- MohammadNawaz was also named Player of the series for his heroics with both bat and ball
Sharjah, 7 September 2025: Mohammad Nawaz’s majestic five-for led Pakistan to a 75-run win, bowling Afghanistan out for a meagre 66 in the seventh and final match of the tri-series at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday night.
Defending 141-run total, Pakistan were provided with a perfect start by Shaheen Shah Afridi as he got rid of Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the first over.
Ibrahim Zadran (9) and Sediqullah Atal (13) then put together 21 runs before the latter was sent back to the pavilion by Abrar Ahmed as Faheem Ashraf took a simple catch at cover.
Nawaz then got rid of Darwish Rasooli and Azmatullah Omarzai in consecutive deliveries, dismissing both for ducks, leaving Afghanistan in a spot of bother at 29-4 after the powerplay.
Backing up his two wickets in the sixth over, Nawaz trapped Ibrahim in front, completing his maiden T20Ihat-trick, third for Pakistan in the format besidesFaheem and Mohammad Hasnain. Two balls later in the same over, he removed Karim Janat for a three-ball duck.
Contributing his bit, Abrar took his second wicket, sending Mohammad Nabi pack to the pavilion in the 11th over as the scoreboard read 46-7.
Nawaz concluded his spell with the prized scalp of Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan, who top-scored with 17. Mohammad Nawaz returned career-best figures of 4-1-19-5 and became the fifth Pakistan bowler to register a T20I five-for. Abrar and Sufyan Moqim bagged two wickets each as Afghanistan were dismissed for 66, their second lowest T20I score.
Batting first, Pakistan were dealt with an early blow as opening batter Sahibzada Farhan was dismissed without opening his account on the third ball by Fazalhaq Farooqi. Saim Ayub was joined by Fakhar Zaman at the crease as the pair took Pakistan to the score of 41-1 after six overs.
Fakhar and Saim’s (17) partnership for the second wicket then yielded 49 runs before the latter departed, handing Rashid Khan a catch off Noor Ahmad. Two deliveries later, Fakhar made his way back after scoring 27 off 26 balls including two fours and a six.
Hasan Nawaz, who hit a six and a four in his eight-ball 15, fell prey to Rashid Khan in 11th over.. In the subsequent over,, Noor Ahmed removed Mohammad Haris leaving Pakistan 72-5 in 11.3 overs.
Skipper Salman Ali Agha (24) and Nawaz then stabilized the innings with a 32-ball 40-run stand for the sixth wicket, before the former was removed by his counterpart Rashid in the 17th over. Faheem Ashraf’s eight-ball 15 including two fours and a six, whichlifted Pakistan to 141-8 in 20 overs. Rashid picked 3-38 in his four overs.
Scores in brief:
Pakistan beat Afghanistan by 75 runs at Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Pakistan 141-8, 20 overs (Fakhar Zaman 27, Mohammad Nawaz 25, Salman Ali Agha 24; Rashid Khan 3-38, Noor Ahmad 2-17, Fazalhaq Farooqi 2-19)
Afghanistan 66 all out, 15.5 overs (Rashid Khan 17; Mohammad Nawaz 5-19, Sufyan Moqim 2-9, Abrar Ahmed 2-17)
Player of the match – Mohammad Nawaz (Pakistan)
Player of the series – Mohammad Nawaz (Pakistan)