Afghanistan Vs Pakistan 3rd T20I - Afghanistan and Pakistan in UAE, 3 T20I Series, 2023 - summary

That is it from this game and the series! Rashid Khan has been handed over the trophy. A series Afghanistan will never forget. Hope you enjoyed our coverage. It is goodbye for now.

Rashid Khan says it is special to lead this team and as a captain, he is very happy with the players. Adds they responded well in pressure situations and batted well in the first two games. Reckons this was a better wicket than previous matches and he felt it was a gettable target. Shares they are preparing for the next World Cup and this series was a great learning. Mentions he tries to keep his bowling simple and hit the right area.

Mohammad Nabi is the Player of the Series. He is glad to win the series.  Adds that the conditions were tough and the matches were close too but happy that they came out on top in first two games. Mentions that he is happy with his contributions and will look to perform similarly in future.

Shadab Khan is the Player of the Match. He says they wanted to finish the series on a higher note and they did it. Adds they adapted to the conditions well in this game. Shares they wanted to give some youngsters a chance and give them confidence for the future.

...Presentation time...

Pakistan have something to take from this series. The bowling finally clicked in this match. Ihsanullah has been superb throughout but the likes of experienced players stepped up. Pakistan were coming into this series with a lot of inexperienced players but have so much positive to take home apart from the series. They also avoid whitewash at the hands of their neighbors.

Pakistan win the game but it is Afghanistan who take the series. A historic win for them beating Pakistan for the first time. Talking about this match, it didn't go as per their plan. After choosing to bowl first, Afghanistan were taken to the cleaners by some fine batting from Saim Ayub and cameos from hard-hitting finishers. Above 180 was always going to be difficult and three wickets in the Powerplay didn't help Afghanistan either. They kept on losing wickets regularly. The exploits from Rashid Khan and Azmatullah Omarzai in the back end too, prove to be in vain. Afghanistan succumbed under pressure right from the start and never showed glimpse of comeback.

Zaman Khan to Azmatullah Omarzai, out, OUT! TAKEN! The fireworks end! Fuller and around off. Omarzai looks to go downtown but hits it straight in the hands of Tayyab Tahir who takes it at long on. PAKISTAN WIN BY 66 runs.

Zaman Khan to Azmatullah Omarzai, wide, 1 run, Wide! Sees Omarzai shaping up to play the scoop and delivers it almost out of the pitch over the tramline.

Zaman Khan to Azmatullah Omarzai, no run, Tad full and on off, Omarzai hits it to long on for no run again.

Zaman Khan to Azmatullah Omarzai, no run, This is full and close to off. Omarzai slashes and misses.

Zaman Khan to Azmatullah Omarzai, no run, Length and on off. Omarzai heaves it to deep mid-wicket and denies a single.

Mohammad Wasim to Azmatullah Omarzai, 1 run, Short and on middle, this is pulled to deep square leg for a single.

Mohammad Wasim to Azmatullah Omarzai, no run, Too full and on off. Omarzai slams it again to cover.

Mohammad Wasim to Azmatullah Omarzai, no run, Fuller and outside off. Omarzai hits it straight to cover.

Mohammad Wasim to Azmatullah Omarzai, FOUR, FOUR! Omarzai is doing some serious batting! Shorter and outside off, Omarzai smashes it over mid off and the ball wins the race. 

Mohammad Wasim to Azmatullah Omarzai, no run, A yorker on middle. Omarzai drills it to mid off.

Mohammad Wasim to Azmatullah Omarzai, no run, A full toss, on off. Omarzai hits it wide of mid off.

Zaman Khan to Fazalhaq Farooqi, no run, On middle, defended out.

Zaman Khan to Azmatullah Omarzai, 1 run, Short in length and outside off, Omarzai pulls. The man at deep mid-wicket speeds forward as he tries to catch but the ball dies down just in front of him.

Zaman Khan to Azmatullah Omarzai, no run, Length ball, outside off, Omarzai swings and misses.

Zaman Khan to Azmatullah Omarzai, no run, A yorker on off, Omarzai jams it out to the bowler.

Zaman Khan to Azmatullah Omarzai, SIX, SIX! Omarzai showing his skills! Very full on leg. Omarzai flicks it wonderfully over square leg for a biggie.

