Pakistan National Cricket Team Vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team Match Scorecard – Nawaz’s Stunning All-Round Show

Pakistan registered one of their most dominant T20I victories in recent memory as they crushed Afghanistan by 75 runs in the final of the UAE T20I Tri-Series 2025 at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on September 7, 2025. The Pakistan National Cricket Team Vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team Match Scorecard tells the story of a game where spin ruled both ends — but Pakistan’s spinners proved far more lethal on the night.

The turning point came in Afghanistan’s powerplay, where Mohammad Nawaz tore through the batting lineup with a sensational hat-trick and finished with figures of 5/19 off 4 overs. After Pakistan posted 141/8, Nawaz made the target feel like a mountain, reducing Afghanistan to 66 all out in 15.5 overs. The Pakistan National Cricket Team Vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team Match Scorecard is one for the history books — and Nawaz’s name is written all over it.

Match Summary

Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first — a calculated decision by captain Salman Agha, who had noted that no team had lost after setting a target throughout the tournament. Despite a shaky start and a stuttering middle order, Pakistan’s lower-order grit pushed them to 141. Afghanistan’s chase never got off the ground. Four wickets fell inside the powerplay, and the innings collapsed under disciplined off-spin. Pakistan lifted the UAE T20I Tri-Series title in emphatic fashion.

Batting Highlights — Pakistan Innings (141/8 in 20 Overs)

Fall of Wickets — Pakistan

Powerplay — Pakistan

Key Partnerships — Pakistan

Pakistan’s innings was a tale of two halves. Sahibzada Farhan was gone off just the third ball, bowled by Fazalhaq Farooqi for a duck, putting Pakistan under immediate pressure. Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman rebuilt superbly with a 49-run second-wicket stand — the largest partnership of the innings — before Afghanistan’s spinners gradually tightened the screws. Three quick wickets between overs 8 and 11 left Pakistan reeling at 72/5.

Salman Agha and Mohammad Nawaz then combined in a crucial 40-run sixth-wicket partnership off just 32 balls to haul Pakistan back. The defining batting moment came when Rashid Khan’s final over leaked 17 runs — two sixes off Salman Agha’s blade shifted momentum decisively. Nawaz’s 25 off 21 balls and Faheem Ashraf’s blistering 15 off 8 (SR: 187.50) gave Pakistan the 141 that ultimately proved more than sufficient on a turning surface.

Batting Highlights — Afghanistan Innings (66 All Out in 15.5 Overs)

Fall of Wickets — Afghanistan

Powerplay — Afghanistan

Afghanistan’s innings was a disaster from ball one. Gurbaz’s aggressive 5 off 4 balls ended with a sharp catch by Sahibzada Farhan off Shaheen Afridi. Sediqullah Atal offered brief resistance with 13 off 15, but Abrar Ahmed’s cunning spin ended that stay. Then came the Nawaz storm — four wickets in six balls across overs 5 and 7, including the historic hat-trick (Rasooli lbw, Omarzai caught behind, Ibrahim Zadran stumped). At drinks (44/6 after 10 overs), the match was effectively over. Only Rashid Khan’s fighting 17 off 18 balls, featuring two sixes, provided any dignity. Afghanistan folded for 66 — their lowest total in a T20I final.

Bowling Figures

Pakistan Bowling

Afghanistan Bowling

Bowling Analysis: Mohammad Nawaz delivered the performance of the tournament on the biggest stage. His 4-over spell of 5/19 — including a maiden — was a masterclass in line, length, and subtle pace variation. He identified the spin-friendly surface after his first two deliveries and adjusted perfectly, bowling within the stumps and keeping the pads in play. Four wickets in six balls — including the T20I hat-trick (Rasooli lbw, Omarzai caught, Ibrahim Zadran stumped) — shattered Afghanistan’s chase before the seventh over had been bowled. Abrar Ahmed (2/17) and Sufiyan Muqeem (2/9 off 2.5 overs) were clinical in mopping up the tail.

For Afghanistan, Rashid Khan was their standout despite conceding 38 off his four overs. He claimed three wickets — Fakhar Zaman, Salman Agha, and one more — and his over in the death leaked 17 runs including two sixes from Salman Agha, which proved pivotal. Noor Ahmad (2/17, ECO: 4.25) was their most economical wicket-taker. Farooqi’s 2/19 gave Afghanistan early hope with the new ball but couldn’t stop Pakistan’s lower order from pushing them to a match-winning total.

Key Moments & Tactical Analysis

Toss Impact: Salman Agha won the toss and chose to bat first — a decision backed by tournament data. No team had lost after setting a target in this tri-series. On a spinning surface under lights, setting a target was always the strategic priority.

Powerplay Momentum (Pakistan — 41/1): Farhan’s duck off the third ball was a gut-punch, but Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman absorbed the pressure brilliantly. Pakistan scored 41 in the powerplay for just one wicket — a reasonable foundation given the surface and the quality of Afghanistan’s bowling attack.

Powerplay Momentum (Afghanistan — 29/4): This is where the match was effectively decided. Shaheen removed Gurbaz in over one, then Nawaz dismantled the heart of the batting in overs 5 and 7. Losing four wickets for 29 runs in the powerplay left Afghanistan’s chase in tatters before it had even begun.

Turning Point: Nawaz’s hat-trick. Delivering consecutive balls that dismissed Rasooli (lbw, duck), Omarzai (caught, duck), and Ibrahim Zadran (stumped, 9) across overs 5 and 7 was a game-ending sequence. Four wickets in six balls silenced a predominantly Afghan crowd and crushed any realistic hope of a comeback.

Captaincy Decisions: Salman Agha’s decision to bowl Shaheen Afridi for only two overs before switching entirely to spin was bold and perfectly pitched to conditions. Introducing Nawaz while Afghanistan were tentative in the powerplay proved a masterstroke. Rashid Khan, by contrast, conceded 38 in his four overs — a rare costly spell from the world’s best T20I spinner, who was picked off emphatically in his final over.

Pitch & Dew Factor: The Sharjah surface provided sharp spin assistance — more than either team anticipated. As Rashid Khan acknowledged post-match, the pitch looked and played very differently once the game began. Dew was a factor later in the night but was irrelevant by the time Afghanistan were 44/6 at the drinks break. This was the second lowest total successfully defended at Sharjah in T20I history — a testament to how well Pakistan’s spinners executed their plans.

Key Stats Comparison

The powerplay comparison is the clearest indicator of how the match played out. Pakistan scored 41/1 versus Afghanistan’s 29/4 — a 12-run and 3-wicket difference in the opening six overs that proved impossible to overcome. Pakistan’s eight sixes against Afghanistan’s four further reflects who batted with greater authority and freedom on the night. The run rate differential of nearly 3 runs per over tells the story of a comprehensive victory that was, in truth, decided well before the halfway stage of Afghanistan’s innings.

Head-to-Head Analysis: Pakistan vs Afghanistan in T20Is

Overall T20I Record (through UAE Tri-Series 2025):

Pakistan hold a commanding head-to-head edge in T20I cricket, having won 8 of 12 meetings with Afghanistan. The UAE Tri-Series 2025 extended that run, with Pakistan winning both encounters — the opener by 39 runs (PAK 182/7 beat AFG 143) and the final by 75 runs (PAK 141/8 beat AFG 66). Pakistan have now won their last five consecutive T20I matches against Afghanistan, averaging over 182 runs per match with the bat during that streak.

Afghanistan’s four T20I victories over Pakistan came in phases when their spinners fired as a collective unit and the top order provided a strong platform — two conditions that failed to align in the Sharjah final. Their best performances against Pakistan historically have come in neutral UAE conditions, making the final result even more striking: Pakistan won on Afghanistan’s preferred turf with spin.

