🏏 Afghanistan vs Pakistan 4th T20I 2025: Afghanistan Stun Pakistan by 18 Runs in Sharjah Thriller Full Match Analysis Highlights & Key Stats
Sharjah, September 02, 2025 — In a high-voltage clash of the United Arab Emirates T20I Tri-Series 2025, Afghanistan defeated Pakistan by 18 runs in the 4th T20I at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
The Afghan team, led by Rashid Khan, displayed a clinical all-round performance as Ibrahim Zadran’s fiery 65 off 45 balls and a disciplined bowling effort helped Afghanistan secure a crucial win.
Pakistan, despite a late flourish from Haris Rauf (34* off 16), fell short at 151/9 while chasing a target of 170. This defeat has raised serious questions about Pakistan’s batting strategy ahead of the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 is around the corner & T20 World Cup 2026.
📌 Match Summary — Afghanistan vs Pakistan 4th T20I 2025
| Match | 4th T20I — UAE Tri-Series 2025 |
|---|---|
| Date | September 02, 2025 |
| Venue | Sharjah Cricket Stadium |
| Result | Afghanistan won by 18 runs |
| Player of the Match | ⭐ Ibrahim Zadran — 65 (45) |
| Series | UAE T20I Tri-Series 2025 |
| Team | Score | Overs | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | 169/5 | 20.0 | 🏆 |
| Pakistan | 151/9 | 20.0 | ❌ Lost by 18 runs |
🇦🇫 Afghanistan’s Batting Brilliance
Afghanistan’s top order set the tone early with Sediqullah Atal and Ibrahim Zadran stitching a powerful 113-run partnership for the second wicket.
🔹 Top Performers for Afghanistan
| Player | Runs | Balls | SR | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ibrahim Zadran ⭐ | 65 | 45 | 144.4 | 8 | 1 |
| Sediqullah Atal | 64 | 45 | 142.2 | 3 | 3 |
| Rashid Khan | 8* | 4 | 200.0 | 0 | 1 |
The highlight was Ibrahim Zadran’s controlled aggression. His quick footwork against spinners and clean hitting against pacers kept Pakistan under pressure throughout.
🇵🇰 Pakistan’s Bowling Struggles
Pakistan’s bowling unit looked clueless against Afghanistan’s fearless batting. Except for Faheem Ashraf, who picked up 4/27, the rest failed to contain runs.
🔹 Pakistan Bowling Figures
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faheem Ashraf ⭐ | 4 | 27 | 4 | 6.75 |
| Saim Ayub | 4 | 18 | 1 | 4.50 |
| Shaheen Afridi | 4 | 27 | 0 | 6.75 |
| Haris Rauf | 3 | 38 | 0 | 12.66 |
| Mohammad Nawaz | 2 | 24 | 0 | 12.00 |
Pakistan’s strategy of short-pitched bowling backfired, as Afghan batters punished anything loose.
🏏 Pakistan’s Batting Collapse
Chasing 170, Pakistan had a nightmare start, losing Saim Ayub for a duck. The middle order crumbled under scoreboard pressure.
🔹 Top Performers for Pakistan
| Player | Runs | Balls | SR | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haris Rauf ⭐ | 34* | 16 | 212.5 | 0 | 4 |
| Fakhar Zaman | 25 | 18 | 138.8 | 3 | 1 |
| Salman Agha | 20 | 15 | 133.3 | 1 | 1 |
| Sahibzada Farhan | 18 | 13 | 138.4 | 1 | 2 |
Pakistan’s top and middle order failures once again exposed their inconsistent batting strategy.
🔑 Key Turning Points of the Match
- Sediqullah & Zadran’s Partnership — 113 runs stand changed the game.
- Faheem Ashraf’s 4-Wicket Burst — Briefly pulled Pakistan back, but lacked support.
- Rashid Khan’s Quickfire Finish — Late fireworks took Afghanistan to a defendable total.
- Pakistan’s Powerplay Collapse — 3 wickets inside 4 overs crushed the chase.
- Haris Rauf’s Fighting Knock — Came too late to change the result.
