(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Haris Rauf Sparks Pakistan to Victory in Tri-Nation T20 Opener Against Afghanistan
Sharjah, August 29, 2025:
Pakistan began their Tri-Nation T20 Series campaign with a commanding win over Afghanistan at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday.
Chasing a target of 183, Afghanistan was restricted to 143 in 19.5 overs despite a brave 39 from Rashid Khan off 16 balls, including five sixes and a four. The Afghan innings, solid at 60/1 in the seventh over, collapsed in the middle, losing four wickets for just four runs, triggered by Haris Rauf’s fiery spell.
Rauf was the standout bowler, taking 4 wickets for 31 runs in 3.5 overs, while Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Nawaz, and Sufiyan Muqeem contributed two wickets each. Mohammad Nawaz had earlier removed Afghanistan opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz, ending his 38-run knock.
Pakistan set the challenging total thanks to captain Salman Ali Agha’s unbeaten 53 off 36 balls, featuring three fours and three sixes. Despite early setbacks in their innings, Pakistan recovered with crucial partnerships, particularly a 53-run stand between Agha and Mohammad Nawaz.
Afghanistan’s bowling saw Fareed Ahmad take 2 wickets for 47 runs, while Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Azmatullah Omarzai, and Mohammad Nabi claimed one each.
The series, running from August 29 to September 7, serves as vital preparation for the upcoming ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup in the UAE from September 9 to 28. Originally planned as a bilateral series, the PCB converted it into a tri-nation event to help players acclimatize to UAE conditions.
Pakistan XI: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Ali Agha (c), Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Haris (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem
Afghanistan XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Karim Janat, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan (c), Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmed
