Afghanistan vs Pakistan AFG and PAK in UAE, 3 T20I Series, 2023

SIX!  Nabi wins it! Fuller and on off. Nabi thumps it down to long off for a biggie. Afghanistan win by 6 wickets.

Wide! Short and down leg. Nabi lets it go.

On middle, worked to square leg for a single.

Short and on off. Zadran misses his pull

Length and on off. Nabi inside edges his push behind square leg for one.

Leg bye! On the pads, this is flicked off the pads to square leg. A leg bye.

FOUR MORE! Length and on middle. Nabi flicks it to deep mid-wicket, wide of the fielder and on a bounce to four.

FOUR! Hit hard! Short and outside off. Nabi pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a boundary.

Short in length on off, Nabi pulls it wide of deep mid-wicket for a couple.

Outside off, Zadran works it to deep square leg for one.

Shorter and outside off, pulled to deep square leg for a single.

A length ball, outside off, swings away. Nabi slashes and misses.

Full and outside off, pushed past point for a single.

This is short and on middle. Nabi looks to pull but misses.

Length and on middle. Nabi flicks it wide of mid-wicket for a brace.

On middle. Blocked out.

FOUR! This is very full and on leg. Nabi flicks it to deep square leg and beats the dive from the fielder to his right.

Length ball, outside off, Nabi looks to push but misses.

This one spins back in, outside off, Zadran looks to punch but is beaten on the inside edge.

This one spins away, outside off. Zadran swings and misses.

A single as this is dragged to mid-wicket.

Outside off, guided straight to point.

Fuller and outside off, worked to long off for a single.

FOUR! Welcome boundary! On middle, this is lofted over to long on for four.

Full and outside off, driven to long off for a single.

Shorter and on middle, tucked to square leg.

Angling on off, defended out.

Leg bye! Fuller and on the pads, Nabi misses his flick and it goes off the pads to fine leg.

On middle, punched to cover.

Shorter and angling outside off. Zadran looks to push but gets an outside edge to the keeper who fails to hod on.

On off, this is hit to long off for a single.

Tossed up on off. Zadran reverse sweeps but to point.

On the pads. Zadran helps it to short fine leg.

Outside off. Nabi slaps it to deep cover for a single.

Flat and on middle. Zadran reverse sweeps it to point for a single.

Outside off, cut to point.

Five dots in a row! On middle. Nabi is happy to block.

Tossed up on off. Nabi keeps it out.

Flat and outside off, Nabi defends.

On midde, Nabi blocks.

On off, kept out.

FOUR BYES! Flat and on leg, Nabi misses his flick and it goes the legs of the keeper behind to the fence.

Too full on off, punched to cover.

Wide! Way down the leg side, Zadran misses his flick.

On middle, Zadran blocks it out.

A bumper on off. Zadran leaves it.

Shorter and on middle. Nabi pulls it to fine leg for a single.

On off, kept out.

Length and outside off. Zadran chops it to the keeper for a quick single.

On middle, tucked to mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! Flat and outside off. Zadran plays with gentle hands to third man and beats the dive from Naseem Shah.

OUT! BOWLED! Pakistan strike again! A yorker, angling on middle. Janat goes for the sweep but completely misses and the ball shatters the stumps.

On middle, swept to fine leg for a couple more.

On middle. Janat prods to defend but misses. It was going down.

Angling on the pads, Nabi tucks it to square leg for one.

Outside off, driven to deep cover for a single.

Tossed up on middle, Janat flicks it to mid-wicket for one.

Tossed up on off, Nabi plays it past cover for one.

Leg bye! On the pads,Janat misses his flick and it goes off the pads to square leg.

Shorter and on middle. Janat turns it to square leg for a couple. Janat does well to push for the second.

On off, worked to point for a single.

On the pads, Janat keeps it out.

This is on top of off, Janat pushes it to cover.

Flat and on off, blocked out.

This one lands outside off and spins away. Janat has a poke at it but misses.

Flat and on off. Janat dabs it to short third man.

On middle, this is hit to mid-wicket for one.

Around off, pushed to covers for one.

Short in length and on middle. Janat looks to pull but miscues it to third man for one. It actually came off the hands. Leg bye.

Leg bye! On the hips, Nabi fails to flick and it goes off the pads to square leg.

On middle, Janat taps it to point for a single.

A yorker on middle, flicked to mid-wicket.

Outside off, punched to deep point for one.

On middle, this is flicked to deep mid-wicket for one.

Short and on off. Janat pulls it in the gap to deep square leg where it falls safely. One.

Length and on off, blocked out.

OUT! Sensational from Abdullah Shafique! Pakistan are flying! Length ball, outside off. Gurbaz pulls it flat and hard to the right of mid-wicket where Abdullah Shafique dives in the air and holds on to it. Superman stuff.

On middle, blocked out.

Outside off, punched wide of point for two more.

Full and on off. Nabi inside edges his flick to square leg for two.

Length and outside off. Nabi blocks it out. Ihsanullah collects the ball and walks toward Nabi to shake his hand. Something is building up.

Shorter and on off. Nabi looks to flick but misses and gets hit on the gloves.

OUT! GONE! Two in three balls for Ihsanullah! Unnecessary from Gulbadin Naib have to say! Short and wide. Naib chases as he pulls but gets a top edge to point where Mohammad Haris takes a dolly.

Outside off, punched to cover.

OUT! GONE! Ihsanullah gets a wicket on very first ball of international cricket. Short in length, outside off. Ibrahim Zadran half-heartedly pulls, gets a top edge and goes just up. Azam Khan, the keeper gobbles it up.

On a length and outside off, Zadran punches it through covers. Shadab Khan from mid off chases and saves a run.

On off, pushed to point.

FOUR! Chance! Short and on off. Zadran pulls but gets more height here. It is high in the air and goes to deep mid-wicket. The fielder runs across, slides but it falls just wide of him.

On off, kept out.

Length and on off, knocked to point.

This is short and way outside off, left alone.

On off, worked to square leg. Ihsanullah misfields and allows a single.

Short again, this is pulled to deep square leg for one.

Goes short and on off. Gurbaz hops and blocks.

On middle, kept out.

Outside off, guided to third man for a single.

Length ball on off, Gurbaz nudges it to square leg for a single.

Length ball on off, tucked to mid-wicket.

On middle, Gurbaz punches it to mid off for a sharp single.

Shorter and on middle. Gurbaz looks to pull but gets hit on the body.

Length and on off, defended.

FOUR! In the gap! Length ball, outside off, Gurbaz punches it through point for a boundary.

Length ball, outside off, Gurbaz pushes it to point.

Zaman Khan to bowl now.

Length ball on off, Zadran blocks it out.

On middle, this is hit to mid-wicket for a single.

SIX! Out of the ground! Aggression! Fuller and on middle. Gurbaz uses his feet and lofts it over long on for a biggie.

BEAUTY! Shorter and swings away, outside off. Gurbaz defends inside the line of the ball.

On a length and outside off, swings away. Gurbaz has a poke at it but misses. Shah was interested but no one else from his team.

On a length and outside off. Gurbaz shoulders arms.

BYE! Short and outside off. Ihsanullah swings and misses. An action replay of the previous ball and this time Ihsanullah rushes to make his end. PAKISTAN END WITH 92.

Bye! On middle. Khan swings and misses. The keeper lobs it for the bowler to remove the bails at his end but this time Fazalhaq Farooqi fumbles.

Wide! Length and down leg. Khan looks to paddle it but misses.

Bye! A yorker on leg. Ihsanullah swings and misses. The keeper fumbles a bit and the batters runs across quickly.

This is full and on leg, Ihsanullah backs away to heave but misses.

A yorker on middle. Khan jams it out to point for one.

