Mohammad Nabi and Afghanistan secure historic win against Pakistan in 1st T20I
Afghanistan secured a historic victory against Pakistan in the first Twenty20 international of a three-game series on Friday, with Mohammad Nabi leading the charge. Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi played a key role in the team’s victory, taking 2-12 and leading the team to restrict Pakistan to 92-9 after they won the toss and batted at Sharjah Stadium.
Nabi then showed composure and skill, scoring a cautious run-a-ball 38 not out and adding 53 for the unbroken fifth wicket with Najibullah Zadran (17 not out) to help Afghanistan chase down the target in 17.5 overs. Nabi hit his first boundary off his 27th ball and then hit two more in the next over from Naseem Shah before sealing the win with a six off Ihsanullah.
Pakistan’s struggles
With five key players rested for the series, Pakistan struggled to get going, handing T20I debuts to Saim Ayub, Tayyab Tahir, Ihsanullah, and Zaman Khan. The low and slow Sharjah Stadium pitch also proved challenging, giving assistance to Afghanistan’s three-pronged spin attack.
Pakistan were 41-5 in the eighth over, with Imad Wasim top-scoring with 18 while Ayub (17), Tahir (16), and skipper Shadab Khan (12) were the other main run-getters. Ayub smashed two boundaries and a six in his 15-ball knock, while Wasim’s innings did not feature a single boundary as he tried to rescue the innings. Recalled power hitters Azam Khan and Abdullah Shafique failed to score, adding to Pakistan’s woes.
Afghanistan’s historic win
Nabi’s all-round brilliance, along with Mujeeb Ur Rahman (2-9) and pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi (2-13), helped Afghanistan secure their first win in four T20Is against Pakistan.
The win is a significant achievement for Afghanistan, who have struggled against Pakistan in the past. This is also the first bilateral series between the two countries, with the remaining matches also taking place in Sharjah on Sunday and Monday.
It was a dominant performance by Afghanistan, with Nabi leading the way with his impressive bowling and batting displays. Pakistan, on the other hand, will be looking to bounce back in the next two games, with key players likely to return to the side.
