Pakistan vs Afghanistan – T20I TriSeries 2025 Match Preview

Date: 07 September 2025
Time: 16:00 GMT (08:30 PM local time in UAE)
Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium, UAE
Tournament: United Arab Emirates T20I TriSeries 2025
Match: 7th (Final) Match
Teams: Pakistan vs Afghanistan

Match Context

The 2025 UAE T20I TriSeries is a high-stakes, double round-robin tournament featuring Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the host United Arab Emirates. Designed as a preparatory event for the 2025 Asia Cup, the series has provided a competitive platform for the teams to gauge their form and strategies in a T20I environment.

With the final match of the series set to be played on 07 September 2025, this Afghanistan vs Pakistan clash at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium is more than just a final league game—it is a direct contest for the top spot and a potential final preview, given the high stakes and the intensity of the rivalry between these two teams.

Head-to-Head in the Series

The two teams have already faced each other twice in the TriSeries:

1. 29 August 2025 – Pakistan won by 39 runs
2. 02 September 2025 – Afghanistan won by 18 runs

Pakistan has a slight advantage in the current series, but Afghanistan has shown their ability to bounce back and win under pressure. The final match will be a crucial decider for who finishes top of the table and possibly carries momentum into the Asia Cup 2025.

Team Form and Key Players

Pakistan

Pakistan has been the standout team in the tournament so far, winning 4 out of 5 matches, including a 10-wicket victory over UAE in their last game. Their top-order batsmen and death bowlers have been in fine form.

Key Players:

• Batsmen:

  • Fakhar Zaman – 217.6 runs at 104.4 SR
  • Sahibzada Farhan – 204.9 runs at 109.3 SR
  • Saim Ayub – 178.0 runs at 67.8 SR

• Bowlers:

  • Abrar Ahmed – 4 wickets at 2.25 economy
  • Hasan Ali – 3 wickets at 6.65 economy
  • Haris Rauf – 3 wickets at 6.20 economy

Pakistan’s strength lies in their aggressive batting and disciplined bowling. However, their middle order has occasionally struggled to accelerate, and they will need to address that in order to post competitive totals.

Afghanistan

Afghanistan has shown a mix of form and inconsistency in the tournament. They’ve won 3 out of 5 matches, with notable wins over UAE and Pakistan. Their spin-heavy attack and aggressive batting have been their key weapons.

Key Players:

• Batsmen:

  • Ibrahim Zadran – 261.6 runs at 103.8 SR
  • Sediqullah Atal – 182.7 runs at 74.8 SR
  • Karim Janat – 162.4 runs at 124.3 SR

• Bowlers:

  • Rashid Khan – 6 wickets at 4.08 economy
  • Sharafuddin Ashraf – 3 wickets at 4.6 economy
  • Noor Ahmad – 3 wickets at 5.0 economy

Afghanistan’s reliance on Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad is a double-edged sword, and they will need to spread the workload if they are to contain Pakistan’s explosive batting.

Venue Insights: Sharjah Cricket Stadium

The Sharjah Cricket Stadium is a balanced venue for T20 cricket, with a bat-friendly surface and consistent bounce. The average first-innings score in T20Is at Sharjah is around 150-160, and the pitch has a tendency to assist spinners in the middle overs.

Given the nature of the venue, both teams will look to post a score in the 160s and then defend it with tight bowling. Afghanistan’s spinners could play a pivotal role if the match is tight in the middle overs.

Toss and Playing XI

The toss will be a critical factor in this match. Given the nature of the Sharjah pitch, the team winning the toss is likely to choose to bat first and set a competitive total.

• Pakistan (Expected Playing XI):
  Salman Ali Agha (c), Fakhar Zaman, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi.

• Afghanistan (Expected Playing XI):
  Gulbadin Naib (c), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Karim Janat, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mohammad Ishaq.

Prediction

This match promises to be a high-stakes, high-intensity encounter between two of the best teams in the world. Pakistan will be looking to regain control after losing to Afghanistan in the last league match, while Afghanistan will want to seal the top spot and enter the Asia Cup with a strong win.

Prediction:
A tight contest is expected, with both teams having strong claims. However, Pakistan’s balanced squad and recent form give them a slight edge in this clash.

Final Prediction: Pakistan to win by 5-6 runs

Where to Watch & Follow

• Live Score: MyFinal11.in
• Live Commentary: Available on major sports streaming platforms.
• Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah, UAE
• Time: 16:00 GMT (08:30 PM local time)

FAQs

Q: What is the significance of this match?
A: This is the final match of the T20I TriSeries and a direct contest for the top spot in the standings.

Q: Who has the advantage in the head-to-head?
A: Pakistan leads 2-1 in the series, but Afghanistan has proven they can beat Pakistan.

Q: What is the predicted score?
A: A close match with Pakistan likely to win by a narrow margin.

Q: Who is the key player to watch?
A: Fakhar Zaman (Pakistan) and Rashid Khan (Afghanistan) are the key players to watch.

Stay tuned for live updates, commentary, and scorecard coverage of the final match of the 2025 UAE T20I TriSeries.
“`