KARACHI:
A calm captain’s hand from Salman Ali Agha and a fiery spell by Haris Rauf ensured Pakistan made a winning start to the T20I tri-series, overcoming Afghanistan by 39 runs at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday night.
But beyond the numbers, this was a contest that reflected Pakistan’s growing maturity in crunch moments, as well as their ability to adapt in tricky conditions at the storied Sharjah Cricket Stadium that have so often tested them in the past.
Salman’s Composed Anchor
After Pakistan opted to bat, early wickets meant the innings could easily have unravelled. At 83 for four, Afghanistan had their tails up. But Salman held his ground, building patiently before accelerating when it mattered. His 53 off 36 balls*, including three sixes, wasn’t just a captain’s innings – it was the glue that held Pakistan together.
His partnership with Mohammad Nawaz (21 off 11) was crucial, adding 53 for the fifth wicket and ensuring Pakistan pushed the total well beyond the par score Salman himself later identified as “150-160.” Posting 182 for seven gave the bowlers a cushion they fully exploited.
Rauf’s fire, Nawaz’s grit
Defending 183, Pakistan faced pressure as Rahmanullah Gurbaz (38) and Rashid Khan (39) looked threatening. At 92 for two, Afghanistan were in control. Then came the collapse – five wickets for just four runs.
Haris Rauf ripped through the middle order with 4 for 31, but it was Nawaz who earned special praise from his captain. Bowling in tough phases against Rashid and Gurbaz, the left-arm spinner returned 2 for 23 and squeezed the chase when it was still alive. Add Shaheen Afridi (2-21) and Sufiyan Muqim (2-25) to the mix, and Pakistan’s attack looked balanced and ruthless.
“Bowling was outstanding, whoever comes in bowled really well. Haris and Shaheen are two of the best in the world. But my pick was Nawaz – he always bowls the tough overs,” Salman said after the game.
Crowd management in focus
This fixture carried more than just cricketing weight. Organisers had put in strict crowd measures – separate enclosures, designated routes, and color-coded tickets for fans – after ugly scenes marred Pakistan’s last close finish against Afghanistan in 2022. Friday’s game passed off without incident, allowing focus to remain firmly on the cricket.
Lessons for both teams
For Pakistan, the takeaways are positive: resilience under pressure, depth in batting down to Faheem Ashraf at No. 8, and a bowling unit that continues to deliver across conditions. For Afghanistan, the collapse from 92 for two to 97 for seven will hurt – once again exposing their middle-order fragility when faced with sustained pressure.
What lies ahead
Pakistan now turn to their second assignment against UAE on Saturday, aiming to consolidate momentum. With this win, they’ve laid down an early marker in the tri-series, showing a mix of composure and firepower that could carry them deep into the competition.
For Salman Ali Agha, still settling into captaincy, it was the perfect start: leading with bat, lifting his bowlers, and steering his team through the noise both on and off the field.
