Originally, this would have been a straightforward bilateral to give Afghanistan and Pakistan some game time, the former having not played a T20I in almost nine months.
But the UAE stepped in and, with the Asia Cup also decided to be hosted there, the value of the series somewhat increased. Although none of the Asia Cup games will be played in Sharjah, the venue for the tri-series, and with Pakistan and Afghanistan drawn into separate groups, the series might still bring something more than just practice.
That might be truer for Afghanistan and the UAE than for Pakistan. Afghanistan, having not played a single T20I this year, will be glad to finally gather their players. They would also have relished the chance to play again in Sharjah, the ground where they last defeated Pakistan in a T20I.
Pakistan, meanwhile, do not need any bad memories to spoil their mood. They arrive after a difficult stretch, particularly in T20Is, where they suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Bangladesh last month. They made up for it with a similar victory versus West Indies in the Caribbean, but lately, the side has grown more aware that the cracks beneath them are deeper than they feared.
Team Overview:
Afghanistan named all but Naveen ul Haq from their Asia Cup squad for this series. Most of the squad, despite not having played a single T20I for Afghanistan since the Zimbabwe series in December, have been active in leagues across the globe. Whether that translates into cohesion as a unit is something they will find out soon. Rashid Khan, who endured a poor IPL season, seemed back in rhythm during The Hundred and will lead a potent spin attack featuring uncapped rookie AM Ghazanfar, Mohammad Nabi, Noor Ahmad, and Mujeeb Ur Rahman.
The batting lineup is bolstered by the return of Ibrahim Zadran, likely to open with Rahmanullah Gurbaz. Zadran has only played one fixture since his 177-run knock against England in Lahore during the Champions Trophy. Afghanistan will bank on the opening duo to provide quick starts.
Pakistan, despite their recent struggles, have sworn to stay true to their modern T20 batting approach. Their series win over West Indies did bring a few bright spots, including a relatively settled opening pair in Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub, both capable of exploiting the powerplay. Salman Ali Agha, despite captaining the side to victory, has faced scrutiny for his lack of contributions with the bat. UAE’s spin-friendly conditions might ease that pressure, giving him the chance to showcase one of his strongest suits: playing spin.
But that is also where Pakistan might stumble. Until now, they have leaned heavily on part-timers and all-rounders to fill overs. While this extended the batting lineup as deep as No. 8, the absence of specialist bowlers has often left them exposed in tight situations.
Head-to-Head Matches:
Afghanistan and Pakistan have faced off in seven T20Is, and although Pakistan are ahead with four wins, they have lost three of the last four encounters.
Weather and Pitch Report:
The weather in Sharjah will remain clear of any rain, but dew will play a part, as it often does here. The venue marginally favours batters over bowlers, but that advantage will likely grow as the series progresses.
Where to Watch:
Pakistan: ARY Sports, Ten Sports, Tamasha
Afghanistan: Etisalat
Bangladesh: Tapmad, T Sports
India: Fancode App, Euro Sport
South Africa: SuperSport Cricket
MENA: Cricbuzz, Sportainment
UK: ARY Digital
US: Willow TV
Elsewhere: Sports Central
