Veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi was instrumental in helping Afghanistan defeat a newly reorganised Pakistan team by six wickets in the first Twenty20 International of a three-game series on Friday.
In Sharjah Stadium, Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat. Nabi finished with 2-12 and was ably supported by Mujeeb Ur Rahman (2-9) and pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi (2-13) to limit Pakistan to 92-9.
Then, Nabi maintained his composure with a careful run-per-ball score of 38 not out. He then scored 53 runs for the fifth wicket, unbroken, with Najibullah Zadran (17 not out), assisting Afghanistan in reaching the mark in 17.5 overs.
Following two more boundaries from Naseem Shah in the following over, Nabi smashed a six off Ihsanullah to secure the victory. Nabi’s first boundary came off the 27th ball.
This marks Afghanistan’s first victory over Pakistan in four Twenty20 international games.
Ihsanullah (2-17), a pace bowler, dismissed Ibrahim Zadran (nine) with the first ball of his T20I career before getting Gulbadin Naib (nought), leaving Afghanistan at 45-4 and in danger of losing, but Nabi and Najibullah saw to it that victory was secured.
Pakistan gave T20I debuts to Saim Ayub, Tayyab Tahir, Ihsanullah, and Zaman Khan after resting five crucial players for the series: the captain Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Haris Rauf.
On a low, slow Sharjah Stadium field that aided Afghanistan’s three-pronged spin attack, Pakistan was 41-5 in the eighth over.
Imad Wasim led the way with 18 runs, followed by Ayub (17), Tahir (16), and captain Shadab Khan (12).
Wasim attempted to save the innings with a 32-ball innings that contained no boundaries, but Ayub, famed for his power hitting, scored two boundaries and a six in his 15-ball innings.
The highest partnership of the innings, a 19-run partnership between Wasim and captain Shadab Khan (12), came for the sixth wicket.
Azam Khan, a recalled power batter, and Abdullah Shafique were held scoreless.
Other low T20I scores for Pakistan are 74 against Australia in Dubai in 2012, 82 against the West Indies in Dhaka in 2014, 83 against India in Dhaka in 2016, and 89 against England in Cardiff in 2010.
The remaining games in this first bilateral series between the two nations will also be played in Sharjah on Sunday and Monday.
