Pakistani cricket team against Afghanistan in the UAE in 2022–23

Pakistani cricket team against Afghanistan in UAE in 2022–23
 
  Afghanistan Pakistan
Dates 24 – 27 March 2023
Captains Rashid Khan Shadab Khan
Twenty20 International series
Results Afghanistan won the 3-match series 2–1
Most runs Rahmanullah Gurbaz (78) Imad Wasim (95)
Most wickets Fazalhaq Farooqi (5) Ihsanullah (6)
Player of the series Mohammad Nabi (Afg)

The Pakistan cricket team toured the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in March 2023 to play three Twenty20 International (T20I) matches against the Afghanistan cricket team.[1] This was the first bilateral series in any format of international cricket between the two teams.[2]

In November 2022, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) signed a five-year agreement with the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) to play their home matches in the UAE.[3] On 7 March 2023, the ACB confirmed the dates for the tour,[4] with the matches scheduled to be played on 25, 27 and 29 March 2023.[5] However, two days later, changes were made to the schedule due to the availability of the Hawk-Eye technology.[6]

Afghanistan won the first T20I by 6 wickets.[7] It was Afghanistan's first win in international cricket against Pakistan.[8] They also went on to win the second T20I by 7 wickets and took an unassailable lead in the series.[9] It was Afghanistan's first bilateral series win over Pakistan, and their first bilateral T20I series victory against any of the top six teams.[a][10] Pakistan won the third T20I by 66 runs.[11]

Background

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Originally, Afghanistan were scheduled to play three ODI matches each against Australia and Pakistan, with the series being part of 2020–2023 ICC Cricket World Cup Super League.[12] On 12 January 2023, Cricket Australia (CA) withdrew from ODI series against Afghanistan on the grounds of restrictions on women and girls' education and employment in Afghanistan.[13] Australia forfeited the series and the 30 competition points were awarded to Afghanistan.[14]

This series was originally scheduled to take place in 2021 but was postponed following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.[15] On 23 January 2023, Both ACB and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) agreed to play three T20Is instead of ODIs as both were already qualified for the 2023 Cricket World Cup.[16]

Squads

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 Afghanistan[17]  Pakistan[18]

For the series, Pakistan decided to rest their regular captain Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Rizwan, and Fakhar Zaman,[19] with Shadab Khan being named as captain.[20]

Following an erroneous announcement appointing Pakistan's batting coach Mohammad Yousuf as their new interim head coach, Yousuf opted out of the tour citing personal reasons.[21]

T20I series

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1st T20I

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24 March 2023
20:00 (N)
Scorecard
Pakistan 
92/9 (20 overs)
v
 Afghanistan
98/4 (17.5 overs)
Imad Wasim 18 (32)
Mujeeb Ur Rahman 2/9 (4 overs)
Mohammad Nabi 38* (38)
Ihsanullah 2/17 (3.5 overs)
Afghanistan won by 6 wickets
Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
Umpires: Ahmed Shah Pakteen (Afg) and Bismillah Jan Shinwari (Afg)
Player of the match: Mohammad Nabi (Afg)

2nd T20I

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26 March 2023
20:00 (N)
Scorecard
Pakistan 
130/6 (20 overs)
v
 Afghanistan
133/3 (19.5 overs)
Imad Wasim 64* (57)
Fazalhaq Farooqi 2/19 (4 overs)
Rahmanullah Gurbaz 44 (49)
Zaman Khan 1/22 (3.5 overs)
Afghanistan won by 7 wickets
Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
Umpires: Ahmed Shah Pakteen (Afg) and Bismillah Jan Shinwari (Afg)
Player of the match: Fazalhaq Farooqi (Afg)
  • Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat.

3rd T20I

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27 March 2023
20:00 (N)
Scorecard
Pakistan 
182/7 (20 overs)
v
 Afghanistan
116 (18.4 overs)
Saim Ayub 49 (40)
Mujeeb Ur Rahman 2/28 (4 overs)
Azmatullah Omarzai 21 (20)
Shadab Khan 3/13 (4 overs)
Pakistan won by 66 runs
Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
Umpires: Ahmed Shah Pakteen (Afg) and Bismillah Jan Shinwari (Afg)
Player of the match: Shadab Khan (Pak)

Notes

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  1. ^ At that time, top six teams were Australia, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, and South Africa.

References

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  1. ^ "ACB Announces Schedule for Home Series against Pakistan". Pakistan Cricket Board. 10 January 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  2. ^ "Afghanistan to host Pakistan for T20 series in Sharjah from March 25". Dawn. 8 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  3. ^ Friend, Nick (27 November 2022). "UAE to host Afghanistan home matches after agreeing five-year deal". The Cricketer. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  4. ^ "ACB Announces Schedule for Home Series against Pakistan". Afghanistan Cricket Board. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  5. ^ "Afghanistan announce schedule for home series against Pakistan". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  6. ^ "Joint Statement by ACB and PCB". Afghanistan Cricket Board. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  7. ^ "Afghanistan register a historic win against Pakistan". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  8. ^ "Afghanistan beats Pakistan for first time". Risingbd. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  9. ^ "Afghanistan beat Pakistan again, take unassailable lead in three-match series". Gulf Times. 26 March 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  10. ^ "Afghanistan thump Pakistan to clinch historic T20I series win". TimesNow. 27 March 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  11. ^ "AFG vs PAK, 3rd T20I: Shadab Khan Leads Pakistan's Consolation 66-run win, Afghanistan Take Series 2-1". News18. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  12. ^ "Men's Future Tour Programme 2018-2023" (PDF). International Cricket Council. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  13. ^ "Rashid Khan threatens to pull out of BBL over Australia's refusal to play Afghanistan". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  14. ^ "Australia withdraw from ODI series against Afghanistan". Cricket Australia. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  15. ^ "Afghanistan-Pakistan ODI series postponed indefinitely". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  16. ^ "Pakistan not withdrawing from series against Afghanistan". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  17. ^ "ACB Name Squad for Home Series against Pakistan". Afghanistan Cricket Board. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  18. ^ "Shadab to captain Pakistan against Afghanistan in Sharjah". Pakistan Cricket Board. 10 January 2014. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  19. ^ "New-look Pakistan bracing for competitive T20I series with Afghanistan". Supersport. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  20. ^ "Afghanistan look to spring a surprise against Shadab-led Pakistan". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  21. ^ "Pakistan batting coach Mohammad Yousuf opts out of Afghanistan T20I series". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  22. ^ "Afghanistan's bowlers script their first-ever win over Pakistan". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  23. ^ "Nabi, bowlers set up Afghanistan's historic win over Pakistan". The Business Standard. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  24. ^ "Shadab Khan creates new Pakistan record in T20I cricket". Cricket Pakistan. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  25. ^ "Saim Ayub, Ihsanullah sparkle for young Pakistan to avert Afghanistan whitewash". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
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