Mariam Ellahi

ISLAMABAD: As the final whistle blew at Islamabad&rsquo;s Jinnah Stadium on Thursday night, the scoreboard read 0-0, &nbsp;but for the crowd spilling out into the cool evening air, the result meant more than just numbers.&nbsp;For many fans, it was an evening of renewed belief that football in Pakistan is finally finding its rhythm. Inside the stadium, Pakistan and Afghanistan fought a tense, end-to-end battle in their AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifier. Both sides pressed hard, but neither could break the deadlock.&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s defense, led by Sweden-based Abdullah Iqbal, kept Afghanistan&rsquo;s forwards at bay, while Shayak Dost and Ahmed Faraz came close on the counter. The biggest moment came when Otis Khan&rsquo;s penalty kick flew over the bar, a miss that drew collective gasps from the stands.&nbsp;But outside the stadium, disappointment quickly gave way to pride and optimism.&nbsp;&ldquo;This was a really positive performance for Pakistan,&rdquo; said Zain, a university student draped in a green flag. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve faced so many hardships in our football journey, but today felt different. You could feel the energy. The new faces, the fight. It gives hope to every young footballer dreaming of wearing that green shirt one day.&rdquo;&nbsp;Nearby, Saif, another football enthusiast, praised both teams for their spirit. &ldquo;It was a close, cutting-edge contest,&rdquo; he told Pakistan TV Digital. &ldquo;Pakistan missed a few chances, but the brotherhood between Pakistani and Afghan fans was beautiful. We were joking, cheering together, it felt like football was uniting us.&rdquo;&nbsp;The match also drew fans who usually follow cricket, signaling a cultural shift. Rimsha, a former athlete attending her first live football game, said the sight of packed stands gave her goosebumps.&nbsp;&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve grown up in a cricket-crazy country,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;but tonight showed that Pakistanis love football too. It&rsquo;s amazing to see families, women, and kids all here supporting the team.&rdquo;&nbsp;Head coach Nolberto Solano, speaking after the match, echoed the fans&rsquo; optimism. &ldquo;These players have shown great effort and commitment,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;They deserve more opportunities to compete at this level, and more support from the nation.&rdquo;&nbsp;As fans drifted out into the Islamabad night, flags still waving and chants echoing faintly, one thing was clear: even without goals, Pakistan&rsquo;s football revival has found its heartbeat and its believers.

AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifier - Pakistan vs Afghanistan (PFF)

Football

Pakistan will face Afghanistan again on October 14 in Kuwait, where both teams will fight for their first win in Group E. With morale high after Islamabad’s draw, Pakistan aims to convert promise into points.

Pakistan, Afghanistan battle to goalless stalemate in Asian Cup qualifier

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said Wednesday that visa issues facing Afghanistan&rsquo;s national football team have been resolved, clearing the way for the side to travel to Islamabad for Thursday&rsquo;s AFC Asian Cup qualifier at Jinnah Stadium.&nbsp;Uncertainty had surrounded the match after reports emerged that Afghan players were unable to secure visas in time.&nbsp;On Tuesday, Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) president Mohsen Gilani said Afghanistan&rsquo;s federation had failed to ensure the presence of its full squad at the Pakistan Embassy in Kabul for biometric verification, as several players were based outside the country.&nbsp;The Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF), meanwhile, had claimed that it sent the initial list of players to the embassy on September 18 and that &ldquo;despite repeated follow-ups and official contacts, visas have not been issued to the players and officials,&rdquo; according to Afghan Voice Agency.&nbsp;On Wednesday, Minister Naqvi confirmed via social media that the issue had been settled. Responding to a journalist&rsquo;s post about the matter, he wrote: &ldquo;Issued now. Thank you for highlighting it.&rdquo;&nbsp;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1975845451263090855&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=acb94bb54b68cc319ffff5d9d95b86c6f16b728d&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 329px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="1975845451263090855"></iframe></div></div>&nbsp;Reports from Afghanistan noted that the squad had gathered in Dubai on Tuesday evening, awaiting visa clearance. With the matter now resolved, the team is set to arrive in Islamabad in time for the qualifier.&nbsp;Both Pakistan and Afghanistan are still searching for their first points in Group E after defeats to Syria and Myanmar in their opening matches. The two sides will meet again in a return fixture in Al Ardiya, Kuwait, on October 14.&nbsp;The winner of the group will secure qualification for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, to be held in Saudi Arabia.

