The UAE T20I Tri-Series 2025 lit up the Sharjah Cricket Stadium with nine unforgettable days of fast-paced cricket, fierce rivalries, and high-pressure finishes. Featuring three competitive sides — hosts United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, and Afghanistan — the tournament served as a vital preparatory event ahead of bigger continental challenges. With every match played under the iconic Sharjah lights, the series followed a double round-robin format before culminating in a high-stakes final.
Pakistan eventually emerged as champions, but the road to the title was anything but simple. Afghanistan pushed them to the limit with aggressive performances, while the UAE, despite going winless, won hearts with fearless batting and spirited bowling efforts. From record-breaking feats to last-over thrillers, the UAE T20I Tri-Series 2025 delivered everything fans expect from elite T20 cricket.
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The Round Robin Stage: Battles Under the Sharjah Lights
Each team played four league matches, creating an intense race for the top two spots. Pakistan and Afghanistan moved ahead with three wins each, setting up a final clash that promised fireworks.
Match 1: Pakistan vs Afghanistan – Pakistan Survives the First Test
Match Detail
Team 1 & Score: Pakistan – 182/7 (20 ov)
Team 2 & Score: Afghanistan – 143 (19.5 ov)
Result: Pakistan won by 39 runs
Man of the Match: Salman Ali Agha (PAK)
Date: August 29, 2025
The tournament opener of the UAE T20I Tri-Series 2025 kicked off with intensity as Pakistan and Afghanistan renewed their growing rivalry. Pakistan’s innings was expertly controlled by skipper Salman Ali Agha, whose composed 53* off 36 balls anchored the total at 182.
Afghanistan began the chase with confidence, and Rashid Khan’s quick 39 injected belief, but Pakistan’s pace attack struck at the right moments. Haris Rauf’s fiery spell of 4/31 shifted the momentum decisively. Agha’s calm leadership and steady batting earned him the first Player of the Match award of the tournament.
Match 2: Pakistan vs United Arab Emirates – A Display of Raw Power
Match Detail
Team 1 & Score: Pakistan – 207 (20 ov)
Team 2 & Score: United Arab Emirates – 176/8 (20 ov)
Result: Pakistan won by 31 runs
Man of the Match: Saim Ayub (PAK)
Date: August 30, 2025
Pakistan unleashed their power game in the second fixture of the UAE T20I Tri-Series 2025. Young opener Saim Ayub played a fearless knock of 69 from just 38 balls, tearing into the UAE bowling attack and powering Pakistan past 200.
The UAE responded with remarkable intent. Asif Khan’s blistering 77 off 35 balls turned the chase into a real contest, forcing Pakistan to defend deep into the innings. Despite the late charge, Pakistan held firm, and Ayub’s explosive start rightly earned him the match honor.
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Match 3: United Arab Emirates vs Afghanistan – Rashid Writes History
Match Detail
Team 1 & Score: Afghanistan – 188/4 (20 ov)
Team 2 & Score: United Arab Emirates – 150/8 (20 ov)
Result: Afghanistan won by 38 runs
Man of the Match: Sharafuddin Ashraf (AFG)
Date: September 1, 2025
Afghanistan asserted control in their first win of the UAE T20I Tri-Series 2025. Ibrahim Zadran’s fluent 63 provided structure to their innings as they posted a commanding 188.
Chasing a tall target, UAE captain Muhammad Waseem fought bravely with 67, but the required rate kept climbing. Rashid Khan stole headlines with a sensational 3/21 and, in the process, surpassed Tim Southee to become the highest wicket-taker in men’s T20I history. Sharafuddin Ashraf’s valuable all-round effort (22 runs and two wickets) earned him Player of the Match.
