Pakistan laid down a marker forward of the Asia Cup as Mohammad Nawaz took a hat-trick in a 75-run win over Afghanistan of their UAE Tri-series closing in Sharjah on Sunday.
Nawaz picked up 5-19 in whole — his greatest figures in T20 internationals — as Pakistan skittled Afghanistan out for 66 in 15.5 overs whereas defending a modest 142-run goal on a tough pitch.
Afghan captain Rashid Khan took three wickets to assist limit Pakistan to 141-8, with Fakhar Zaman top-scoring with 27.
Nawaz dismissed Darwish Rasooli and Azmatullah Omarzai off successive deliveries for geese after which eliminated Ibrahim Zadran for 9 off the primary ball of his subsequent over to finish a hat-trick.
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Nawaz turned the third Pakistani bowler after Faheem Ashraf and Mohammad Hasnain to realize the feat in T20Is.
Rashid (17) and Sediqullah Atal (13) had been the one batters to succeed in double figures as Afghanistan recorded their second lowest whole in T20Is, behind their 56 all out towards South Africa in final yr’s World Cup semi-finals.
Earlier, Pakistan, who gained the toss and batted, additionally struggled towards spin.
Nawaz made a 21-ball 25 with two sixes whereas skipper Salman Agha laboured to a 27-ball 24.
Zaman added 49 for the second wicket with Saim Ayub (17) after opener Sahibzada Farhan fell off the third ball of the match for a duck.
AS IT HAPPENED | AFG vs PAK Highlights
Rashid dismissed Zaman in his first over after which accounted for Hasan Nawaz (15) and Agha, however solely after his reverse quantity struck him for 2 sixes.
Afghanistan subsequent open its Asia Cup marketing campaign on Tuesday towards Hong Kong in a Group B conflict in Abu Dhabi.
Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are the opposite two groups in its group. Pakistan will face arch-rival India, Oman and the United Arab Emirates in Group A.
Printed on Sep 08, 2025