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

Rashid Khan to Sohaib Khan, Drops it short and on middle, Sohaib Khan stays back and tucks it towards mid-wicket for a single.

Rashid Khan to Sohaib Khan, Right on the money! Tossed up, full and on middle, Sohaib Khan gets forward and blocks it out.

DRINKS BREAK! Wow, what an entertaining phase of play. The first two overs were filled with drama and took a lot of time to complete but the game has now started to click along at a brisk pace. Afghanistan have dealt the early blows but UAE are now starting to counter-attack. Sohaib Khan is in pristine form and Alishan Sharafu is stepping up as well. The middle phase will be a crucial one and the Afghans will look to pick up a few more wickets. With that said, Rashid Khan brings himself into the attack, right after the break.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Alishan Sharafu, FOUR! Streaky! Mujeeb Ur Rahman dishes out a carrom ball, full and on middle, turns away a bit. Alishan Sharafu looks to work it across the line but gets a leading edge that flies between backward point and short third for a boundary. United Arab Emirates are 55/2 at the end of the Powerplay.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Alishan Sharafu, Quicker one, short and on middle, Alishan Sharafu swipes it away through square leg for a brace. 50 UP FOR UAE!

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Alishan Sharafu, FOUR! Fine shot! Tossed up, full and on middle, Alishan Sharafu moves to the leg side early. He hits it through the line and pumps it over the bowler's head for a boundary.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Sohaib Khan, A bit short and around leg, Sohaib Khan nudges it towards short fine for a run.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Alishan Sharafu, Shouts of 'Catch It.' Flatter, shortish and on middle, angling in. Alishan Sharafu backs away but still gets cramped up. He mistimes his lofted shot wide of mid on, where Rashid Khan dives to his right to make the stop. A single taken.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman gets a third over on the trot.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Alishan Sharafu, Floated, full and on off, turning in, Alishan Sharafu pushes it to short cover.

Ziaur Rahman to Sohaib Khan, FOUR! Up and over, and UAE get 16 runs off the over. This is dug in short over middle and leg, Khan stays back and swings it away over the backward square leg region for a boundary. UAE are on the charge now.

Simon Doull raised an interesting point on air regarding the first review of the game, suggesting that Afghanistan should not have lost it because there was a clear edge and it was the on-field umpire who felt otherwise, meaning the team was effectively penalised for an officiating call. Shaun Pollock agreed with that view, but added that if you asked the umpires, they would argue the decision was given not out because they believed the ball had not carried to the fielder. Pollock then wrapped it up with a smile, saying he would be taking the debate into the next ICC Men's Cricket Committee meeting, given that he is part of it.

Ziaur Rahman to Alishan Sharafu, Length again, in and around off, Sharafu charges down the track and slashes it away down to deep third for just a single.

Ziaur Rahman to Alishan Sharafu, Good-length delivery around off, Sharafu pushes it out towards cover.

Ziaur Rahman to Sohaib Khan, A bit shorter and over middle, Khan nudges it down towards mid-wicket for a single.

Ziaur Rahman to Sohaib Khan, FOUR! Can you believe it? The slip just comes out and the ball gets edged right through that region. On a hard length and in the channel, shapes away late. Khan gets squared up and edges it down to deep third for another boundary. 10 runs off Rehman's first 2 deliveries.

Ziaur Rahman to Sohaib Khan, FOUR! Sohaib does make the most of the Free Hit. Pitched up fuller and on off stump, Sohaib Khan stays leg side of the delivery and smacks it over cover-point for a boundary.

Ziaur Rahman to Alishan Sharafu, Rehman begins on the back of a length and bowls it around off, shaping it away. Sharafu hangs back and steers it through backward point for a single. Uh, oh! The siren has gone off, which means Ziaur Rahman has overstepped and a No Ball is signalled. Free Hit loading...

First bowling change? Yes, Ziaur Rahman replaces Azmatullah Omarzai.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Sohaib Khan, Fullish length around off, Sohaib Khan blocks it with a straight bat.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Sohaib Khan, An appeal for LBW, and given. Sohaib Khan has reviewed it but if it's even umpire's call again, UAE will be three down inside the first four overs. This is bowled from wider on the crease by Mujeeb Ur Rahman, sliding it into the pads. Khan stays back and plays all around it, getting pinged on the front pad. The third umpire has a look at it. No bat involved but Ball Tracking confirms that the ball is going down leg on the angle. Sohaib Khan survives for now. NOT OUT!

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Sohaib Khan, SIX! Sohaib Khan looking to make his form count. Tossed up, full and just outside off, Khan clears the front leg and extends the arms a bit before swatting it over long off for a biggie.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Alishan Sharafu, Nice and full again, on off, driven down to long off for a single.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Alishan Sharafu, Full again, drifted into the legs, Alishan Sharafu looks to get inside the line and sweep it fine but fails to get it away.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Alishan Sharafu, Floated up, fuller and outside off, Sharafu eases it to covers.

Azmatullah Omarzai to Sohaib Khan, Short of a good length and outside off, tapped down in front of point.

Azmatullah Omarzai to Sohaib Khan, Back of a length and outside off, Khan hangs back and dabs it down to backward point.

