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Afghanistan vs UAE Highlights, T20 World Cup 2026: Afghanistan beat UAE by 5 wickets to clinch first win

Afghanistan vs UAE Highlights, T20 World Cup 2026: Azmatullah Omarzai produced a stunning all-round performance to lead Afghanista...

The Times of India | Feb 16, 2026, 14:59:36 IST

COMPLETED - Match 28 - Delhi
Afg  
162/519.2 Overs
COMPLETED
 
160/920.0 Overs 
Afghanistan beat United Arab Emirates by 5 wickets
View detailed match updates
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14:59 (IST), Feb, 16

What's next? Right then, that is it from this game, where Afghanistan have just about kept their hopes alive, but realistically, both teams will need other results to go their way in the group to have any chance of qualification. Up next, we have a European clash between England and Italy at the historic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. That match is already underway with England electing to bat first, so you can simply switch tabs and stay with us for full coverage of that game. Cheers!

14:58 (IST), Feb, 16

The victorious skipper of Afghanistan - Rashid Khan says that he is happy to win and get two points on the board. Adds that they were all over the place in the first 10 overs and it was a good effort overall to restrict the opposition to 160. Feels that the bowling performance is something they need to improve, as it happened against New Zealand and South Africa as well. On Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rashid feels that he plays aggressively in the Powerplay and sometimes it doesn't come off but also feels that someone like Gurbaz, who is in form, needs to hang around for a bit more. On Mohammad Nabi not bowling today, Rashid says that he is the senior-most member of the side and his experience is crucial but the way Mujeeb bowled, they stuck with him for this game. Ends by saying that they would love to get to the next stage of the competition but want to put their best foot forward and get the win in their final group game.

14:57 (IST), Feb, 16

The captain of United Arab Emirates - Muhammad Waseem says that it was a good game and the boys fought well. Adds that they were 10-15 runs short and with the ball, they gave away a few too many boundary balls, which cost them the game. Mentions that after losing early wickets, Sohaib Khan and Alishan Sharafu batted really well, but he thinks Sharafu's wicket came at the wrong time, but also admits it is part of the game. Waseem says that they kept fighting till the end, they were hungry for the win and the boys showed good intent. Tells that they were excellent in the field as well, which kept them in the match. Ends by saying that it will be a different challenge against a different opposition in the next one, but he is looking forward to it.

14:54 (IST), Feb, 16

Time to catch up with the two skippers...

14:54 (IST), Feb, 16

A defence that faltered late - UAE will feel this one slipped from their grasp after being on top at different phases while defending the total. Junaid Siddique was excellent with the new ball, giving nothing away and picking up an early wicket, while Muhammad Arfan chipped in and later broke the key partnership. However, the two spinners went wicketless, which proved costly. UAE did make a real contest of it, but a lack of execution in the death overs ultimately allowed the game to drift away from them.

14:48 (IST), Feb, 16

UAE build big, then fall away - Earlier in the game, UAE posted a fighting total, but they will feel they left plenty out there after reaching 93 for 2 at the halfway mark. The 84-run stand between Sohaib Khan and Alishan Sharafu was the backbone of the innings, with Khan bringing up his second half-century of the World Cup, but the innings fell away badly at the end. UAE could only add 67 runs in the final 10 overs as they lost seven wickets, failing to cash in on the platform they had built. Azmatullah Omarzai led Afghanistan's charge with a four-wicket haul, while Mujeeb Ur Rahman picked up two and Rashid Khan chipped in with one.

14:47 (IST), Feb, 16

Calm heads under pressure - Afghanistan were rocked early, losing Gurbaz for a duck and slipping to 9 for 1 after three overs. However, Ibrahim Zadran and Gulbadin Naib steadied the innings, adding 30 in the next two overs to get them back on track. Ibrahim Zadran played the anchor role in the chase, and while others chipped in around him, his 53 was vital in setting up the platform. Afghanistan did come under pressure late on, but a pair of important quick cameos from Darwish Rasooli and Omarzai, who added 43 runs together, proved enough to carry them over the line.

14:40 (IST), Feb, 16

PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Azmatullah Omarzai wins the award for his amazing all-round display. 4/15 with the ball and an unbeaten 40 off 21 with the bat. He says that he is very happy with his performance. Reckons that the wicket was playing a bit low to begin with and he tried to hit the hard length. Mentions that it was a bit of a funny first over, with the ball not carrying one time and the other time, it did carry. Azmat adds that they looked to play straight with the bat and the chat was to rotate the strike and put away the bad balls. Feels that in the last game, everyone played well and worked hard but they couldn't get over the line but they are now looking forward to the next game.

