PAK VS AFG Final T20I Live: Where to Watch, Match Preview, & Live Streaming
Pakistan and Afghanistan will face each other in the final of the Tri-series on 7th September at Sharjah
Match preview:
The stage is set at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium for the final of the UAE T20I Tri-Series as Pakistan, captained by Salman Ali Agha, lock horns with Rashid Khan’s Afghanistan. Both sides have impressed in the group stage, finishing with three wins each, but Pakistan edged the top spot on net run rate.
Pakistan’s young side has shown composure and flair under Agha Salman’s leadership. Saim Ayub has been their standout batter, scoring 252 runs at a strike rate of 136.95, while Mohammad Nawaz, Hasan Nawaz, and Faheem Ashraf showed brilliant performances too.
With the ball,Nawaz has led the attack superbly, taking 15 wickets in the tournament at just 6.70 runs per over. Pakistan’s pacers, including Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf, have also kept opposition batters under pressure with pace and swing.
Afghanistan, on the other hand, has played with their usual fearless approach. Ibrahim Zadran has been their batting rock, scoring 185 runs at an average of 46.25, while Rahmanullah Gurbaz has provided the fireworks at the top. Their bowling remains their biggest weapon, spearheaded by captain Rashid Khan, supported byNoor Ahmed and Azamatullah Omarzai, who offer pace variety. Afghanistan’s ability to choke sides with spin in the middle overs makes them particularly dangerous in Sharjah.
Pakistan will look to leverage their balanced squad and pace-spin combination, while Afghanistan will bank on their fearless batters and world-class spinners. With both teams evenly matched and plenty at stake, Sharjah is set for a spectacle where one side will walk away with the tri-series crown and a huge confidence boost heading into the Asia Cup.
Probable Playing XI:
Pakistan
Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Agha(c), Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Haris(wk), Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem
Afghanistan
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan (c), Fazalhaq Farooqi, Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad
Head-to-head record:
In T20 internationals, Pakistan holds the upper hand with 7 wins out of 9 matches, while Afghanistan has managed 2 victories.
Pitch and Weather Report
The Sharjah surface has generally been favorable for batters, with average first-innings totals around 175–180 runs. However, it tends to slow down as the match progresses, bringing spinners into play. Both sides boast quality spin attacks Rashid and Noor for Afghanistan, Nawaz and Abrar for Pakistan, so expect the middle overs to be crucial. Batting first has historically been an advantage here, and with the pressure of a final, runs on the board could make all the difference.
The weather will be typically clear and warm, with temperatures hovering around 34°C in the evening. There is no threat of rain, ensuring a full game. Dew may come into play in the second innings, making conditions slightly easier for chasing sides, but bowlers will need to adjust quickly to maintain control.
Prediction:
Given how they won the last game, Afghanistan are favourites to lift the tri-series Trophy ahead of the Asia Cup.
