Cricket in Sharjah has always had a charm of its own, and the recent T20 Match between Afghanistan and United Arab Emirates (UAE) was no exception. Under floodlights, with the crowd cheering for every big shot and wicket, the match had all the elements of an entertaining contest. In the end, Afghanistan won by 38 runs, but not before the UAE showed glimpses of their growing confidence on the international stage.
Strong Start for Afghanistan
Sent in to bat, Afghanistan’s top order looked determined to set the tone right from the start. Ibrahim Zadran played a brilliant and composed innings of 63 off 40 Balls while young Sediqullah Atal impressed with his 54-run knock. The duo shared an 84-run partnership to provide Afghanistan with a perfect platform.
The middle overs saw some calculated aggression, Rotating the Strike and Hitting the Loose Deliveries. By the time the innings ended at 188/4, Afghanistan not only had a competitive score but the momentum was strong too.
UAE’s Valiant Chase
Chasing around 190 Runs against Afghanistan’s world-class bowling attack is always going to be a challenge. However, UAE fought back. Their captain Mohammad Wasim kept the fans happy and kept hopes alive with a whirlwind 67 off 37 balls. Supporting him was Rahul Chopra, who showed maturity under pressure and scored an Unbeaten 52.
Rashid Khan’s Historic Spell
When Rashid Khan began the attack, the atmosphere of the stadium changed. Known for his magical wrist-spin, Rashid once again proved why he is considered one of the best bowlers in the world. His performance of 3 wickets for 21 runs not only devastated the UAE middle order but also Created history—he Became the Highest Wicket-taker in T20 Internationals, surpassing Tim Southee (165 wickets).
Alongside him, Sharafuddin Ashraf was equally lethal, taking 3 wickets for 24 runs and bagging the Player of the Match award. The duo turned UAE’s paltry chase into a formidable challenge and eventually restricted them to 150/8.
Preparing for A Rivalry
Although Afghanistan have a clearly superior head-to-head record in T20s (9 wins out of 12), UAE are no longer easy targets. Their batting, particularly that of Wasim and Chopra, has shown their character and indicated the Team’s Growing Potential. Matches like these give UAE much-needed experience and, for Afghanistan, provide valuable preparation against different playing styles ahead of major tournaments.
What lies Ahead
For Afghanistan, this win boosts their confidence ahead of their upcoming clash with Pakistan in the tri-series. For UAE, this is a chance to learn from the experience and come back stronger. Their fight in this match showed that the gap between the two teams is there, but it is getting smaller with each match.
Final Thought’s
Cricket is often a game of memorable moments, and this match had many memorable ones—Zadran’s brilliant stroke play, Wasim’s fearless batting, Rashid’s record-breaking spell and the patience of the UAE middle order. Afghanistan may have won, but UAE’s performance deserves just as much praise.
At the end of the night, fans left not only entertained, but also reminded that Cricket is more than just a sport – it is a story of passion, resilience and the thrill of competition.