Pakistan and Afghanistan are set to face off on Thursday in search of their first points in Group E after defeats to Syria and Myanmar in their opening matches.

Visa issue for Afghanistan squad resolved ahead of Asian Cup clash

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.&nbsp;Chasing 141, Afghanistan were bundled out for just 66 in 15.2 overs &mdash; their lowest total in T20 internationals against Pakistan.&nbsp;Spinners rulePakistan&rsquo;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&rsquo;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&#39;s game-changing spell included four wickets in six balls across two overs.&nbsp;Batsmen struggleBatting on Sharjah&rsquo;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.&nbsp;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&rsquo;s bowlers, taking 3-38, though he conceded 17 runs in a pivotal 17th over.&nbsp;Nawaz bulldozes throughAfghanistan&rsquo;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.&nbsp;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.&nbsp;Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated the team on the win.&nbsp;&quot;Very well played <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/BoysInGreen?src=hashtag_click">#BoysInGreen</a>. Congratulations to Team Pakistan on winning the Tri-Series,&quot; he <a href="https://x.com/CMShehbaz/status/1964882491619291171">wrote on X</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;The victory gives Pakistan a timely confidence boost ahead of next week&#39;s Asia Cup, while Afghanistan reflect on a missed opportunity in their first appearance in a tri-series final.&nbsp;

Cricket

Pakistan spinners took 9 wickets as Afghanistan folded for 66, chasing 141

Nawaz’s hat-trick helps Pakistan rout Afghanistan in tri-series final

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;Pakistan and Afghanistan lock horns in the final of the tri-nation cricket series in Sharjah on Sunday, ahead of the upcoming Mens T20 Asia Cup 2025 set to begin on Tuesday, September 9.&nbsp; Originally scheduled as a bilateral series to help both teams gear up for the Asia Cup, the series was expanded into a tri-nation contest with the inclusion of the host nation. While the venue in Sharjah differs from the Asia Cup&#39;s locations&mdash;Abu Dhabi and Dubai&mdash;the playing conditions offer valuable match simulation ahead of the regional tournament. Pakistan vs Afghanistan head-to-headBoth sides played four games in the tournament, with each winning three and losing one. &nbsp;They came face to face twice, winning one game each. In their most recent head-to-head encounters, Pakistan claimed a 39-run victory in the opening match, before Afghanistan responded with an 18-run win in the second. The final promises a tightly contested finish. The overall T20I record remains narrowly in Pakistan&rsquo;s favour, with five wins to Afghanistan&rsquo;s four.&nbsp; AfghanistanAfghanistan&#39;s batting has not let them down. Their top order, led by Ibrahim Zadran and Sediqullah Atal, has been in strong form. Both batters notched half-centuries, and the middle order chipped in when required. It was their bowling, however, that won them the games and will be key in the forthcoming regional tournament. Their spin department, anchored by captain Rashid Khan and comprising Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, and Mohammad Nabi, is world-class. Left-arm seamer Fazalhaq Farooqi has been instrumental with the new ball. PakistanPakistan&rsquo;s batting unit has shown signs of fragility at the top, though contributions from Salman Ali Agha and Fakhar Zaman have provided stability. The middle order will be under pressure to deliver rapid runs if early wickets fall.&nbsp; On the bowling front, Haris Rauf&rsquo;s pace remains a key weapon, with spinners Mohammad Nawaz, Abrar Ahmed, and Sufyan Moqim expected to play important roles in containing Afghanistan&rsquo;s lineup. With both teams boasting match-winners across departments, the final is set up as a clash between Afghanistan&rsquo;s spin-heavy attack and Pakistan&rsquo;s all-round firepower. The Sharjah surface has generally favoured batters, pointing to the likelihood of a high-scoring contest. Afghanistan SquadRashid Khan (capt), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mohammad Ishaq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Fareed Ahmad, Abdollah Ahmadzai, Fazalhaq Farooqi Pakistan SquadSalman Ali Agha (capt), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim

Both teams have in-form players, setting the stage for a competitive, high-scoring match

Articles tagged with "Pakistan vs Afghanistan"

Pakistan, Afghanistan battle to goalless stalemate in Asian Cup qualifier

Visa issue for Afghanistan squad resolved ahead of Asian Cup clash

Nawaz’s hat-trick helps Pakistan rout Afghanistan in tri-series final

Pakistan, Afghanistan set for tri-series cricket final ahead of Asia Cup

Pakistan, Afghanistan battle to goalless stalemate in Asian Cup qualifier