Afghanistan vs Pakistan: Who Will Take Control in Sharjah?

The UAE T20 Tri-Series has already given its quota of surprises, and the Pakistan vs Afghanistan contest is again in the limelight. On September 2, Afghanistan shocked Pakistan by 18 runs at Sharjah, a sign that they are no longer underdogs in the short format. Now that both sides face each other again, the question remains as to whether Pakistan can recover or will Afghanistan continue to strangle them with another win?

Flashback to the Last Encounter

Ibrahim Zadran became the Player of the Match, and he scored 65 off 45 balls to help Afghanistan win. His rigorous yet ferocious knock had pinned Afghanistan at 169/5, giving his team a manageable amount on the Sharjah pitch. Afghanistan continued to keep its head on the bowling front and frustrated the Pakistan chase and restricted them to 151/9. 

The batting had its good moments, but collapsed at the worst of times in Pakistan. Their middle order was strained by the burden of the scoreboard, and Afghanistan’s bowlers seized the crucial moments with sharp fielding and disciplined lines. It was a clinical exhibition that made Pakistan seek answers.

Why Afghanistan Could Do It Again

The strength of Afghanistan is in the balance between departments.

• Batting Anchors: Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz are reliable batting anchors right at the top of the batting order, and they open the door to middle-order hitters like Najibullah Zadran and Mohammad Nabi.
   
• Spin Strength: The three Rashid Khan, Mujeeb ur Rahman, and Nabi are flourishing in a spin-friendly environment in Sharjah. Not many teams have the control and variations like the ones that Afghanistan spinners come with.
   
• Momentum: After securing their previous victory with great confidence, Afghanistan comes to the battle with rhythm, faith, and the psychological advantage of having already defeated Pakistan at the tournament.

When Afghanistan is able to carry out its plans peacefully, then Pakistan is once again left chasing shadows as it used to.

Why Pakistan Can Bounce Back

But writing Pakistan off would be a mistake. This is a side that has made comebacks its trademark.

• Explosive Openers: Saim Ayub and Hasan Nawaz have already shown glimpses of their destructive abilities. If they get going in the power play, Afghanistan’s bowlers could be put on the back foot.
   
• Bowling Depth: Haris Rauf, Faheem Ashraf, and Hasan Ali form a pace battery that can unsettle Afghanistan’s top order with raw pace and well-directed short deliveries.
   
• Learning Curve: Pakistan has a rich history of learning quickly from setbacks. Having tasted defeat, expect tactical adjustments — perhaps shuffling the batting order or experimenting with bowling rotations — to counter Afghanistan’s spin choke.

Key Battles to Watch

• Rashid Khan vs Pakistan’s Middle Order – Can Pakistan’s batters survive Rashid’s four overs without losing momentum?
   
• Saim Ayub vs Fazalhaq Farooqi – The aggressive left-hander against the clever left-arm seamer. A duel that could shape the power play.
   
• Ibrahim Zadran vs Haris Rauf – The calm accumulator versus the fiery pacer. Whoever wins this mini-battle may set the tone for the match.

What Could Happen in Sharjah?

The Sharjah surface traditionally favors batters in the early overs, but slows down towards the end of the game, making spin more and more important. The toss might be the key - it has been a winning tactic to bat first and to set a difficult total here.

If Pakistan’s top order fires and their bowlers strike early, they have every chance of flipping the script and leveling the rivalry. However, if Afghanistan’s spinners dominate the middle overs and Zadran continues his fine form, Pakistan could once again be left chasing in vain.

Final Word

This isn’t just another Tri-Series clash — it’s a battle of pride, momentum, and psychological advantage ahead of bigger tournaments. Afghanistan will walk in with confidence, Pakistan with hunger. One has momentum, the other has pedigree.

So, the question lingers: Will Afghanistan make it two in a row, or will Pakistan remind everyone why they’re still one of the most dangerous T20 sides in the world?

The answer awaits under the Sharjah floodlights.