Sharjah: Afghanistan, led by veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi, defeated a new-look Pakistan by six wickets in the first T20I of the three-match series on Friday.
After winning the toss and batting at the Sharjah Stadium, Nabi took 2-12 to restrict Pakistan to 92-9 and Mujeeb-ur-Rehman (9-2-9) and fast bowler Fazl-ul-Haq Farooqui (2-13).
Nabi then kept his cool with a cautious run-a-ball 38 not out and added 53 runs for the fifth wicket with Najeebullah Zadran (17 not out) to help Afghanistan reach the target in 17.5 overs.
Nabi hit his first boundary on his 27th ball and then hit two more fours off Naseem Shah in the next over with a six off Ehsanullah to seal the win.
This is Afghanistan’s first win against Pakistan in four T20I matches.
Fast bowler Ehsanullah (2-17) dismissed Ibrahim Zadran (nine) on the first ball of his T20I career and then Gulbuddin Naib (none) had to leave Afghanistan at 45-4 but Nabi and Najeebullah. ensured victory.
With five key players — captain Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf rested for the series — Pakistan gave T20 debuts to Saeem Ayub, Tayyab Tahir, Ehsanullah and Zaman Khan.
Pakistan’s score was 41-5 in the eighth over on the low and slow pitch of Sharjah Stadium, which helped Afghanistan’s three-pronged spin attack.
Imad Wasim scored the most 18 runs while Ayub scored 17 runs, Tahir scored 16 runs and captain Shadab Khan scored 12 runs.
Ayub, known for his power hitting, hit two fours and a six in his 15-ball innings while Wasim’s 32-ball innings did not hit a single boundary as he tried to salvage the innings.
Wasim and captain Shadab Khan (12) added 19 runs for the sixth wicket which was the biggest partnership of the innings.
Missed power hitters Azam Khan and Abdullah Shafiq failed to score.
Pakistan’s other lowest T20I totals are 74 vs Australia in Dubai 2012, 82 vs West Indies in Dhaka 2014, 83 vs India in Dhaka 2016 and 89 vs England in Cardiff 2010.
This is the first bilateral series between the two countries, the remaining matches of which will also be played in Sharjah on Sunday and Monday.