📊 Key Match Stats — Afghanistan vs Pakistan 4th T20I 2025
| Stat | Afghanistan | Pakistan |
|---|---|---|
| Runs Scored | 169 | 151 |
| Overs Faced | 20 | 20 |
| Boundaries | 12 fours, 6 sixes | 10 fours, 7 sixes |
| Highest Scorer | Ibrahim Zadran (65) | Haris Rauf (34*) |
| Best Bowler | Mohammad Nabi (2/20) | Faheem Ashraf (4/27) |
| Powerplay Score | 50/1 | 37/3 |
| Partnership of Match | Atal & Zadran — 113 runs | None over 40 |
📣 Social Media Reactions
@CricketAFG 🏏🔥: “Ibrahim Zadran is the future of Afghan cricket! What a knock under pressure! 👏 #AFGvPAK”
@GreenArmy 😓: “Pakistan’s middle order collapsing AGAIN! Time for PCB to rethink strategies before Asia Cup & T20 WC 2026.”
@SharjahCrowd 🎉: “Sharjah loves drama! Afghan Tigers roar louder tonight 🐅 #PakVsAfg #T20I”
🏆 What This Means for Afghanistan
- Afghanistan’s win boosts T20I rankings.
- Young stars like Ibrahim Zadran & Sediqullah Atal continue to impress.
- Builds momentum heading into the Tri-Series Final.
⚠️ Concerns for Pakistan
- Middle Order Woes — Inconsistent performances continue. Haris is not performing .
- Pakistan is week in one department —that haris he cannot play spin i think he should replaced with Usman Khan Before Asia. Because Usman Play Spin Well and he know these UAE conditions well.
- Bowling Strategy — Over-reliance on Shaheen & Rauf isn’t working.
- Leadership Questions — Skipper Salman Agha under pressure after poor tactics.
📅 Upcoming Matches — UAE T20I Tri-Series 2025
| Match | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Pakistan vs UAE | September 4, 2025 | Sharjah |
| Afghanistan vs UAE | September 5, 2025 | Sharjah |
| Tri-Series Final | September 7, 2025 | Sharjah |
❓ FAQs — Afghanistan vs Pakistan T20I 2025
Q1. Who won the Afghanistan vs Pakistan 4th T20I 2025?
A: Afghanistan won the match by 18 runs at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
Q2. Who was the Player of the Match?
A: Ibrahim Zadran for his brilliant 65 off 45 balls.
Q3. How many wickets did Faheem Ashraf take?
A: Faheem Ashraf picked up 4 wickets for 27 runs, his best T20I figures against Afghanistan.
Q4. Why did Pakistan lose the match?
A: Pakistan’s batting collapse, poor middle-order contributions, and ineffective bowling in the death overs cost them the game.
Q5. When is Pakistan’s next T20I match?
A: Pakistan will face UAE on September 4, 2025 in Sharjah.
🏁 Final Thoughts
Afghanistan’s stunning 18-run victory over Pakistan in the 4th T20I of the UAE Tri-Series 2025 has not only shaken up the tournament but also raised serious concerns for Pakistan’s T20 setup ahead of the Asia Cup 2025 and the T20 World Cup 2026.
While Afghanistan’s fearless approach — led by Ibrahim Zadran and Sediqullah Atal — showed the strength of their rising stars, Pakistan’s struggles exposed deeper tactical and selection issues.
The biggest takeaway for Pakistan is the middle-order inconsistency and the lack of adaptability against quality spin bowling. Haris continues to falter against spin in UAE-like conditions, which makes it critical for Pakistan to rethink their wicket-keeping and batting options.
👉 Usman Khan emerges as a strong replacement candidate.
- He plays spin remarkably well.
- Has ample experience in UAE conditions.
- Offers better stability in the middle order.
If Pakistan truly wants to compete in the upcoming tournaments, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) must take bold decisions:
- Strengthen the batting lineup with players suited for spin-heavy tracks.
- Diversify bowling strategies beyond Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf.
- Work on tactical adaptability under pressure.
Afghanistan, on the other hand, carries massive momentum and confidence heading into the Tri-Series Final, showing they are no longer underdogs but a serious T20 force.
Pakistan now faces a do-or-die situation — not just in this series but for their T20 cricket future.