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14:37 (IST), Feb, 16

A hard-earned first win - Afghanistan have finally crossed the finish line to claim their first win of this T20 World Cup. It did not come easily, with the UAE pushing them all the way, but Azmatullah Omarzai proved the difference with a clutch all-round performance, delivering with both bat and ball in a thrilling contest, a result that also seals South Africa's qualification for the next round.

14:34 (IST), Feb, 16

4
Overs19.2
Score162 - 5

Junaid Siddique to Azmatullah Omarzai, FOUR! Azmatullah Omarzai ends proceedings in style and brings up Afghanistan's first win of the campaign. Dug in short and outside off, Omarzai stands tall and slaps the ball like a tennis forehand, powering it over extra cover for a boundary. AFGHANISTAN WIN BY 5 WICKETS!

14:33 (IST), Feb, 16

1
Overs19.1
Score158 - 5

Junaid Siddique to Mohammad Nabi, Back of a length and outside off, Nabi goes for the flat-batted shot but toe-ends it towards mid off. The fielder is at the edge of the circle and they pinch a single with ease. 3 needed off 5, UAE need wickets to make things interesting. 

14:33 (IST), Feb, 16

Just 4 needed in the last over now. Can Junaid Siddique pull off something special here?

14:32 (IST), Feb, 16

4
Overs18.6
Score157 - 5

Muhammad Jawadullah to Azmatullah Omarzai, FOUR! Oh, that's a bit cruel on the bowler but that should be the game sealed for Afghanistan. A full ball targeting the leg stump, Azmatullah Omarzai clears the front leg to heave but gets an inside edge past leg stump and the ball rolls away into the fine leg fence. Just 4 needed now off 6 balls.

14:31 (IST), Feb, 16

6
Overs18.5
Score153 - 5

Muhammad Jawadullah to Azmatullah Omarzai, SIX! Azmatullah Omarzai has recovered the last two dots and he is coming up clutch for his team. Hard length, angled across off and there's just too much width on it. Omarzai reaches out and gets a hold of the lofted shot, nailing it over deep cover for a biggie. The 150 is now up for Afghanistan.

14:30 (IST), Feb, 16

0
Overs18.4
Score147 - 5

Muhammad Jawadullah to Azmatullah Omarzai, Oh, unlucky for the bowler but the keeper does well here. Slower delivery, full and slanted well across off. Azmatullah Omarzai has another wild swing at it and gets a big outside edge that falls well short of the keeper. Aryansh Sharma does well to lunge and get his body behind the line of the ball. Another dot ball.

14:29 (IST), Feb, 16

0
Overs18.3
Score147 - 5

Muhammad Jawadullah to Azmatullah Omarzai, Good change-up from Jawadullah. Goes seam-up and slips in a fuller delivery just across the off stump. Azmatullah Omarzai swings and misses.

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14:29 (IST), Feb, 16

1wd
Overs18.3
Score147 - 5

Muhammad Jawadullah to Azmatullah Omarzai, WIDE! Marginal but seems like the right call. Slower one, bowled very full and well outside off, Omarzai fails to get any bat on it.

14:28 (IST), Feb, 16

1
Overs18.2
Score146 - 5

Muhammad Jawadullah to Mohammad Nabi, Slightly fuller and outside off, dabbed away wide of short third for a quick single.

14:27 (IST), Feb, 16

1
Overs18.1
Score145 - 5

Muhammad Jawadullah to Azmatullah Omarzai, Goes for the wide yorker, does Jawadullah and gets it pretty spot-on. Omarzai extends the arms and slashes it to deep backward point for just a single.

14:27 (IST), Feb, 16

Muhammad Jawadullah to bowl the penultimate over.

14:26 (IST), Feb, 16

1
Overs17.6
Score144 - 5

Junaid Siddique to Azmatullah Omarzai, Junaid closes the over out decently after that six off the first ball, and Afghanistan now need 17 runs off 12 balls. Back of a length, slower and wider of the off stump, Omarzai pats it through cover-point for a run.

14:25 (IST), Feb, 16

2
Overs17.5
Score143 - 5

Junaid Siddique to Azmatullah Omarzai, Oh, uppish but in the gap as well. Pitched up, full and outside off, Azmatullah Omarzai lunges and lofts the cover drive wide of long off for a couple of handy runs.

