Match Details

AFG vs PAK 1st T20, AFG vs PAK 2023

AFG

98-417.5

Afghanistan won by 6 wickets 🏆

PAK

20.092-9

Match info

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Scorecard

Session	Open	PASS
6 Over	41	29
10 Over	50	50

Session	Open	PASS
6 Over	47	39
10 Over	63	51
15 Over	85	70
20 Over	100	92

Commentary

That's it from a riveting game of cricket. Thank you for tuning in, Ninaad Dixit here signing off on behalf of my co-commentator Megh and scorer/analyst Raju Khariya. Stay tuned for more cricketing action from around the world.

Rashid Khan (Afghanistan Captain): "So happy that we crossed that line. Happy for the win and looking forward to keep the momentum. It's a different feeling having that jersey on that body, being a captain is a huge honor for me. Always a proud moment to represent the country. You never know the pitch of Sharjah, it looks different and behaves different. We haven't seen such kind of wicket before in Sharjah. The focus from now till the World up is to strengthen the top order. We have the skill but we need to play according to conditions and play good shots."

Shadab Khan (Pakistan Captain): "This series is for the youngsters and we tried to give them confidence. This can happen due to the nerves of playing international cricket. We all saw in PSL some high scoring games. In this game also our batters showed it. In bowling we had so many positives, the way debutants Ihsanullah and Zaman Khan bowled, Naseem Shah as always did well."

Mohammad Nabi (Player of the match): "It was a tough score to get in these conditions. We wanted to keep them under 100 and I wanted to take the responsibility to finish the game with the bat. Many players are playing in the leagues from our squad and are in the UAE for some time so it is set. Sometimes 38 runs are equivalent to a hundred in these conditions."

Mohammad Nabi is the player of the match.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz: "Yeah, exciting moment for us. Always a crucial time against them but finally we've done it. The pitch was not easy but we had a simple plan from coaches for our side. Just watch the ball and play according to plan. There was nothing special. Just watch the ball and play naturally.

Nabi is very experienced and the way that we bowled was fantastic. I think our confidence will be high following this victory but we still have to improve our skills."

12:41 AM IST: Afghanistan create history winning their first ever T20I against Pakistan in the fourth attempt! The excellent performance gets them ahead in the 3-match series by 1-0. Fittingly it is Mohammad Nabi at the crease who sealed the deal with a maximum against Ihsanullah in the 18th over.

Quick recap to the game! A new-look Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first fielding 4 debutants in the playing XI after a successful PSL. Afghanistan's opening bowlers Fazalhaq Farooqi and Azmatullah Omarzai shattered the top order along with Naveen-ul-Haq.

Pakistan lost three wickets for 39 runs in the powerplay and were soon tottering at 41/5 in the 8th over. Imad Wasim was the top scorer with 18 from 32 balls and added 19 runs with skipper Shadab Khan for the 6th wicket. Only a couple of sixes were hit in the first innings with all the Afghanistan bowlers getting at least a wicket to their name with Mujeeb Ur Rahman (2/9), Farooqi (2/13) and Mohammad Nabi (2/12) getting a couple each.

The Afghanistan opening pair of Rahmanullah Gurbaz (16) and Ibrahim Zadran (9) added 23 runs for the first wicket but there came a downfall with the arrival of Ihsanullah who became the second Pakistani bowler after Aamer Yamin to pick up a wicket off his very first ball in T20 internationals and also got one off his third delivery sending Ibrahim and Gulbadin Naib back in quick succession.

Naseem Shah then followed suit getting rid of Gurbaz with the score at 29/3 at the end of powerplay. Karim Janat played a rash shot as his stumps were rattled by Imad Wasim (4-1-11-1). The experienced Mohammad Nabi (38*) and Najibullah Zadran (17*) then added unbeaten 53 runs for the fifth wicket taking Afghanistan to their first ever victory against Pakistan in the format.

Ihsanullah (2/17) had a good outing on debut with Imad Wasim and Naseem Shah also taking a wicket apiece but there wasn't enough on the board for Pakistan to defend after winning the toss and getting restricted for just 92/9 in their 20 overs.

Stay tuned as we bring you the post match presentation.

17.5 Ihsanullah to M Nabi

6 SIXX! There it is! Nabi finishes the encounter with a maximum. This is the first time Afghanistan has defeated Pakistan in a T20 International. Historic moment for Afghanistan and the crowd is on their feet. Fuller and just outside off, in the arc of Nabi and the right-hander clears his front leg and smokes that through the line of the ball as it sails over the long-off region and goes into the stands for half a dozen. Afghanistan defeat Pakistan convincingly by 6 wickets in first T20I of the series.

17.5 Ihsanullah to M Nabi

WD WIDE! Just 1 required now. Short of a length delivery on the top of leg stump line that bumps way over the batter's head and wide has been signaled by the umpire.

17.4 Ihsanullah to N Zadran

1 Back of a length again and angled into the middle and leg, Zadran looks to block that off the backfoot but gets the inside edge that rolls past the keeper for a single.

17.3 Ihsanullah to N Zadran

0 Bangs it short and on the top of middle and off, Zadran makes room for himself and looks to slash it away towards the off-side but the ball rises above his blade to the keeper, no run.

17.2 Ihsanullah to M Nabi

1 Good length delivery and angled into the middle, Nabi goes for a block off the front foot but gets the inner half of his bat that rolls to deep fine leg region for a single.

17.1 Ihsanullah to N Zadran

1lb Goes much fuller and on the leg stump line, Zadran misses the flick and wears that on his boots as the ball rolls towards on-side for a single off the leg byes. Just 4 required now.

OVER 17

Afghanistan

88/4

Mohammad Nabi

31(36)

Najibullah Zadran

16(20)

Naseem Shah

1-27(4.0)

16.6 N Shah to M Nabi

4 FOUR MORE! Nabi is in a hurry now and Afghanistan requires only 5 now. Touch fuller and just outside off, Nabi clears his front leg and swats that towards vacant cow corner region as the ball races away towards the boundary after a bounce.

16.5 N Shah to M Nabi

4 FOUR! That is a cracking shot from Nabi. Short of a length delivery and on the top of middle, Nabi hops, rides the bounce perfectly and pulls that to deep mid-wicket region as the ball crusies away towards the boundary ropes.

16.4 N Shah to M Nabi

2 Drags his length back again and on the middle and leg, Nabi swivels and pulls that to big cow corner pocket for a couple of runs.

16.3 N Shah to N Zadran

1 Back of a length again and angled into the southpaw as Zadran bides at the crease and pulls that along the carpet towards deep backward square leg for a single.

16.2 N Shah to M Nabi

1 Short of a length on this occasion on the top of middle and leg, Nabi swivels and pulls that to deep backward square leg for a single. A controlled shot from Nabi.

AFG vs PAK 1st T20, AFG vs PAK 2023

Player of the Match

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