Afghanistan and Pakistan renew their T20 rivalry in Sharjah as the UAE Tri-Series gets underway on Friday. Both sides view this opener as a chance to seize early momentum ahead of the Asia Cup, with Afghanistan banking on their spin strength and Pakistan searching for stability under new leadership.
Rashid Khan’s men enter in strong form, winning four of their last six T20Is, including recent success over Pakistan, while Pakistan arrive with a powerful batting lineup but questions around their bowling depth. The contest shapes up as a battle of spin dominance versus batting firepower, setting the tone for a high-stakes series.
Head-to-head record: Afghanistan vs. Pakistan in T20Is
Afghanistan and Pakistan have faced each other 7 times in T20 internationals. Afghanistan hold a slight edge with 4 wins, while Pakistan have claimed 3 victories. No match has ended in a tie or no result, making this rivalry tightly contested.
- Total matches: 7
- Afghanistan wins: 4
- Pakistan wins: 3
- Tied/No result: 0
Top players to watch: Batters & Bowlers
Batters to watch
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (AFG): The wicketkeeper-batter has been in strong form, providing explosive starts at the top. His ability to take on pace and spin alike makes him Afghanistan’s most reliable run-getter.
Saim Ayub (PAK): The young opener carries the responsibility of giving Pakistan quick starts. If he finds rhythm early, he can set the tone for the entire innings.
Bowlers to watch
Rashid Khan (AFG): The captain and world-class leg-spinner thrives in Sharjah conditions. His knack for breaking partnerships in the middle overs can tilt the match in Afghanistan’s favor.
Shaheen Afridi (PAK): Pakistan’s strike bowler remains their best weapon with the new ball. His ability to swing it early and dismiss key batters could prove decisive.
AFG vs. PAK betting odds & predictions: Who has the edge?
According to Parimatch, Pakistan enter the contest as favorites at 1.58, while Afghanistan are priced at 2.37. The odds reflect Pakistan’s stronger pace attack and overall depth, but Afghanistan’s recent head-to-head record and spin-friendly conditions in Sharjah make them a genuine threat.
Odds | |
Afghanistan | 2.37 |
Pakistan | 1.58 |
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TSN’s Top 3 Predictions:
- Shaheen Afridi to take 2+ wickets in the powerplay
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz to score 30+ runs at the top
- Match to be decided in the final over
Afghanistan vs. Pakistan: Expected playing XIs and team news
Afghanistan Team News
Afghanistan will rely heavily on their spin trio of Rashid Khan, Mujeeb ur Rahman, and Noor Ahmad to dominate Sharjah’s turning tracks. Fazalhaq Farooqi and Naveen-ul-Haq provide seam support, while Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran carry the responsibility of giving the side solid starts.
Mohammad Nabi and Gulbadin Naib add experience in the middle, but much depends on whether the top order can put up a competitive score.
Afghanistan (predicted playing XI): Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Janat, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan (c), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveen-ul-Haq
Pakistan Team News
Pakistan’s hopes rest on their pace attack, led by Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf, with Hasan Ali and Mohammad Wasim strengthening the options. Abrar Ahmed and Mohammad Nawaz will take charge of spin, though they face a stiff test against Afghanistan’s batters.
In batting, Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub must set the tone at the top, while captain Salman Agha anchors the middle order. The team’s biggest challenge remains batting consistency against spin.
Pakistan (predicted playing XI): Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha (c), Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Hussain Talat, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed
AFG vs. PAK live scorecard: 1st T20I
To follow the action between Afghanistan vs. Pakistan live, you can make use of the live scorecard feature on Parimatch's website.
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Where to watch AFG vs. PAK 1st T20I in India
- Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium
- Date & Time (IST): Friday, 29 August, 8:30 p.m
- Streaming Details: Not available yet
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