Ibrahim, Atal, Rashid And Sharafuddin Shine In Afghanistan’s Victory Over UAE | United Arab Emirates T20I Tri-Series 2025

The UAE T20I Tri-Series 2025 continued to deliver exciting cricket as Afghanistan showcased their dominance with a 38-run victory over hosts United Arab Emirates at the historic Sharjah Cricket Stadium. The match, played on Monday, had everything—explosive batting, resilient partnerships, and a masterclass in spin bowling that turned the game on its head.

Afghanistan’s ability to combine youthful energy with seasoned campaigners once again proved decisive. Despite a spirited fightback from the UAE’s top order, Rashid Khan’s men showed why they remain one of the most dangerous sides in T20 cricket.

Afghanistan’s Batting Brilliance Sets the Tone

Early Jolt: Gurbaz Departs Cheaply

Winning the toss, UAE captain Muhammad Waseem opted to bowl first, hoping to capitalize on early assistance under the Sharjah lights. The decision paid immediate dividends as Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Afghanistan’s dynamic opener, fell cheaply for 7. The dismissal silenced the Afghan supporters briefly, raising hopes for the hosts.

Sediqullah Atal and Ibrahim Zadran’s Partnership

The setback didn’t deter Afghanistan. Sediqullah Atal and Ibrahim Zadran joined forces to engineer a magnificent counter-attack. Atal played with a mix of composure and aggression, striking 54 off 40 balls, which included four crisp boundaries and three towering sixes. His fearless strokeplay forced the UAE bowlers to retreat into defensive lines.

At the other end, Ibrahim Zadran anchored the innings with a calculated approach. His 63 off 40 balls, punctuated with three fours and four sixes, was a lesson in timing acceleration perfectly. Together, they stitched an 84-run stand, laying the foundation for a commanding total.

Finishing Kick from Omarzai and Janat

Once the platform was set, the Afghan lower middle order delivered the finishing blow.

Azmatullah Omarzai added 20 from 12 balls with clean strikes down the ground.
Karim Janat provided the late fireworks with an explosive 23 off just 10 deliveries, including two fours and two massive sixes.

Their contributions propelled Afghanistan to a daunting 188/4 in 20 overs, a total that looked more than competitive on Sharjah’s slightly two-paced surface.

UAE’s Bowling Struggles

While UAE bowlers worked hard, they lacked consistency.

Muhammad Rohid Khan (2/34) showed glimpses of promise, picking up two wickets.
Muhammad Saghir Khan (2/52) also struck twice but was expensive, conceding boundaries at crucial stages.

The lack of control in the death overs cost UAE dearly, with 40 runs coming off the last three overs.

UAE’s Chase: A Tale of Promise and Collapse

Waseem Muhammad’s Explosive Start

Chasing 189, UAE needed a fiery start, and their captain Waseem Muhammad delivered. His innings of 67 from just 37 balls, featuring four boundaries and six colossal sixes, had the crowd on its feet. He dominated the powerplay, putting Afghan pacers on the back foot.

Rahul Chopra’s Support

Alongside Waseem, Rahul Chopra provided the much-needed stability with a fluent 52 off 35 balls. His ability to rotate strike and punish the occasional loose delivery gave UAE hope of pulling off a record chase.

The pair frustrated Afghanistan’s seamers, bringing UAE to 76/2 in 8 overs, keeping the required rate manageable.

Afghan Spinners Turn the Game

But then came the moment Afghanistan had been waiting for—the introduction of spin.

Sharafuddin Ashraf (3/24) broke the dangerous stand, dismissing Rahul Chopra. His spell was pivotal, applying the brakes on UAE’s scoring and picking wickets at crucial intervals.
Rashid Khan (3/21) once again proved why he is regarded as the best in the business. His clever googlies and sharp leg breaks bamboozled the middle order, triggering a collapse.

From 76/2, UAE collapsed to 150/8 in 20 overs, undone by Afghanistan’s spin web.

Lack of Middle-Order Resistance

The rest of UAE’s lineup crumbled under pressure. Asif-Khan Lala, Harshit Kaushik, and Dhruv Parashar all fell cheaply, leaving the chase in tatters. The momentum gained by Waseem and Chopra was lost in the middle overs, and UAE never recovered.

Key Performers

Ibrahim Zadran (AFG): Anchored Afghanistan’s innings with a brilliant 63 off 40 balls.
Sediqullah Atal (AFG): Provided momentum at the top with a composed 54 off 40 balls.
Waseem Muhammad (UAE): Blazing knock of 67 off 37 balls, keeping UAE alive early.
Rahul Chopra (UAE): His 52 off 35 was valuable, though it lacked support.
Sharafuddin Ashraf (AFG): Match-turning spell of 3/24, breaking partnerships.
Rashid Khan (AFG): World-class spell of 3/21, sealing the contest.

Tactical Breakdown

Afghanistan’s Middle-Order Strategy:
The decision to hold back Karim Janat until the final overs ensured maximum hitting potential at the death. His cameo was decisive in pushing the score past 185.
UAE’s Missed Death Overs Execution:
The bowlers lacked discipline in the final overs, allowing Afghanistan’s hitters to score freely. A tighter finish could have restricted the visitors to around 160–165.
Spin Introduction Timing:
Rashid Khan and Sharafuddin Ashraf were introduced immediately after the powerplay when UAE looked dominant. This tactical call flipped the game on its head.

Post-Match Reactions

Rashid Khan (Afghanistan Captain):
“We knew Sharjah would favour spin, and the plan was to build pressure in the middle overs. Credit to Zadran and Atal for setting up the total. Waseem played brilliantly, but once we got him, we knew we had the game.”
Muhammad Waseem (UAE Captain):
“We started well but couldn’t capitalize. Losing quick wickets in the middle overs hurt us badly. Playing against top-tier teams like Afghanistan is a learning curve, and we’ll come back stronger.”

Statistical Highlights

Afghanistan’s 188/4 was their highest T20I score at Sharjah.
Waseem Muhammad’s 67 was his highest T20I score against a Full Member nation.
Rashid Khan’s 3/21 marked his 25th three-wicket haul in T20Is.
This was UAE’s fifth consecutive defeat in multi-nation T20 tournaments at Sharjah.

What This Win Means

For Afghanistan:

This victory reinforces their reputation as a dangerous T20 side.
Their batting depth and world-class spin attack make them one of the favourites in the tri-series.
The win boosts confidence heading into the Asia Cup 2025, starting September 9.

For UAE:

The hosts showed flashes of brilliance through Waseem and Chopra, but the lack of middle-order stability remains a concern.
Their bowlers need to improve execution in pressure situations.
Despite the loss, the experience of facing a top side like Afghanistan is invaluable for their growth.

The Sharjah crowd witnessed another memorable T20 clash, one that highlighted Afghanistan’s growing stature in world cricket. While UAE began with a spirited chase led by Waseem Muhammad and Rahul Chopra, the inevitable brilliance of Rashid Khan and Sharafuddin Ashraf proved too much to overcome.

For Afghanistan, this 38-run win was more than just another result—it was a statement of intent ahead of bigger battles. For UAE, it was a reminder of the gap that still exists, but also a glimpse of potential waiting to be realized.

As the UAE T20I Tri-Series 2025 progresses, one thing is certain: Afghanistan remain the team to beat, and their blend of explosive batting and lethal spin bowling continues to set them apart.

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