The stage is set for a high-voltage clash as Pakistan take on Afghanistan in the final of the UAE T20 Tri-Series 2025 on Sunday, September 7, at the iconic Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Both teams have been in fine form throughout the competition, winning three out of their four group-stage encounters. Pakistan, however, finished at the top of the table due to a superior net run rate, while Afghanistan secured the second spot.
Teams’ Journey So Far
Afghanistan sealed their place in the final with a thrilling four-run win against hosts UAE. Batting first, they posted 170/4, powered by a composed knock from Ibrahim Zadran, who scored 48 off 35 deliveries. Despite UAE’s fighting effort, Afghanistan held their nerve, restricting them to 166/5. Ibrahim was rightly awarded the Player of the Match for his crucial innings.
Pakistan, on the other hand, showcased their dominance against the UAE in their last league match. Riding on Fakhar Zaman’s unbeaten 77 off 44 balls, Pakistan put up 171/5 before their bowlers restricted UAE to 140/7, clinching a convincing 31-run victory. This win underlined Pakistan’s balance in both batting and bowling departments.
PAK vs AFG: Match Details
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Match: Pakistan vs Afghanistan, Final, UAE T20I Tri-Series 2025
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Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium
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Date & Time: Sunday, September 7, 8:30 pm (IST)
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Live Streaming: FanCode (app & website)
Pitch Report
The Sharjah surface has traditionally been a batting-friendly track, and recent matches suggest plenty of runs on offer. The average first-innings score in the last 10 games has been 181 runs, with the team batting first winning seven out of those ten encounters. Pacers and spinners are likely to get equal assistance, but batting first has proven advantageous. Captains winning the toss may look to set a target rather than chase.
Head-to-Head Record
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Matches Played: 9
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Pakistan Wins: 5
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Afghanistan Wins: 4
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First Fixture: December 8, 2013
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Most Recent Fixture: September 2, 2025
This evenly balanced record highlights how close contests between these two nations often are, with Afghanistan emerging as genuine challengers to Pakistan’s dominance in recent years.
Probable Playing XIs
Pakistan (captain – Salman Agha):
Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Agha (c), Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Haris (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Salman Mirza, Abrar Ahmed
Afghanistan (captain – Rashid Khan):
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan (c), AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Key Players to Watch
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Ibrahim Zadran (Afghanistan): Currently the leading run-scorer of the tournament with 185 runs in four games at an average of 46.25, including two half-centuries. He has been the backbone of Afghanistan’s batting and will be key in the final.
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Fakhar Zaman (Pakistan): His unbeaten 77 in the last game showed his ability to dominate attacks. Pakistan will rely on his aggressive approach to set the tone at the top.
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Rashid Khan (Afghanistan): Joint-highest wicket-taker of the series with six scalps at an economy of 6.41. His variations in the middle overs could trouble Pakistan’s batting lineup.
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Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pakistan): Known for early breakthroughs, Shaheen’s pace and swing can tilt the match in Pakistan’s favor right from the powerplay.
Probable Match Scenarios
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Scenario 1: Pakistan win the toss and bat first – Powerplay score: 40-50, Total: 160-170 → Pakistan likely to win.
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Scenario 2: Afghanistan win the toss and bat first – Powerplay score: 45-55, Total: 165-175 → Afghanistan have the edge.
Match Prediction
Both sides look evenly matched, but Pakistan’s recent form, experience in big matches, and strong bowling attack make them slight favorites. Prediction: Pakistan to win the final.