Afghanistan Vs Pakistan Highlights, UAE T20I Tri-Series Final: Mohammad Nawaz's Five-for Leads PAK 75-run Win Over AFG

Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the UAE T20I Tri-Series final between Afghanistan and Pakistan at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. The toss is scheduled at 8:00 PM IST and match to kick off at 8:30 PM IST.

Traditionally, the Sharjah pitch is batting-friendly, but offers turn and grip for spinners as the game progresses. Dew also has played a role in evening matches, often favouring teams chasing. The Sharjah weather today is hot and dry, with temperatures around 40 degrees Celsius during the day and dropping to the low 30s by match time. No rain is expected.

The Pakistan Vs Afghanistan, UAE T20I Tri-Series can be live streamed on the FanCode app and website in India with toss scheduled at 8:00 PM and match set to be start at 8:30 PM. However, there will be no television broadcast of the fixture.

Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat first.

Afghanistan Playing XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Karim Janat, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan (c), Mohammad Nabi, Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi

Pakistan Playing XI: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Ali Agha (c), Mohammad Haris (wk), Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Sufiyan Muqeem

WICKET! Brilliant change of angle from Fazalhaq Farooqi as he switches to over the wicket and delivers a full in-swinger on middle. Sahibzada Farhan swings across the line but misses completely, and the ball crashes into the stumps. Farooqi roars in delight as Afghanistan draw first blood in the very first over of the final—Farhan departs for a golden duck!

Brilliant start for Afghanistan from both of the bowlers, firstly Farooqi got rid of Farhan in the opening over giving away just two runs and then Omarzai bowled a clinical over of six runs

After a brisk start from Pakistan with 16 runs in the first three overs, Afghanistan turn to spin early in the final. Youngster Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar is introduced into the attack, looking to tighten things up and break the momentum.

End of the Powerplay and it’s been an even start to the Tri-Series Final in Sharjah. Afghanistan struck early through Fazalhaq Farooqi, but since then Saim Ayub (15) and Fakhar Zaman (22) have rebuilt with authority, playing some delightful shots. Pakistan sit at 41/1 after 6 overs, setting a steady platform.

Breakthrough for Afghanistan! Noor Ahmad delivers with his very first strike as Saim Ayub (17) falls to a soft dismissal, chipping one straight to Rashid Khan at short extra cover. The promising partnership is broken, and Pakistan are now 52/2 in the final at Sharjah.

Double blow for Pakistan! Rashid Khan joins the party, trapping Fakhar Zaman (27) plumb in front with a turning delivery. Two wickets in two overs for Afghanistan, and suddenly both set batters are back in the pavilion. Pakistan slip to 56/3 in the final at Sharjah, and the momentum has shifted.

Afghanistan tighten their grip on the final! Rashid Khan, on his 100th T20I, removes Hasan Nawaz with a mistimed slog, before Noor Ahmad cleans up Haris soon after. The spin duo is wreaking havoc in Sharjah as Pakistan slump to 72/5, their innings in deep trouble.

Pakistan look to go for big runs but haven't found rythm. With tight line and lengths Afghanistan bowlers have made it really hard for the Pakistan batters to score runs. Skipper Salman Ali Agha and Mohammad Nawaz will need to finish big to take their team to good total.

Pakistan’s woes continue in Sharjah as Afghanistan’s spinners tighten their grip on the final. Rashid Khan removed skipper Salman with a clever googly, before young Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar joined the party by dismissing Faheem Ashraf. From six down, Pakistan have now slipped further to 7 down, their innings in tatters under relentless spin pressure.

Pakistan could only muster 141 in their 20 overs on a Sharjah pitch that offered plenty of grip and turn, perfectly suited for Afghanistan’s spinners who once again dominated proceedings.

Despite a steady start after the early dismissal of Sahibzada Farhan, a 49-run partnership between Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub gave Pakistan hope, but both fell in quick succession just after the powerplay.

From 49/1, Pakistan collapsed to 72/5 as spin tightened the chokehold. Skipper Salman Agha’s slow innings further stalled momentum, and though a late surge added some respectability, Afghanistan will fancy their chances in the chase.

Shaheen Shah Afridi provides the perfect start for Pakistan, removing Rahmanullah Gurbaz early. Bowling a back-of-length delivery that angled across, Shaheen found the outside edge as Gurbaz tried to guide it past third man, only for Fakhar Zaman to pouch a safe catch at first slip. A massive breakthrough for Pakistan in the final!

The scoring rate is low but Afghanistan have managed to survive the early scares from Shaheen Shah Afridi's spell. He could have gone the prize wicket of Sediqullah Atal but missed the edge.

End of the Powerplay and it’s been all Pakistan so far! Shaheen Afridi gave the early breakthrough, Abrar Ahmed added another, and Mohammad Nawaz piled on the pressure with two wickets in the sixth over. Afghanistan have crumbled to 29/4 in this Tri-Series Final and desperately need a partnership to steady the chase.

HAT-TRICK for Mohammad Nawaz! Absolute drama in Sharjah as Nawaz bags three in three to flip the final on its head. After two quick strikes, he lured Ibrahim Zadran forward, the ball turning away sharply. Haris was lightning-fast behind the stumps, whipping the bails off in a flash.

Replays confirmed Zadran’s back leg was just outside the crease — OUT flashed on the big screen! Afghanistan now reeling at 32/5, with Pakistan roaring back into the contest. Three balls later he removed Karim Janat too as Afghanistan dropped down to six wickets

Afghanistan continue to crumble in the Final, and this time it’s the big wicket of Mohammad Nabi! Chasing a wide, short delivery from Abrar Ahmed, Nabi mistimes his cut shot straight to Salman at short extra cover. He can’t believe it, but Pakistan are ecstatic. Afghanistan sink deeper at 52/7, with their hopes now resting solely on skipper Rashid Khan.

Mohammad Nawaz steals the show with a sensational bowling performance, finishing with outstanding figures of 5/19 from just four overs, completely dismantling Afghanistan’s middle order.

Noor Ahmad falls prey to Muqeem, who claims his first wicket of the match. A wild slog across the line sees the ball balloon into the air, and the fielder at backward point takes a simple catch as Afghanistan continue to crumble in Sharjah.

That’s it from Sharjah! Pakistan produced an utterly clinical performance to win the Tri-Series, defending their total with ease. Afghanistan never got going, with batsmen struggling as the ball held its line outside off—one thick outside edge off Abrar at short third summed up their night. The Men in Green’s victory came off the back of disciplined bowling and smart spin use, marking the second-lowest total successfully defended at Sharjah in this format.