings in Pak vs Afghanistan Clash

After the decision to bat first, Pakistan started off modestly. But their innings got worse at the same time when Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman got out. Captain Salman Agha kept the innings going with his 53 not out, upholding the strike efficiently and gaining important partnerships with Hasan Nawaz and Mohammad Nawaz. Unfortunately, the middle order failed the team as Nawaz and Faheem Ashraf were the only ones to make noticeable late contributions by hitting at over 150.

The captaincy and bat of Agha ensured Pakistan were able to set a target to defend in this Pak vs Afghanistan fixture. His careful choice of shots and calm temperament during the crucial moments enabled Pakistan to post a challenging total which their bowlers, later on, had no trouble defending.

For Afghanistan, Mujeeb ur Rahman’s return to form and Rashid Khan’s late fight were positives, but familiar batting frailties resurfaced in this Afghanistan vs Pakistan clash. Their inability to convert a promising start into a sustained chase remains a key area of concern ahead of the Asia Cup.

A Statement Victory for Pakistan Ahead of Asia Cup

Pakistan’s fast bowlers energized and extended a stern invitation to their Asia Cup opponents, in front of the full Sharjah stand. Once again, the new-look Afghanistan vs Pakistan rivalry had fans on the edge of their seats, but it was the tactical bowling changes and perfect execution from Pakistan that made all the difference.

Farhan Sahibzada’s inability to handle the short ball gave rise to some doubts in Pakistan’s top order, but the majority of the performance was a flaunting of their fearsome pace bowling battery. The outcome of Pak vs Afghanistan match was a statement that they can overpower on energetic wickets, with Afridi and Rauf setting the example.

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