Fazalhaq Farooqi goes slow, full and on off. Khan makes room and swings but misses.

Naveen-ul-Haq goes slow, outside off. Ihsanullah swings and misses.

FOUR! Crucial runs! Too full and on off. Ihsanullah swings but edges it to third man for four.

A yorker on off. Khan chips it to mid off for a single. Rashid Khan has a shy at the bowler's end but misses. Khan would have gone.

Full and outside off, slower. Khan swings and misses.

Fuller and on off, Ihsanullah heaves it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

On a length and on off, Ihsanullah bocks.

Outside off, worked to deep point for a single.

OUT! BOWLED! Wasim goes now. Short in length and on middle. Wasim looks to pulls but the ball stays a bit low and hits the top of middle.

Outside off, Wasim slaps hard but finds cover.

On a length and on middle. Wasim hits it to mid on. Wasim denies a single.

A bouncer, outside off. Wasim slashes and misses.

On a length and on off. Wasim keeps it out.

Fuller and on middle, swept to square leg.

On off, pushed to covers for a single.

DROPPED! Fuller and on the pads. Wasim looks to slog-sweep but gets a top edge, high and to short fine leg where the player has ample time to get underneath but still spills it out.

On the pads, tucked to square leg.

Fuller and on off, blocked out.

Tossed up, outside off. Wasim smashes it down to long off for two runs.

SIX! A boundary after around 60 balls. This is full and on off. Khan gets low and powers it over long off for a six. Welcome boundary.

On middle. Khan keeps it out.

OUT! HIT WICKET! This is turning out to be poor dismissals. Shorter and on middle. Shah swings but misses and gets hit on the body. He goes for the full blooded shot and swings his bat all the way as it hits the bails.

Flat and on off, defended out.

Chance! Shorter, quicker on middle. Shah comes down the track to heave but misses. The keeper fails to hold on. Nabi is not happy.

On middle, flicked to mid-wicket. Nabi runs across and has a shy at his end but misses. A direct-hit was needed.

On off, eased to long off for a single.

Shorter and outside off. Shah skips down and swings but manages to splice it to point for one.

This one spins back in on off. Shah chops it to short third man.

Outside off, guided to point. An unnecessary throw again at the bowler's end and an overthrow is taken.

Fuller and outside off, Shah smashes it to long off for a single.

Around off, pushed to covers for a single.

Outside off, punched to point.

OUT! TAKEN! A stare from Nabi as he walks across Ashraf. He too goes due to soft dismissal. Flat and outside off, holds a bit on the surface. Ashraf tries to defend with hard hands and ends up chipping it to cover where Rashid Khan takes the dolly.

Quicker one on middle, Ashraf blocks.

Fuller and on off, Wasim flicks it to square leg for one.

Flat and outside off, Ashraf punches it to deep cover for a single.

An arm ball on off, kept out.

Outside off, cut to deep point for a single.

Ashraf has reviewed this one. UltraEdge shows no bat. Ball Tracking is taking time to load and finally it shows that the impact is outside the line and even the wickets are missing. Ashraf was bamboozled here. This one lands on off and turns away. Ashraf leans to flick but misses and gets hit on the pads. He survives.

On middle, tucked to mid-wicket for a single.

Leg bye! Outside off, Ashraf looks to sweep but misses and gets hit on the pads. It rolls to third man.

On off, kept out.

OUT! TAKEN! Yet another superb catch from Azmatullah Omarzai! Flat and outside off, spins away. Khan looks to loft it over covers but slices it to deep cover where Azmatullah Omarzai runs in and dives to hold on. Just superb.

On middle. Khan tucks it to mid-wicket. Khan was out of his line and the play has a shy but misses. It was a wayward throw and that gives a chance for the batters to cross.

Shorter and on the pads, stays low. Khan looks to heave but misses.

A single as this is hit to covers by Wasim.

Excellent stop! Tossed up on off. Wasim reverse sweeps, probably might have came off the pads. The man at first slip dives to his left, gets a hand and makes a good stop.

Naib bowls slow, outside off. Wasim looks to defend but misses.

Fuller and on off, Khan knocks it to covers for a single.

On middle, worked to deep square leg for a single.

Length and outside off, Wasim chops it to point for one.

Outside off, cut to point for a single.

Short in length and on off, Khan Khan pulls it over mid-wicket for a couple.

Fuller and on off, Khan blocks it to cover.

Length ball, on middle. Wasim plays it to square leg for a single.

Around off, Khan keeps it out.

Quicker from Mujeeb Ur Rahman on middle. Khan blocks.

Flat, on middle, nudged to mid-wicket.

On off, kept out.

On middle, Wasim turns it to deep mid-wicket for one.

Flighted on off, Wasim strokes it to cover.

Tossed up on middle, bunted to deep square leg for a single.

On off, worked to long off for a single.

Flat and outside off, cut to deep point. Khan calls for two and makes it with a dive for the second run.

Full and outside off, Wasim works it to long off for a single.

On middle, defended out.

Tossed up on middle, drilled to long on for a single.

Full and outside off, pushed through covers for a single.

Full and on off, pushed to covers for one.

On middle, Khan tucks it to mid-wicket. A risky single but the fielder there misses his shy at the batter's end. A direct hit and Wasim was a goner.

Flat and on middle, blocked out.

OUT! TAKEN! The power-hitter goes now. Pakistan cannot catch a break! This is soft dismissal. Tossed up on middle. spins a bit in. Khan tries to flick it away but just like the other batters, balloons it up for Gulbadin Naib at mid-wicket. 3 wickets in 9 nalls.

Fuller and on off, pushed through covers for a single.

On middle, kept out.

Full and on off, tucked to mid-wicket for a single.

Flat and on middle, Wasim blocks.

Fuller and on off, nudged to mid-wicket again.

On the pads, flicked to mid-wicket.

OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! That is Rashid Khan for you! Another one goes now. Tossed up, around off, skids on. Tahir tries to defend on the front foot but ends up chipping the ball back to Rashid Khan who dives forward and holds on.

OUT! CHOPPED ON! Unfortunate way to get out! On a length and outside off. Ayub gets across to paddle but gets an edge and it deflects it onto the stumps. Hits the bails. Ayub walks back in disappointment. Afghanistan are chipping in with wickets.

On middle, this is hit to square leg for a single.

FOUR! Another one! Through the gap! Length ball, outside off, swings in. Tahir punches it in the gap to point.

FOUR! Two in three balls! On a length on middle, tails in. Tahir whacks it to mid-wicket for a boundary.

Length and outside off, punched to point.

FOUR! Class! On a length and outside off. Tahir drives it past mid off for a boundary.

On middle, eased down to long on for a single.

Around off, pushed to covers for a single.

This is full and outside off. Ayub looks to sweep but misses. An appeal but there was bat  on it.

full and outside off, spins away. Ayub looks to push but misses.

Angling on the pads, tucked to mid-wicket.

Tossed up on off, kept out.

Outside off, punched through covers for a couple.

Outside off, it is left alone.

OUT! LBW! Abdullah Shafique takes the review. Looks close. No bat on it. Ball Tracking shows it is umpire's call on wickets hitting. Shafique has to go. Short in length and on off, tails in. Shafique is late as he looks to flick and gets hit on the pads. It was slightly high but still not in Shafique's favour.

On middle, kept out.

Outside off, guided to third man for a single.

FOUR! Well played! Short in length and on off, Ayub pulls it flat and wide of deep square leg for a boundary.

OUT! TAKEN! Finally the edge is found! On a length and on off, swings away. Haris opens his body as he looks to heave but gets a top edge, high and to cover-point. Azmatullah Omarzai runs back and takes it over his head. A sharp catch there.

FOUR! Good shot! Fuller and on off, Haris whacks it past mid-wicket for a boundary.

This is class swing bowling! Too full, outside off and nips in. Haris fails to jam it out.

Length ball, swinging on the pads. Haris looks to flick but misses. A huge appeal for LBW but that was going down.

Fuller and outside off. Haris steps across to sweep but misses.

Length ball, outside off, angles away. Haris looks to push but misses.

SIX! Just like the last ball of the last over! It goes big! Shorter and on middle. Ayub flicks it high over mid-wicket.

On a length and on the pads. Ayub misses his whip and it goes to the keeper of the pads.

On middle, swings back in, this is tucked to deep square leg for one.

In-swinger now! Shorter and outside off, Haris swings his bat but misses, the ball just goes over the stumps.

Well bowled! On a length and outside off, nips away off the deck. Haris has a poke but misses.

Fuller and outside off, swings away. Haris swings and misses.

Azmatullah Omarzai to bowl now.

FOUR! Hits this time! Short again on middle. Ayub pulls and finds the fence at deep mid-wicket.

Shorter and on the pads, Ayub looks to pull but misses and gets hit on the body.

Length ball, wide of off. Ayub flashes and misses.

Sharp inswinger! Length ball, tailing on the pads. Ayub looks to flick but misses and gets hit on the pads. A huge appeal for LBW but nothing from the umpire. Rashid Khan is not interested much but is tempted to take it upstairs. No bat but the replay shows it is the umpire's call on wickets hitting. Not out...

This is very full and on middle, swings in. Haris inside edges his flick to fine leg for a single.

Pakistan are underway! Length ball, outside off. Ayub taps it to point for a single.

It is time for the national anthems. It will be Pakistan's first followed by Afghanistan's. It is time for action now. The players are out in the middle. Saim Ayub and Mohammad Haris to open for Pakistan. Fazalhaq Farooqi to bowl.

Rashid Khan says he is happy to bowl first. Adds they want to play smart cricket and keep the basics simple. Adds they want to stay relaxed in pressure moments.

Shadab Khan says they will bat first. Adds he is excited and proud to lead the country. On the pitch, he says it looks a bit on the slower side. Informs about the team in the end.

Afghanistan (PLAYING XI) - Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ibrahim Zadran, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Janat, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan (C), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveen-ul-Haq.

Pakistan (PLAYING XI) - Saim Ayub, Mohammad Haris, Abdullah Shafique, Tayyab Tahir, Shadab Khan (C), Azam Khan (WK), Faheem Ashraf, Imad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Zaman Khan, Ihsanullah.

TOSS - Pakistan have won the toss and will BAT first.

Hello and welcome everyone to the first match between Afghanistan and Pakistan. In the year where ODI has a lot to say, a quick series happens between two Asian sides. Pakistan have rested some key players like Azam and Rizwan but still are favourites to win. Can Afghanistan put on a show and upset their neighbors? Toss and team news coming up.

...Match Day...

The first-ever T20 international series between the two Asian sides Afghanistan and Pakistan promises a lot for the spectators. The first T20 will be hosted by Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah. Shadab Khan will be leading Pakistan in this series with several marquee figures like Shaheen Afridi, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, and Haris Rauf being rested. The inclusion of young pacer Ihsanullah and opener Saim Ayub who were impressive in the recently concluded PSL 2023 is something to keep a keen eye on. Pakistan will be a different-looking team in this series but they lack nothing as everybody has had enough domestic exposure and would be ready to impose themselves on their neighbours. Rashid Khan will be leading Afghanistan in this series. The team looks well balanced and is perfectly suited for the shorter version as the players do play a lot of franchise cricket all across the globe. Rashid Khan is the key figure for them and the Afghan unit has a perfect blend of other players with different flairs to their game as well. A lot would depend on their ace opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz to give them a solid start right at the front. The series promises to be a cracker as both teams are well-balanced and are constantly improving in this format. Expect a tight game.