Pakistan defeated Afghanistan by 39 runs in the opening match of the tri-nation series.
Chasing a target of 183 runs at Sharjah, Afghanistan were bowled out for 143 in 19.5 overs.
For Afghanistan, skipper Rashid Khan top-scored with 39 runs, while Rahmanullah Gurbaz made 38, Sadiqullah Atal 23, Darwish Rasooli 21, Ibrahim Zadran 9, Mujeeb Ur Rahman 4, Mohammad Nabi 3, and Fareed Ahmad 1. Karim Janat and Azmatullah Omarzai were dismissed without scoring, while Fazalhaq Farooqi remained unbeaten on 1 run.
From Pakistan’s bowling side, Haris Rauf starred with 4 wickets, while Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Nawaz, and Sufyan Muqeem picked up 2 wickets each.
Earlier, Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat, scoring 182 for 7 in 20 overs.
Captain Salman Agha played a key innings of 53 not out, while Sahibzada Farhan (21), Mohammad Nawaz (21), Fakhar Zaman (20), Mohammad Haris (15), Faheem Ashraf (14), Saim Ayub (14), and Hasan Nawaz (9) contributed to the total.
For Afghanistan, Fareed Ahmad claimed 2 wickets, while Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, and Azmatullah Omarzai took 1 wicket each.