14:25 (IST), Feb, 16

1
Overs17.4
Score141 - 5

Junaid Siddique to Mohammad Nabi, A bit slower, back of a length and outside off, tapped away wide of point for a single by Nabi.

14:24 (IST), Feb, 16

There is still life left in the United Arab Emirates. Mohammad Nabi comes out to the middle now.

14:23 (IST), Feb, 16

0
Overs17.3
Score140 - 5

Junaid Siddique to Darwish Rasooli, OUT! BOWLED'EM! Junaid Siddique strikes back and uproots one of the set batters. Junaid goes searching for the straight yorker, doesn't quite land it perfectly but it is relatively full and dead straight. It tails in a hint as well, Darwish Rasooli hangs back and has a swoosh across the line but ends up playing all around it. The ball zips through and castles into the stumps, ending Rasooli's knock of 33 (23). 21 needed off 15 now.

14:22 (IST), Feb, 16

1
Overs17.2
Score140 - 4

Junaid Siddique to Azmatullah Omarzai, Fullish length, in and around off, Omarzai shows the full face of the blade and pushes it down to long off for a single.

14:22 (IST), Feb, 16

6
Overs17.1
Score139 - 4

Junaid Siddique to Azmatullah Omarzai, SIX! Again, the over starts with a big hit and Afghanistan are cantering towards the finish line at the moment. A back-of-the-hand slower ball from Junaid, shortish length and around off. Azmatullah Omarzai picks it well, waits a bit and then belts it over long off for a biggie. 22 needed now off 17 balls.

14:21 (IST), Feb, 16

Junaid Siddique (2-0-7-1) comes back into the attack.

14:20 (IST), Feb, 16

1
Overs16.6
Score133 - 4

Muhammad Arfan to Azmatullah Omarzai, Another one in the blockhole from Arfan, just outside off. This is squeezed down to deep backward point for a single. 14 off the over, just 28 needed now off 18 balls.

14:20 (IST), Feb, 16

1
Overs16.5
Score132 - 4

Muhammad Arfan to Darwish Rasooli, A yorker, around the sixth stump line. Rasooli jams it out to backward point for a single.

14:19 (IST), Feb, 16

2
Overs16.4
Score131 - 4

Muhammad Arfan to Darwish Rasooli, Full and straight once more, Darwish Rasooli slogs it across between deep square leg and deep mid-wicket again. This time, the fielder from the former region is able to slide to his left and cut it off. Two taken.

14:18 (IST), Feb, 16

4
Overs16.3
Score129 - 4

Muhammad Arfan to Darwish Rasooli, FOUR! An agricultural heave from Rasooli this time and he manages to find the gap as well. Full and angled in at the toes, Rasooli takes the front leg out of the way and smacks it between deep mid-wicket and long on for a boundary.

14:17 (IST), Feb, 16

0
Overs16.2
Score125 - 4

Muhammad Arfan to Darwish Rasooli, What a comeback delivery from Arfan. He jams in the yorker on the off stump line, Rasooli can't do anything but to dig it out.

14:17 (IST), Feb, 16

6
Overs16.1
Score125 - 4

Muhammad Arfan to Darwish Rasooli, SIX! High and handsome from Rasooli! Fuller than a good length and around off, slightly in the slot. Darwish Rasooli gets a good stride in and powers it into the second tier beyond the wide long off fence for a biggie. Perfect start to the over for Afghanistan.

14:17 (IST), Feb, 16

Muhammad Arfan (3-0-16-2) to bowl out now.

14:15 (IST), Feb, 16

1
Overs15.6
Score119 - 4

Simranjeet Singh to Darwish Rasooli, Short and outside off, tapped away through cover-point for a single. 42 needed now off 24 balls.

14:14 (IST), Feb, 16

0
Overs15.5
Score118 - 4

Simranjeet Singh to Darwish Rasooli, Oh, catching opportunity but it lands short! Nagging length, angled into the stumps and this one just stops on the batter. Darwish Rasooli backs away to cut but ends up slicing it back to the bowler. Singh gets rooted in the followthrough, expecting the ball to come towards him but it falls short and Singh can't lunge ahead to grab it.

14:14 (IST), Feb, 16

1
Overs15.4
Score118 - 4

Simranjeet Singh to Azmatullah Omarzai, Dragged length, eased through the off side for a single.

