🌟 Afghanistan Bounce Back Strong in Sharjah 🇦🇫🔥
The 3rd T20I of the UAE Tri-Series 2025 saw Afghanistan return to winning ways with a 38-run victory over hosts United Arab Emirates at the iconic Sharjah Cricket Stadium on 1st September 2025.
Batting first, Afghanistan posted a massive 188/4 on the back of Ibrahim Zadran’s fiery 63, Sediqullah Atal’s solid 54, and a late blitz from Karim Janat. In reply, despite Muhammad Waseem’s explosive 67 and Rahul Chopra’s fighting 52, UAE fell short, finishing at 150/8 in their 20 overs.
📊 Afghanistan vs UAE 3rd T20I 2025 — Match Summary 📅
| Match | UAE vs Afghanistan — 3rd T20I Tri-Series 2025 |
|---|---|
| Date | 1st September 2025 |
| Venue | Sharjah Cricket Stadium, UAE |
| Result | Afghanistan won by 38 runs |
| Player of the Match | Sharafuddin Ashraf (3/24) |
| Cricinfo MVP | Rashid Khan — 72.88 impact points |
| Series | UAE Tri-Series 2025 |
| Teams | UAE 🇦🇪 vs Afghanistan 🇦🇫 |
🏏 Afghanistan’s Explosive Batting Performance 🚀
🔹 Sediqullah Atal Anchors the Innings 🧱
- Scored 54 runs off 40 balls
- Hit 4 fours and 3 sixes
- Provided stability at the top
Sediqullah set the perfect platform for Afghanistan by rotating the strike early and attacking at the right moments.
🔹 Ibrahim Zadran’s Power-Packed Knock 💥
- Scored 63 runs off just 40 balls
- Smashed 3 fours and 4 towering sixes
- Maintained a strike rate of 157.50
Ibrahim’s aggressive batting shifted the momentum, putting UAE bowlers under tremendous pressure.
🔹 Karim Janat’s Late Carnage 🎯
- 23 off 10 balls*
- 2 fours and 2 sixes
- Strike rate: 230.00
Karim Janat’s finishing heroics ensured Afghanistan crossed 185+, making it a daunting chase for UAE.
⚡ UAE’s Fightback — Waseem and Chopra Stand Tall 🇦🇪
🔹 Muhammad Waseem’s Fiery 67 🔥
- Faced 37 balls
- Hit 4 fours and 6 maximums
- Strike rate: 181.08
Waseem gave UAE early hope with a blistering knock, but lacked support from the other end.
🔹 Rahul Chopra’s Lone Battle 🏹
- Scored 52 off 35 balls*
- 3 fours and 3 sixes
- Anchored UAE’s innings till the end
Despite Chopra’s resilience, UAE’s middle order collapsed, derailing their chase.
🎯 Bowling Heroes — Rashid Khan & Sharafuddin Ashraf 👑
🐐 Rashid Khan — The Wicket Machine 🏆
- 4 overs | 21 runs | 3 wickets | Economy: 5.25
- Became the No.1 wicket-taker in T20Is 🥇
- Delivered key breakthroughs when UAE threatened to chase
🌟 Sharafuddin Ashraf — Player of the Match 🎖️
- 4 overs | 24 runs | 3 wickets | Economy: 6.00
- Dismissed Muhammad Waseem, Saghir Khan, and Haider Ali
- Turned the game in Afghanistan’s favor
📌 Afghanistan’s Bowling Strategy 🧠
Afghanistan’s spinners, Rashid Khan and Sharafuddin Ashraf, applied constant pressure, exploiting Sharjah’s turning track. Their combined 6 wickets broke UAE’s backbone and restricted their scoring opportunities.
📊 Full Match Scorecard — Afghanistan vs UAE 3rd T20I 2025
Afghanistan Innings 🏏 — 188/4 (20 Overs)
- Ibrahim Zadran — 63 (40) 🏆
- Sediqullah Atal — 54 (40)
- Karim Janat — 23 (10)*
- Azmatullah Omarzai — 20 (12)*
Top UAE Bowlers:
- Sharafuddin Ashraf — 3/24 ✅
- Saghir Khan — 2/52
UAE Innings 🏏 — 150/8 (20 Overs)
- Muhammad Waseem — 67 (37) 🔥
- Rahul Chopra — 52 (35)*
- Ethan D’Souza — 12 (11)
Top Afghanistan Bowlers:
- Rashid Khan — 3/21 ✅
- Sharafuddin Ashraf — 3/24 ✅
- Mohammad Nabi — 1/9
🏆 Key Records & Stats from the Match 📈
- Rashid Khan becomes No.1 all-time wicket-taker in T20Is.
- Afghanistan posts their highest total against UAE in T20Is (188/4).
- Muhammad Waseem’s 67 is now his highest T20I score vs Afghanistan.
- Sharafuddin Ashraf’s 3/24 is his career-best bowling in T20Is.
📌 UAE Tri-Series 2025 Points Table 📊
| Team | Matches | Wins | Losses | Points | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | +1.750 |
| Afghanistan 🇦🇫 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -0.025 |
| UAE 🇦🇪 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -1.725 |
(Updated after 3rd T20I — subject to change as the series progresses)
🔥 Key Takeaways
- Afghanistan vs UAE 3rd T20I highlights
- UAE Tri-Series 2025 results
- Rashid Khan T20I wickets record
- Afghanistan vs UAE live score
- Ibrahim Zadran 63 vs UAE
- Muhammad Waseem 67 vs Afghanistan
- Sharafuddin Ashraf player of the match
- Afghanistan cricket news today
❓ FAQs — Afghanistan vs UAE 3rd T20I 2025
Q1. Who won the 3rd T20I between Afghanistan and UAE?
A: Afghanistan defeated UAE by 38 runs.
Q2. Who was the player of the match?
A: Sharafuddin Ashraf won the award for his 3/24.
Q3. Who is the leading wicket-taker in T20Is now?
A: Rashid Khan became the No.1 all-time wicket-taker in men’s T20Is.
Q4. What was Afghanistan’s total in the match?
A: Afghanistan scored 188/4 in 20 overs.
Q5. What’s next in the UAE Tri-Series 2025?
Afghanistan faces Pakistan in the 4th T20I at Sharjah.
🎯 Final Thoughts
This 38-run victory not only brings Afghanistan back into contention in the UAE Tri-Series 2025 but also marks a historic day for Rashid Khan, who became the leading wicket-taker in T20Is. With Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, and Sharafuddin Ashraf in sublime form, Afghanistan look dangerous contenders for the Tri-Series title.
For UAE, Muhammad Waseem’s fireworks and Rahul Chopra’s grit were positives, but their middle-order collapse cost them the game. They must regroup quickly before their next encounter.