Match 4: Pakistan vs Afghanistan – Afghanistan Strike Back
Match Detail
Team 1 & Score: Afghanistan – 169/5 (20 ov)
Team 2 & Score: Pakistan – 151/9 (20 ov)
Result: Afghanistan won by 18 runs
Man of the Match: Ibrahim Zadran (AFG)
Date: September 2, 2025
The most defining upset of the league stage unfolded in this high-voltage contest of the UAE T20I Tri-Series 2025. Ibrahim Zadran once again delivered under pressure, crafting a polished 65 to lift Afghanistan to 169.
Pakistan’s chase struggled against sharp Afghan spin. Despite a late attacking effort from Haris Rauf, the target slipped away. Noor Ahmad and Mohammad Nabi controlled the middle overs brilliantly. Zadran’s back-to-back impact performances earned him the Player of the Match award.
“This defeat reminded us how unforgiving T20 cricket can be,” a Pakistan team official admitted post-match.
Match 5: Pakistan vs United Arab Emirates – Fakhar Takes Charge
Match Detail
Team 1 & Score: Pakistan – 171/5 (20 ov)
Team 2 & Score: United Arab Emirates – 140/7 (20 ov)
Result: Pakistan won by 31 runs
Man of the Match: Abrar Ahmed (PAK)
Date: September 4, 2025
With a final berth on the line, Pakistan delivered a composed performance. Fakhar Zaman stood tall with a commanding 77* off 44 balls, controlling the tempo perfectly.
UAE’s chase never truly gathered momentum as Abrar Ahmed’s spell of 4/9 completely dismantled the middle order. His deceptive variations proved impossible to read, sealing Pakistan’s place in the final and earning him Player of the Match honors.
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Match 6: Afghanistan vs United Arab Emirates – Heartbreak for the Hosts
Match Detail
Team 1 & Score: Afghanistan – 170/4 (20 ov)
Team 2 & Score: United Arab Emirates – 166/5 (20 ov)
Result: Afghanistan won by 4 runs
Man of the Match: Ibrahim Zadran (AFG)
Date: September 5, 2025
The final league match of the UAE T20I Tri-Series 2025 nearly delivered a fairy-tale victory for the UAE. Afghanistan’s 170 was built on another reliable Zadran contribution of 48.
The UAE chase kept fans on their feet until the last delivery. Contributions across the order brought the hosts within touching distance, but they narrowly missed out by just four runs. Zadran’s consistency throughout the tournament earned him yet another Player of the Match award.
“Close games shape winning teams. We held our nerve when it mattered most,” Afghanistan’s stand-in captain reflected afterward.
The Grand Finale: Pakistan Seals the Crown
With Pakistan and Afghanistan advancing, the stage was set for a thrilling rematch — experience versus fearless aggression.
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Final: Pakistan vs Afghanistan – Mohammad Nawaz’s Dominant Finale
Match Detail
Team 1 & Score: Pakistan – 141/8 (20 ov)
Team 2 & Score: Afghanistan – 66 (15.5 ov)
Result: Pakistan won by 75 runs
Man of the Match: Mohammad Nawaz (PAK)
Date: September 7, 2025
The final of the UAE T20I Tri-Series 2025 turned into a one-sided spectacle. Pakistan’s modest 141 looked vulnerable at the halfway mark, but what followed was a breathtaking bowling display.
Mohammad Nawaz produced a career-defining spell, ripping through Afghanistan’s batting order with a stunning hat-trick on his way to figures of 5/19. Afghanistan collapsed for just 66, their lowest T20I total against a full-member nation. Pakistan lifted the trophy with a commanding 75-run victory. Nawaz was named both Player of the Match and Player of the Series.
Final Verdict: A Series That Delivered on Every Front
The UAE T20I Tri-Series 2025 concluded with Pakistan asserting their depth and composure under pressure. Afghanistan emerged as genuine challengers with fearless cricket, while the UAE gained priceless exposure against elite opposition.
With record-breaking moments, nail-biting finishes, and match-winning individual brilliance, the series served as a perfect build-up to the Asia Cup and reinforced Sharjah’s legacy as one of cricket’s most electrifying venues.