Agha, Rauf star as Pakistan beat Afghanistan in opener

Pakistan got their tri-series campaign off to a flying start with a convincing 39-run victory over Afghanistan in front of a raucous, capacity crowd of 16,000 at Sharjah Stadium on Friday.

Skipper Salman Agha starred with the bat, scoring an unbeaten 53 off 36 balls, while pacer Haris Rauf spearheaded the bowling attack with 4 wickets for 31 runs, supported by fellow fast bowler Shaheen Afridi and spinners Mohammad Nawaz and Sufiyan Muqeem.

After winning the toss and opting to bat, Pakistan got off to a steady start. Opener Sahibzada Farhan made an aggressive 21 off 10 balls, hitting two sixes and a boundary to give Pakistan early momentum.

The innings was then anchored by Agha, who smashed three sixes and three boundaries, combining with Nawaz for a vital 53-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Nawaz contributed a brisk 21 off 11 balls, featuring two sixes and a boundary, helping Pakistan accelerate in the final five overs. Pakistan posted a competitive 182-7 in 20 overs.

Afghanistan’s bowlers had their moments, with Fareed Ahmad being the pick of the bowlers, taking two wickets. Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, and Rashid Khan all chipped in with a wicket each.

Afghanistan began their chase with opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who made 38 off 27 balls, including a six and three boundaries, forming a 51-run partnership for the second wicket with Sediqullah Atal, who contributed 23 runs. However, the momentum swung dramatically in the 12th over when Rauf produced a sensational spell, sending back both Atal and Karim Janat without conceding a run.

Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan then tried to mount a fightback, smashing five sixes and a four in a whirlwind 16-ball 39, but he too fell to Rauf, ending Afghanistan’s resistance. Spinners Nawaz and Muqeem finished the job, dismissing Afghanistan for 143 in 19.5 overs. Afridi’s 2-21 further strengthened Pakistan’s grip on the game.

The victory was built on all-round contributions, with Agha’s leadership and composure in the middle proving crucial.

This marked his fourth T20I half-century, demonstrating his ability to anchor and accelerate the innings when required.

Pakistan will next face hosts UAE on Saturday, as all three teams in the tri-series play each other twice, with the top two progressing to the final on September 7.

Arthur explains Pakistan’s Asia Cup Snub of Babar, Rizwan: Former head coach Mickey Arthur has backed his successor Mike Hesson and skipper Agha’s move to ignore senior players Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan.

Arthur said the skillset of players keeps evolving and said only those players who perform according to the team’s Twenty20 style must get picked.

While backing the plans and approach of Hesson and Agha in matching the Twenty20 cricket style of top teams like India and Australia, Arthur said he understands why former captains Babar and Rizwan were not picked for the Asia Cup 2025, starting on September 9.

Arthur said under his tutelage, Pakistan had risen to number one in T20I rankings in 2018 after Babar-led the team to a runners-up finish in the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia.

A slump started after that, and since then, Pakistan has played 52 T20Is, losing 30 and winning 20 with two no results. They have now slipped to eighth in T20I rankings and face a transition phase with new coach Hesson dropping Babar and Rizwan for not matching the new and fast style of T20I cricket.

“Mike is an unbelievably good coach, and I respect him a lot,” Mickey told Telecom Asia Sport (www,telecomasia.net).

“I am sure he will do a wonderful job for Pakistan. I think the game has changed. The T20 game has changed, and in terms of the skillset, you have to change with the times, and that’s no slight on Babar and Rizwan because they are incredibly good players.

Arthur said Hesson and Agha are selecting players who fit their vision, and that is why they ignored Babar and Rizwan.

“But obviously Mike and Agha are trying to get a vision and brand they want to play, and they are selecting the personnel that is at their disposal to be able to execute their brand (of play),” said the seasoned coach.

“Under my coaching, we became world No.1 in T20Is. I think we won 11 series in a row. Sarfaraz and I did a lot of work and formulated a plan on how we can win with the three resources that we had at our disposal.”