Zaman Khan to Azmatullah Omarzai, no run, Fuller and on off, Omarzai pushes it to mid off.

Imad Wasim to Azmatullah Omarzai, 1 run, A single as this is hit to covers.

Imad Wasim to Azmatullah Omarzai, FOUR, FOUR! Full and on off. Omarzai smashes it down to long off for four.

Imad Wasim to Azmatullah Omarzai, 2 runs, And there is the other side of Pakistani fielding. Full and on off. Omarzai heaves in the air and to mid-wicket. Three players converge and watch each other as no one calls for it and the ball lands safely in between them.

Imad Wasim to Fazalhaq Farooqi, 1 run, Short and outside off, punched to long off for one.

Imad Wasim to Rashid Khan, out, OUT! TAKEN! Smart from Wasim! He sees Rashid Khan dancing down the track and serves it way outside off. Rashid Khan has to reach for it and toe ends his shot to long off where Abdullah Shafique takes a superb diving catch. Pakistan have been brilliant in te field.

Imad Wasim to Azmatullah Omarzai, 1 run, Full and outside off, Omarzai pushes it to long off for a single.

Ihsanullah to Rashid Khan, no run, Full and down the leg. Rashid Khan makes room as the ball sneaks through the leg and toward the keeper. A dot to end the over. 

Ihsanullah to Rashid Khan, SIX, SIX! TAKE THAT! WHAT A BLOW FROM Rashid Khan! Short and angled into the batter. Rashid Khan picks the length and smokes it over the deep mid-wicket region for a biggie. This is out of the ground. 

Ihsanullah to Azmatullah Omarzai, 1 run, Back of a length around off, Azmatullah Omarzai drops it toward point and gets off the mark with a single.

Azmatullah Omarzai comes next in.

Ihsanullah to Fareed Ahmad, out, OUT! TAKEN! The short ball does the trick again! Short and around off. Fareed Ahmad makes room and lofts it high in the air toward the deep extra cover region. Mohammad Wasim runs around and takes a fine catch to dismiss Ahmad. Afghanistan lose their eighth. Ihsanullah picks his third. 

Ihsanullah to Fareed Ahmad, FOUR, FOUR! Streaky! Short and around off, Fareed Ahmad looks to swat it away but get a top edge that flies down to the third man region for a boundary.

Ihsanullah to Fareed Ahmad, no run, Short of a length angling across, Fareed Ahmad swings and misses.

Shadab Khan to Rashid Khan, no run, Tossed up. Full and on off. This is driven into covers for a dot to end the over.

Shadab Khan to Rashid Khan, no run, Googly and on the stumps. Rashid Khan hangs back and defends.

Shadab Khan to Fareed Ahmad, 1 run, Flat and on off. Fareed Ahmad lofts it down to long on for one.

Shadab Khan to Fareed Ahmad, no run, Full and on the stumps. Fareed Ahmad bunts it back to the bowler.

Shadab Khan to Fareed Ahmad, no run, Full and on off, Fareed Ahmad inside edges it into the pitch.

Shadab Khan to Fareed Ahmad, no run, Tossed up on off, Fareed Ahmad hangs back and bunts into the onside.

Halt in play! Rashid Khan is feeling some discomfort as he gets hit around the pads.

Ihsanullah to Rashid Khan, no run, Short of a length around the leg peg. Rashid Khan goes for the pull and misses. He wears in around the thigh and is in some pain. 

Ihsanullah to Rashid Khan, FOUR, FOUR! Short and angled in. The pace and bounce in plenty. Rashid Khan goes for it and awkwardly plays it over the keeper and toward fine leg for another boundary.

Ihsanullah to Rashid Khan, no run, Short again and around the middle and off. Rashid Khan looks to swat it away but gets an under edge to the keeper.

Ihsanullah to Rashid Khan, wide, 1 run, WIDE! Attempted slower ball lands outside the tramline and is WIDED by the umpire.

Ihsanullah to Rashid Khan, no run, Full and tailing in. Rashid Khan has whipped this to deep square leg and denies the single again.

Ihsanullah to Rashid Khan, FOUR, FOUR! Short of a length around off, Rashid Khan flat bats it over the bowler and down the ground to long on for a boundary.