14:13 (IST), Feb, 16

6
Overs15.3
Score117 - 4

Simranjeet Singh to Azmatullah Omarzai, SIX! Just over the top of the fielder in the deep. Full and flat on middle, Azmatullah Omarzai backs away a bit and hammers it flat towards deep cover. Sohaib Khan over there is a few yards inside the ropes and leaps up brilliantly but Azmat gets just enough elevation to clear him.

14:13 (IST), Feb, 16

1
Overs15.2
Score111 - 4

Simranjeet Singh to Darwish Rasooli, Nagging length on off, angling in, Rasooli goes back in his crease and eases it through mid off for one more.

14:12 (IST), Feb, 16

1
Overs15.1
Score110 - 4

Simranjeet Singh to Azmatullah Omarzai, On a shortish length around off, Azmatullah Omarzai gets his hands through and swats it to deep cover for just a run.

14:11 (IST), Feb, 16

1
Overs14.6
Score109 - 4

Muhammad Jawadullah to Azmatullah Omarzai, Good length and on off, Azmatullah Omarzai runs it down to deep third for one.

14:10 (IST), Feb, 16

2
Overs14.5
Score108 - 4

Muhammad Jawadullah to Azmatullah Omarzai, Run out chance! Hard length and around off, Azmatullah Omarzai punches it past point for a run and turns back for the second. Haider Ali, in the deep, picks up the ball but throws it at the wrong end. He tries to score a direct hit at the bowler's end, but the throw should have been at the other end, where Omarzai was struggling. Muhammad Jawadullah is not happy at all.

14:10 (IST), Feb, 16

1
Overs14.4
Score106 - 4

Muhammad Jawadullah to Darwish Rasooli, Safe! Back of a length and on middle, takes pace off, Darwish Rasooli looks to work it across the line but gets a leading edge. It lobs up in the air but lands well in front of mid off. A single taken.

14:09 (IST), Feb, 16

4
Overs14.3
Score105 - 4

Muhammad Jawadullah to Darwish Rasooli, FOUR! A much-needed boundary for Afghanistan! Muhammad Jawadullah looks for the yorker, but just serves this on the pads. Darwish Rasooli manages to glance it away, beating the dive of Simranjeet Singh at short fine to his left for a boundary.

14:08 (IST), Feb, 16

1
Overs14.2
Score101 - 4

Muhammad Jawadullah to Azmatullah Omarzai, Pitched up and on off, Azmatullah Omarzai drills it towards mid off for a single.

14:07 (IST), Feb, 16

0
Overs14.1
Score100 - 4

Muhammad Jawadullah to Azmatullah Omarzai, Fuller delivery, outside off, angling across the batter, Azmatullah Omarzai throws his hands at it but misses.

14:07 (IST), Feb, 16

Haider Ali is bowled out and in comes Muhammad Jawadullah (2-0-17-1) to replace him. 

14:06 (IST), Feb, 16

0
Overs13.6
Score100 - 4

Muhammad Arfan to Darwish Rasooli, Nice change of pace, full and on middle, Darwish Rasooli only manages to block it back to the bowler.

14:06 (IST), Feb, 16

1
Overs13.5
Score100 - 4

Muhammad Arfan to Azmatullah Omarzai, Hard length and outside off, pace on this time, Azmatullah Omarzai swats it to long off for one. 100 UP FOR THE AFGHANS!

260 More Updates

See More Updates
Afghanistan vs UAE Highlights, T20 World Cup 2026: Azmatullah Omarzai delivered a brilliant all-round performance to guide Afghanistan to a five-wicket victory over the United Arab Emirates in their Group D match of the T20 World Cup on Monday. Omarzai starred with both ball and bat, playing a key role in Afghanistan’s first win of the tournament.

The Afghan all-rounder first shone with the ball, picking up four wickets for just 15 runs to restrict UAE to 160 for 9 in their 20 overs. UAE’s Sohaib Khan was the standout performer, scoring 68 off 48 balls, while Alishan Sharafu added a handy 40 off 31 balls to help their side post a competitive total.

In reply, Afghanistan chased down the target comfortably, reaching 162 for 5 in 19.2 overs. Opener Ibrahim Zadran led the chase with a steady 53, setting a solid foundation. Omarzai then finished the job with an unbeaten 40, ensuring Afghanistan crossed the line without any major trouble.

The win gives Afghanistan a crucial boost in Group D after a tough start to the tournament, while UAE will look to regroup after failing to defend their total.

T20 World Cup 2026 Points Table | T20 World Cup Schedule 2026
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