LAHORE – Pakistan will take on Afghanistan in the opening match of the three-nation T20 Tri-Series today (Friday) at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) completing the line-up. The tournament final is scheduled for Sunday, 7 September, between the top two sides on the points table, with all matches being played in Sharjah.
The 17-member Pakistan squad, led by Salman Ali Agha, has been training intensively since arriving in the UAE on 20 August. The team has held multiple sessions and practice matches in Dubai to fine-tune their preparations for the tournament. Salman, who has captained Pakistan in 18 previous matches, will once again shoulder the responsibility of leading a blend of experienced campaigners and promising youngsters. The tri-series holds special significance as it provides all three teams with a crucial opportunity to prepare for the forthcoming ACC Asia Cup, which will feature eight teams and is set to take place in Abu Dhabi and Dubai from 9 to 28 September.
Pakistan have enjoyed a competitive edge against Afghanistan in T20 internationals, winning four of their seven encounters so far. Their only T20I against the UAE was played during the 2016 Asia Cup, where Pakistan secured a comfortable victory. On the eve of the tournament, captain Salman Ali Agha expressed his enthusiasm and confidence in his side’s abilities. “This tri-series will greatly help us in our preparations for the Asia Cup. I am very excited about it and I know it will be a challenging contest for which we are fully ready,” he said. “Leading the Pakistan team is not only an honour for me but also a great responsibility. The team is playing good cricket at the moment and I am hopeful we will continue to deliver strong performances in the matches ahead.”
The Pakistan squad includes a strong pace battery spearheaded by Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf, experienced all-rounders such as Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Nawaz, and Khushdil Shah, as well as batting powerhouses Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub. Rising talents like Hasan Nawaz and Salman Mirza also bring depth and balance to the line-up.
PAKISTAN’S 17-MEMBER SQUAD: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Waseem Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim.
1st Match
Pak vs Afg
Match starts at
8:00 PM