Ihsanullah to Rashid Khan, no run, Shortish and angled into the batter, this is pulled through square leg for none.

Shadab Khan to Fareed Ahmad, no run, Slower through the air around off. Fareed Ahmad nudges it into the onside.

Shadab Khan to Fareed Ahmad, no run, Tossed up on the leg peg, Fareed Ahmad looks to work it away but misses and wears on the pad.

Shadab Khan to Mujeeb Ur Rahman, out, OUT! LBW! Another one bites the dust! Fires it full and on the stumps. Mujeeb Ur Rahman goes for the reverse hit and misses this one. The ball hits him in front and this is an easy decision for the umpire. Mujeeb Ur Rahman is given out. Mujeeb Ur Rahman goes upstairs to have a look. The ball tracking shows THREE REDS and Mujeeb Ur Rahman has to walk back. Shadab Khan gets his second in the over. Afghanistan lose the review and they are 7 down now.

Shadab Khan to Mujeeb Ur Rahman, no run, Tossed up on off. Mujeeb Ur Rahman prods and defends.

Shadab Khan to Usman Ghani, out, OUT! IN THE AIR AND HOLDS OUT! Shadab Khan takes his 100th wicket in T20Is. Full and outside off. Usman Ghani goes for the big one and lofts it flat and down toward the long-off fence. Abdullah Shafique runs around and takes a fine catch. 

Shadab Khan to Rashid Khan, 1 run, Flat and around off, Rashid Khan nudges it to mid-wicket for one.

Ihsanullah to Rashid Khan, 1 run, Fuller-length ball on off. Rashid Khan has driven down the ground for one.

Ihsanullah to Rashid Khan, no run, Short and angled into the middle and leg. Rashid Khan ducks and lets it go through to the keeper.

Rashid Khan is the new man in.

Ihsanullah to Karim Janat, out, OUT! TAKEN! Ihsanullah is on fire! Karim Janat is gone! Quick and Short ball angled into the body. Karim Janat goes for the pull but the ball ricochets off the glove and lands in the hands of the keeper Mohammad Haris who takes an easy one. Afghanistan have lost half of their side now. Karim Janat departs for a golden duck.

Ouch! Najibullah Zadran is looking in some discomfort and is unable to continue. A blow to the batting team as Najibullah Zadran is retired hurt.

Ihsanullah to Najibullah Zadran, no run, Ohh! That is a nasty delivery and Najibullah Zadran has hurt himself. Short and on off. Najibullah Zadran looks to pull but gets a top edge and it deflects right near his chin. He is bleeding and as a precaution he is walking off retired hurt.

Ihsanullah to Mohammad Nabi, out, 1 run, OUT! WICKET! RUN OUT! On a good length and on the stumps. Mohammad Nabi makes room and flat bats it past the bowler and down the ground toward long on. He looks to take the second but fails to get back and is short of his crease. Mohammad Nabi departs and Afghanistan slide into trouble.

Ihsanullah to Mohammad Nabi, FOUR, FOUR! Back of a length down the leg. Mohammad Nabi tucks it off his hips and past short fine leg for a boundary. 

Pakistan are ahead in the game at this moment. Afghanistan have got a few going in the past few overs courtesy of good shots from Nabi. They still need a mammoth 117 off the last 10 overs. A tough ask for the batters. Can they make a match of it? Let's find out.

Drinks!

Mohammad Nawaz to Mohammad Nabi, 1 run, Full and on off, pushed to long off for a single. 11 runs off the over. A good stand is building between these two. Afghanistan need this to carry on. 117 runs needed in 60 balls.

Mohammad Nawaz to Usman Ghani, 1 run, Shorter and on off, Ghani pulls it to mid-wicket for one more.

Mohammad Nawaz to Usman Ghani, 2 runs, On middle, flicked to deep mid-wicket for two.

Mohammad Nawaz to Mohammad Nabi, 1 run, Full and on leg, Nabi works it to long on for one.

Mohammad Nawaz to Mohammad Nabi, SIX, SIX! Out of the ground! What a shot! Mohammad Nawaz follows Nabi on the leg side with a fuller delivery. Nabi gets on his knee and slams it over mid-wicket.