Historical Rivalry: Pakistan vs Afghanistan

The cricket rivalry between these two neighbours is young in international terms but charged with genuine passion and cultural pride. Afghanistan’s rise from Associate nation status to a full ICC member capable of challenging any side in the world is one of the sport’s great modern stories. Pakistan, as a cricketing powerhouse and near-neighbour, have naturally become one of the defining opponents against whom Afghanistan measure their growth.

Their clashes have consistently been competitive, spin-heavy affairs. Afghanistan deploy a world-class wrist-spin arsenal led by Rashid Khan — arguably the best T20I bowler of his generation — supported by Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb ur Rahman, and AM Ghazanfar. Pakistan, for their part, have answered with an increasingly varied spin complement: Mohammad Nawaz’s off-spin, Abrar Ahmed’s mystery variations, and Sufiyan Muqeem’s left-arm wrist-spin. This spin-versus-spin dynamic gives their encounters a unique, chess-like quality.

The 2024 T20 World Cup group-stage clash between the two sides was a tense, high-profile battle that reflected the rivalry’s growing stature on the global stage. Before that, their Asia Cup meetings and UAE-based series had produced consistently gripping cricket. The UAE — particularly Sharjah — has become the de facto home of this fixture, with large Afghan diaspora crowds creating an extraordinary atmosphere.

The 2025 Tri-Series Final added the most dramatic chapter yet: a predominantly Afghan crowd at Sharjah silenced by Nawaz’s hat-trick. It was a moment that perfectly encapsulated this rivalry — competitive, emotionally charged, and producing heroes and heartbreaks in equal measure. As both teams continue to evolve ahead of the Asia Cup and beyond, the Pakistan National Cricket Team Vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team rivalry promises to deliver many more unforgettable nights.

Conclusion

Pakistan’s triumph in this Pakistan National Cricket Team Vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team Match Scorecard final was comprehensive, emphatic, and perfectly timed ahead of the Asia Cup 2025. Mohammad Nawaz’s all-round display — 25 runs off 21 balls and 5/19 with a historic hat-trick — was the standout individual performance of the entire UAE T20I Tri-Series. He also claimed the Player of the Series award, finishing with 120 runs and 10 wickets across the tournament.

For Afghanistan, the loss exposed a critical vulnerability under knockout-match pressure. Their batsmen collapsed in the powerplay at the worst possible time, and the inability to handle Nawaz’s off-spin on a responsive surface was alarming. Both sides now head into the Asia Cup — Pakistan brimming with confidence, Afghanistan seeking urgent answers. The full Pakistan National Cricket Team Vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team Match Scorecard from September 7, 2025 will be referenced for years to come, primarily because of one extraordinary man: Mohammad Nawaz.

? FAQs

What was the final score?

Pakistan 141/8 (20 overs) beat Afghanistan 66 all out (15.5 overs) by 75 runs.

Who was Player of the Match?

Mohammad Nawaz (Pakistan) — 25 off 21 balls & 5/19 including a T20I hat-trick.

Who was Player of the Series?

Mohammad Nawaz (Pakistan) — 120 runs and 10 wickets across the UAE T20I Tri-Series 2025.

Who scored the most runs?

Fakhar Zaman (Pakistan) top-scored with 27 off 26 balls (SR: 103.85) — the highest individual score in the match.

Who took the most wickets?

Mohammad Nawaz — 5 wickets for 19 runs off 4 overs (including 1 maiden), with a historic hat-trick.

What was the powerplay score for each team?

Pakistan scored 41/1 in their powerplay; Afghanistan collapsed to 29/4 in theirs.

What was the turning point?

Nawaz’s hat-trick — Rasooli (lbw), Omarzai (caught), and Ibrahim Zadran (stumped) — across overs 5 and 7, reducing Afghanistan to 32/5 and ending the contest.

Where was the match played?

Sharjah Cricket Stadium, UAE — a night match on September 7, 2025 (T20I No. 3442).

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