The UAE T20I Tri-Series 2025 is entering its crucial stage, and Friday night’s clash between Afghanistan (AFG) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium promises to be decisive in shaping the tournament’s final lineup. The game, scheduled for September 5 at 8:30 pm (IST), will be the sixth and final group-stage encounter of the tri-series featuring Pakistan as the third side.
This fixture will be the second meeting between Afghanistan and UAE in this tournament. In their previous encounter earlier in the series, Afghanistan came out on top with a convincing 38-run victory, showcasing their batting strength and bowling depth. Now, both teams head into this contest with very different stakes — Afghanistan eyeing a secure spot in the final, and UAE fighting to stay alive in the competition.
Team Overviews
Afghanistan
The Afghans started their campaign with a loss against Pakistan but bounced back in style, particularly against UAE. Their batting has shown promise with youngsters like Sediqullah Atal stepping up, while experienced names such as Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Mohammad Nabi, and Rashid Khan continue to provide balance and stability. Their bowlers, led by Rashid Khan and Fazalhaq Farooqi, have used Sharjah’s conditions well, applying pressure in the middle overs and at the death. Afghanistan will once again rely on their spin trio of Rashid, Noor Ahmad, and Ghazanfar to make the difference.
United Arab Emirates
For the hosts UAE, it has been a tough ride so far. Their schedule is packed, with two games to be played within 24 hours, leaving them little room to regroup. Skipper Muhammad Waseem remains their most reliable batter, while Asif Khan and Rahul Chopra provide support in the middle order. The bowling unit, featuring Junaid Siddique and Muhammad Rohid Khan, has found it hard to contain power-hitters in the opposition, but playing at home under pressure might bring out a better fight.
Head-to-Head Record
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Total Matches Played: 14
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Afghanistan Wins: 11
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UAE Wins: 3
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No Result: 0
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First-Ever Fixture: February 29, 2016
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Most Recent Fixture: September 1, 2025 (Afghanistan won by 38 runs)
The numbers clearly tilt in Afghanistan’s favour, with the side dominating this rivalry over the years.
Probable Playing XIs
Afghanistan (AFG):
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan (c), AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi
United Arab Emirates (UAE):
Muhammad Zohaib, Muhammad Waseem (c), Asif Khan, Rahul Chopra (wk), Ethan D’Souza, Harshit Kaushik, Dhruv Parashar, Saghir Khan, Haider Ali, Muhammad Rohid Khan, Junaid Siddique
Key Players to Watch
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Sediqullah Atal (AFG): The in-form batter has already scored 141 runs at an average of 47 in this series. His consistency at the top of the order makes him Afghanistan’s most reliable run-scorer.
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Rashid Khan (AFG): Afghanistan’s captain and star spinner is finding rhythm again. His four-over spells have been decisive, often breaking partnerships and turning the match in his side’s favour.
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Muhammad Waseem (UAE): The captain and opener carries the hopes of his side. If UAE are to cause an upset, Waseem’s contribution with the bat will be crucial.
Pitch Report – Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Sharjah’s surface generally favours batting first. Scores of 160+ are competitive, as batting tends to get tougher under lights in the second innings. The ball grips for spinners, making stroke play challenging as the game progresses. Teams winning the toss usually prefer to put runs on the board and defend with spin in the middle overs.
Probable Match Scenarios
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Scenario 1: Afghanistan bowl first
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Powerplay Score: 30–40
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UAE Total: 135–145
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Result: Afghanistan to chase down comfortably.
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Scenario 2: UAE bowl first
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Powerplay Score: 45–55
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Afghanistan Total: 165–175
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Result: Afghanistan defend successfully with spinners in charge.
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Match Prediction
Afghanistan hold the upper hand thanks to their depth in both batting and bowling. With Rashid Khan leading from the front and youngsters like Atal delivering with the bat, the Afghans look stronger and better balanced than the hosts. UAE, despite home advantage, face an uphill task given their form and demanding schedule.
Prediction: Afghanistan to win and qualify for the final.