Mohammad Nawaz to Mohammad Nabi, no run, Drops it short but stays low off the deck, kept out.

Shadab Khan to Usman Ghani, 2 runs, 7 runs off this one! Shorter and outside off, Ghani pulls it wide of deep mid-wicket for two.

Shadab Khan to Usman Ghani, wide, 1 run, Wide! This one lands outside off and spins more away. Ghani swings and misses.

Shadab Khan to Usman Ghani, no run, This is full and outside off. Ghani smashes it straight back to Shadab Khan who makes a good stop.

Shadab Khan to Mohammad Nabi, 1 run, On middle, this is hit to square leg for one more.

Shadab Khan to Usman Ghani, 1 run, Outside off again, Ghani strokes it to deep point for one.

Shadab Khan to Mohammad Nabi, 1 run, Fuller and outside off, pushed through covers for a single.

Shadab Khan to Usman Ghani, 1 run, Flat and outside off, Ghani slaps it to deep cover for one.

Mohammad Wasim to Usman Ghani, 1 run, Short and on off, Ghani pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Mohammad Wasim to Usman Ghani, no run, Outside off, guided to point.

Mohammad Wasim to Usman Ghani, FOUR, FOUR! Much needed boundary! On a length and on middle. Ghani flicks on the up and to mid-wicket, the ball bounces before touching the ropes. Welcome boundary.

Mohammad Wasim to Usman Ghani, no run, A bouncer on middle. Ghani sits down.

Mohammad Wasim to Mohammad Nabi, 1 run, On middle, this is hit behind square leg for a single.

Mohammad Wasim to Usman Ghani, 1 run, Short in length and outside off. Ghani knocks it through covers for one.

Shadab Khan to Usman Ghani, 1 run, Full and on off, Ghani works it past mid off for one more.

Shadab Khan to Mohammad Nabi, 1 run, Fuller and outside off, Nabi punches it past point for a single.

Shadab Khan to Ibrahim Zadran, out, OUT! TAKEN!! Another one bites the dust! Tossed up on off, spins away off the deck. Zadran made up his mind as he swings across to go big only to find Mohammad Nawaz at deep mid-wicket. Good catch there. Afghanistan in trouble.

Shadab Khan to Usman Ghani, 1 run, Touch slow, outside off. Ghani drags it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Shadab Khan to Usman Ghani, no run, Flat and outside off. Ghani cuts it to point.

Shadab Khan to Ibrahim Zadran, 1 run, Around off, pushed through covers for one.

Mohammad Wasim to Usman Ghani, no run, This time it is tailing down! Length and on the pads. Ghani fails to tuck it away and gets hit on the pads.

Mohammad Wasim to Usman Ghani, no run, Length ball, outside off. Ghani has a poke at it but misses. This is turning out to be a superb over.

Mohammad Wasim to Sediqullah Atal, out, OUT! LBW! That looked close! Pakistan take a review. A superb yorker, angling on middle and leg. Atal fails to flick as he gets his front foot across and gets hit on the pads. Was it just tailing down is the only question. UltraEdge shows no bat. Ball Tracking shows THREE REDS. That is hitting the leg pole. Pakistan strike twice in quick time. Both openers gone.

Mohammad Wasim to Sediqullah Atal, no run, Length ball, outside off, Atal tucks it straight to mid-wicket.

Mohammad Wasim to Ibrahim Zadran, 1 run, Length and on middle. Zadran mistimes his pull onto the deck. The batters take a quick single.

Mohammad Wasim to Ibrahim Zadran, no run, Length and outside off, punched to cover.

Ihsanullah to Ibrahim Zadran, 1 run, Shortish and around off, Ibrahim Zadran pulls it through square leg for one.

Ihsanullah to Ibrahim Zadran, no run, Full on the leg peg, Ibrahim Zadran clips it to short mid-wicket.

Ibrahim Zadran is the new man in.

Ihsanullah to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, out, OUT! WICKET! CLEANED UP! Full toss on the stumps. Rahmanullah Gurbaz makes room to carve it away but misses and the ball crashed into the stumps. Ihsanullah gets out his signature celebration and picks up the wicket in his first over. Afghanistan loses their first as Rahmanullah Gurbaz walks back for 18. 

