Afghanistan beats Pakistan for first time

Afghanistan secured a historic win over Pakistan during the first T20I of the three-match series in Sharjah on Friday. The historic win was celebrated on social media by Afghan cricket fans.

Chasing a target of only 93 runs, Afghanistan reached home in 17.5 overs for the loss of four wickets.

This was the first win for Afghanistan over Pakistan in international cricket.

The cricket teams have met seven times in all, playing three previous T20Is and four one-day international matches in their rivalry, with Pakistan always coming out on top.

Pakistan, without five rested front-line players including captain Babar Azam, struggled on a slow and low pitch at Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) against the Afghans, whose six bowlers shared all nine wickets.

Afghanistan overcame falling to 45-4 in the 10th over to cruise home at 98-4 and win by six wickets with more than two overs to spare.

Mohammad Nabi raised Afghanistan’s first victory over Pakistan in what were five attempts over the past decade with a straight six over long off.
“Pleasure to win, as we’ve always lost against them by small margins,” Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan said.

With five key players – skipper Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf rested for the series – Pakistan handed T20I debuts to Saim Ayub, Tayyab Tahir, Ihsanullah and Zaman Khan.

But none of the Pakistan batters could accelerate on a two-paced pitch and mostly fell to soft dismissals.

In the absence of formidable openers Azam and Rizwan, replacements Ayub and Mohammad Haris couldn’t gauge the low bounce and fell within the batting power play while attempting extravagant shots.