ISLAMABAD: Mohammad Nawaz claimed a maiden T20I five-wicket haul, including a hat-trick, as Pakistan routed Afghanistan by 75 runs to win the UAE tri-nation series final in Sharjah on Sunday.
Chasing 141, Afghanistan were bundled out for just 66 in 15.2 overs — their lowest total in T20 internationals against Pakistan.
Spinners rule
Pakistan’s decision to field three specialist spinners on a favorable surface paid dividends, with spinners taking nine of the 10 wickets. Nawaz ran through Afghanistan’s top and middle order with figures of 5-19, while Abrar Ahmed and Sufyan Muqeem took two apiece. Shaheen Afridi chipped in with one. The left-arm spinner's game-changing spell included four wickets in six balls across two overs.
Batsmen struggle
Batting on Sharjah’s gripping, slow wicket was not an easy ask for Pakistan. Sahibzada Farhan fell for a first-ball duck in the opening over, setting the tone for a faltering innings in which no Pakistani batter passed 30.
Fakhar Zaman top-scored with 27 while Nawaz contributed a valuable 25 off 21 balls lower down the order. Rashid Khan was the pick of Afghanistan’s bowlers, taking 3-38, though he conceded 17 runs in a pivotal 17th over.
Nawaz bulldozes through
Afghanistan’s start was not ideal either. They lost Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the first over to Shaheen Shah Afridi, before Nawaz capitalised with his triple strike. He trapped Darwish Rasooli lbw, dismissed Azmatullah Omarzai with an edge to slip, and completed his hat-trick by deceiving Ibrahim Zadran in flight to have him stumped.
Nawaz then removed Karim Janat and Rashid Khan to complete a memorable performance, silencing a pro-Afghanistan crowd on a night where their side produced their poorest outing of the series.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated the team on the win.
"Very well played #BoysInGreen. Congratulations to Team Pakistan on winning the Tri-Series," he wrote on X.
The victory gives Pakistan a timely confidence boost ahead of next week's Asia Cup, while Afghanistan reflect on a missed opportunity in their first appearance in a tri-series final.