Ihsanullah to Sediqullah Atal, 1 run, Back of a length on the leg peg. This is tucked into the onside for a single.

Ihsanullah to Sediqullah Atal, no run, Back of a length angling across the batter, Sediqullah Atal looks to run it down but misses and is through to the keeper.

Ihsanullah to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 1 run, Hard length into the surface on the stumps. Rahmanullah Gurbaz makes room and works it to wide mid on for one.

Zaman Khan to Sediqullah Atal, SIX, SIX! BANG! He gets hold of it this time! Short and around middle and leg. Sediqullah Atal pulls it over the deep backward square leg fence for a maximum.

Zaman Khan to Sediqullah Atal, no run, Short and a change of pace around off, Sediqullah Atal is through the shot early and misses the pull. 

Zaman Khan to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 1 run, Shortish and around off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single. He looks to take the second but is sent back.

Zaman Khan to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, no run, Full and on off, driven to mid off for none.

Zaman Khan to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 2 runs, Short of a length around off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz mistimes the pull into the mid-wicket region and comes back for a brace.

Zaman Khan to Sediqullah Atal, byes, 5 runs, FIVE BYES! Slower bumper around off, Sediqullah Atal goes for the pull and misses. The keeper fails to collect it clean is it deflects and the batters cross for a bye. Mohammad Haris has a shy at the stumps at the non-striker's end and there was no one backing up behind the bowler. The ball runs down to the fence and Afghanistan gets 5 extras. 

Imad Wasim to Sediqullah Atal, 1 run, Flat and slower through the air around off, Sediqullah Atal pushes it down to long on for one.

Imad Wasim to Sediqullah Atal, wide, 1 run, WIDE! Flat and quicker down the leg. Sediqullah Atal pulls and misses. Wide signaled. 

Imad Wasim to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 1 run, Pushed through quicker on the stumps, Rahmanullah Gurbaz is cramped for room as he works it through mid-wicket for one.

Imad Wasim to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, FOUR, FOUR! BANG! Darted down the leg. Rahmanullah Gurbaz goes back, picks the length early, and pulls it to the long leg region for a boundary.

Imad Wasim to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, SIX, SIX! DISPATCHED! Tossed up on the stumps. Rahmanullah Gurbaz makes room and smokes it over the long on fence and out of the stadium for a maximum. 

Imad Wasim to Sediqullah Atal, 1 run, On a length and outside off, Sediqullah Atal shimmies down and punches it to wide of mid off for a single.

Imad Wasim to Sediqullah Atal, no run, Flat and around off, Sediqullah Atal cuts it into covers for none.

Zaman Khan to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 2 runs, Short of a length around off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz pulls it round the corner past the short fine leg fielder and scampers through for a couple.

Zaman Khan to Sediqullah Atal, 1 run, Slower ball, on a length and around off, Sediqullah Atal runs it down to third man for one.

Zaman Khan to Sediqullah Atal, no run, On a good length and on off, Sediqullah Atal gets forward and defends.

Zaman Khan to Sediqullah Atal, no run, Short and around off, Sediqullah Atal pulls and misses. Zaman Khan goes up to appeal for the caught behind. The keeper wasn't interested to go upstairs and Pakistan decides against the review.

Zaman Khan to Sediqullah Atal, no run, On a good length and angling across. This is bunted into the cover-point region for none.

Zaman Khan to Sediqullah Atal, no run, Hard length around off, Sediqullah Atal prods and defends into covers.

Imad Wasim to Sediqullah Atal, 1 run, Flat and quicker on the middle. Sediqullah Atal hangs back and punches it down to long on for a single to get off the mark.

Imad Wasim to Sediqullah Atal, no run, Darted the arm ball around off, Sediqullah Atal gets on the front foot and blocks.

Imad Wasim to Sediqullah Atal, no run, Flat and just around off, Sediqullah Atal prods and defends toward point.

Imad Wasim to Sediqullah Atal, no run, Fires it full and on off. Sediqullah Atal presses forward and defends.

Imad Wasim to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 1 run, Drifted on the pads, Rahmanullah Gurbaz works it to deep backward square leg for one to get off the mark.

Imad Wasim to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, no run, Wasim starts off with a flat and quicker ball on off. Rahmanullah Gurbaz hangs back and defends.