Azmatullah Omarzai to Alishan Sharafu, Back of a length and around off, Sharafu presses back and nudges it down past backward point for a single.

Azmatullah Omarzai to Alishan Sharafu, FOUR! SHOT! Banged in short over middle, Alishan Sharafu gets up on his toes and rides the bounce well, before pulling it over the square leg region for a boundary.

Azmatullah Omarzai to Sohaib Khan, Banged in short and outside off, Khan backs away and slaps it to deep point for a single.

Azmatullah Omarzai to Alishan Sharafu, Brilliant fielding. Hard length outside off, smacked away firmly towards point where the fielder puts in the dive and makes a half stop. They get a single.

The next batter is Sohaib Khan.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Muhammad Waseem, OUT! LBW! Oh, just clipping the top of the stumps but that's enough when it's given out on-field. Mujeeb Ur Rahman bowls the one that goes the other way from the right-hander. Lands it slower and fuller on off. Muhammad Waseem is drawn forward to block but is beaten past the outside edge and gets hit on the pads. There is a loud appeal and the umpire eventually raises his finger. Waseem reviews but Ball Tracking shows that the ball is clipping the top of off. UAE are two down in the first 2 overs.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Muhammad Waseem, MISFIELD AND FOUR! Oh, that's terrible fielding in the deep. Tossed up on the stumps, Muhammad Waseem lunges to sweep and hits it towards deep square leg. Darwish Rasooli in the deep moves to his right and gets a favourable bounce but just lets it slip through for a boundary.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Muhammad Waseem, FOUR! Powerfully struck. The quicker inswinger from Mujeeb, fired in full at the toes. Waseem just backs away a bit and drills it to the left of mid on for a boundary, the first one of the game.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Muhammad Waseem, Flatter one around off, Muhammad Waseem taps it away into the off side.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Muhammad Waseem, WIDE! An in-drifter, spilled down the leg side by Mujeeb.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Alishan Sharafu, Nice and full again, around middle, Alishan Sharafu strokes it wide of mid on and turns the strike over.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Muhammad Waseem, Mujeeb starts with a full ball on middle and leg, Waseem clips it wide of mid-wicket for one.

An 11-minute first over but filled with plenty of action. It will be spin from the other end as Mujeeb Ur Rahman is ready to share the attack.

Azmatullah Omarzai to Muhammad Waseem, End of a marathon first over, just 2 runs and a wicket off it. Back of a length and outside off, steered down to deep third for a single.

Azmatullah Omarzai to Alishan Sharafu, Good-length delivery around off, shooting off the deck, Alishan Sharafu gets low and awkwardly plays it through backward point for one.

Early blow for United Arab Emirates. Alishan Sharafu walks out to bat at number 3.

We are going upstairs again. However, this time it is an umpire's review to check for a fair catch, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz is involved once more in the game. The replay shows that it is very similar to the first ball of the game, and looks close. After watching a few replays from different angles, the third umpire deems that the ball bounced on top of the fingers of the keeper before nestling into the gloves. Second time lucky for Afghanistan.

Azmatullah Omarzai to Aryansh Sharma, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! We have had just four deliveries but it feels like an eternity. Azmatullah Omarzai drags the length back and hammers an off cutter into the deck. Aryansh Sharma looks to pull but the ball grips in and dips a bit. Sharma ends up getting an underedge and Rahmanullah Gurbaz dives to his left to take a fine catch. Once again, it is not conclusive to begin with and the third umpire is called into action. UltraEdge confirms the nick and after checking plenty of replays, it is confirmed that the ball bounced off the fingers this time, not off the ground. Sharma departs for a four-ball duck and Omarzai gets his 50th T20I wicket.

Azmatullah Omarzai to Aryansh Sharma, Hard length around off, Sharma punches it out towards cover.

Azmatullah Omarzai to Aryansh Sharma, A brute of a delivery again from Azmat. Pitched up fuller and closer to the off stump, Sharma looks to drive but the straightens a touch and zips past the outside edge.

Azmatullah Omarzai to Aryansh Sharma, Drama on the very first ball! Azmatullah Omarzai starts with the outswinger and gets it to move away from the fifth stump line. Aryansh Sharma has a poke at it but seems to be beaten past the outside edge. Is that an appeal for a caught behind? The appeal looked half-hearted to begin with but Afghanistan reckon there is a certain outside edge but aren't convinced if it carried or not. Rahmanullah Gurbaz is confident that his fingers were underneath the ball and the review is taken. UltraEdge does confirm the outside edge but the actual catch seems very dicey. The ball does seem to bounce, but whether that is off the fingers or off the ground is hard to tell. The third umpire checks it thoroughly and feels that the ball hit the turf just before going into the gloves. NOT OUT!

Done with the pre-match formalities! We can see the Afghan players in a huddle where Rashid Khan is giving them a pep talk before they take on the field. Aryansh Sharma and Muhammad Waseem are the two openers for United Arab Emirates. Azmatullah Omarzai has the new ball in hand and is raring to go. Let's play...

It's time for the unfurling of the flags for both countries as the players walk out to the middle and line up for their respective national anthems. It will UAE's first followed by that of Afghanistan.