The Afghanistan cricket team honored the victims of the recent earthquake in their country with a decisive victory over the UAE in the tri-series at the historic Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Monday.
Before the match began, there was a poignant moment as both teams observed a minute of silence for those who lost their lives in the tragic earthquake.
For the Afghan players, participating in the international match was emotionally taxing after the earthquake claimed over 800 lives back home.
UAE and Afghanistan players observe a moment of silence before the match.
Despite the emotional challenge, the Afghan team was determined to excel, clinching a 38-run victory against the UAE.
Batting first, Afghanistan scored 188 for four in 20 overs, with Ibrahim Zadran (63 off 40 balls) and Sediqullah Atal (54 off 40 balls) hitting impressive half-centuries.
Contributions from Karim Janat (23 not out off 10 balls) and Azmatullah Omarzai (20 not out off 12 balls) helped Afghanistan post a formidable total.
Captain Rashid Khan (3/21) and Sharafuddin Ashraf (3/24) took six wickets between them, limiting the UAE to 150 for eight.
UAE’s captain Muhammad Waseem (67 off 37 balls) and Rahul Chopra (52 not out off 35 balls) batted well, yet they lacked support from the rest of the lineup.
This victory marked Afghanistan’s first win in the tri-series, while the UAE faced their second consecutive loss after being defeated by Pakistan on Saturday.
Pakistan, leading the table with two wins from two matches, is set to play against Afghanistan on Tuesday.
The T20I tri-series in Sharjah is a vital preparatory event for the upcoming Asia Cup (September 9-28) in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
