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- Afghanistan vs UAE Highlights, T20 World Cup 2026: Afghanistan beat UAE by 5 wickets to clinch first win
THE TIMES OF INDIA | Feb 16, 2026, 14:59:36 IST
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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 Afghanistan to a five-wicket win over the United Arab Emirates in their Group D T20 World Cup match on Monday.
The victory marked Afghanistan’s first win of the tournament and came thanks to Omarzai’s impact with both ball and bat.
Bowling first, Omarzai was the standout performer for Afghanistan, returning impressive figures of 4 for 15. His disciplined spell helped restrict UAE to 160 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs.
Sohaib Khan was the top scorer for UAE, smashing 68 off 48 balls, while Alishan Sharafu added a valuable 40 off 31 balls to push the total to a competitive score. However, regular wickets prevented UAE from building bigger partnerships.
Chasing 161 for victory, Afghanistan got off to a solid start through Ibrahim Zadran, who played a composed knock of 53 to anchor the innings. After Zadran’s dismissal, Omarzai once again took charge, scoring an unbeaten 40 to steer Afghanistan home in 19.2 overs. His calm finishing ensured there were no late hiccups in the chase.
UAE bowlers Muhammad Arfan and Junaid Siddique tried to fight back, picking up two wickets each, but Afghanistan’s batting depth proved too strong.
The win will boost Afghanistan’s confidence as they aim to push for qualification from Group D, while UAE will need to bounce back quickly to stay alive in the competition.
T20 World Cup 2026 Points Table | T20 World Cup Schedule 2026
The victory marked Afghanistan’s first win of the tournament and came thanks to Omarzai’s impact with both ball and bat.
Bowling first, Omarzai was the standout performer for Afghanistan, returning impressive figures of 4 for 15. His disciplined spell helped restrict UAE to 160 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs.
Sohaib Khan was the top scorer for UAE, smashing 68 off 48 balls, while Alishan Sharafu added a valuable 40 off 31 balls to push the total to a competitive score. However, regular wickets prevented UAE from building bigger partnerships.
Chasing 161 for victory, Afghanistan got off to a solid start through Ibrahim Zadran, who played a composed knock of 53 to anchor the innings. After Zadran’s dismissal, Omarzai once again took charge, scoring an unbeaten 40 to steer Afghanistan home in 19.2 overs. His calm finishing ensured there were no late hiccups in the chase.
UAE bowlers Muhammad Arfan and Junaid Siddique tried to fight back, picking up two wickets each, but Afghanistan’s batting depth proved too strong.
The win will boost Afghanistan’s confidence as they aim to push for qualification from Group D, while UAE will need to bounce back quickly to stay alive in the competition.
T20 World Cup 2026 Points Table | T20 World Cup Schedule 2026
10:54 (IST) Feb 16
PITCH REPORT - Former Kiwi pacer, Simon Doull, is pitchside. Doull starts by saying that humidity is not going to be a problem but there is a bit of bias on the square boundaries. On one side it is 67 meters and on the other it is just 59 meters, with the straight hit being 73 meters. Former South African skipper, Shaun Pollock, joins him and says that the surface looks patchy. Feels that the last game that was played here, spin played a role as well and sometimes there was turn in excess of over 5 and 6 degrees, which gives Afghanistan the edge.
10:40 (IST) Feb 16
The skipper of United Arab Emirates - Muhammad Waseem says that the boys are confident, but today is a different game and a different challenge. Says that they are ready for the challenge to bat first and they know the first 2-3 overs will be crucial. Informs that they have made a couple of changes with Muhammad Farooq and Mayank Kumar not playing annd the likes of Simranjeet Singh and Syed Haider come in.
10:39 (IST) Feb 16
The captain of Afghanistan - Rashid Khan says that it is a fresh wicket, an early morning game and he thinks it will be better to bat later on. Mentions that they were lucky to be part of one of the best games of cricket but unlucky not to be on the winning side. Says that they cannot dwell on the past, as that game is behind them now and they will have to focus on what's in front of them. Informs that they have made one change as Fazalhaq Farooqi misses out and Ziaur Rahman comes in for him.
10:36 (IST) Feb 16
United Arab Emirates (Playing XI) - Aryansh Sharma (WK), Muhammad Waseem (C), Alishan Sharafu, Sohaib Khan, Syed Haider (In for Mayank Kumar), Harshit Kaushik, Muhammad Arfan, Haider Ali, Simranjeet Singh (In for Muhammad Farooq), Junaid Siddique, and Muhammad Jawadullah.
10:36 (IST) Feb 16
Afghanistan (Playing XI) - Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ibrahim Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan (C), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Ziaur Rahman (In for Fazalhaq Farooqi).
10:09 (IST) Feb 16
AFG vs UAE Live Score: What is at the stake?
Momentum shifts quickly in T20 cricket, and Afghanistan learned this the hard way against South Africa. Now, they have a chance to swing it back in their favour against the UAE in New Delhi.
A win could revive their campaign, while a loss would likely end their tournament early. With pressure mounting and confidence shaken, Afghanistan face a defining moment.
For the UAE, this match is an opportunity to continue their rise and prove they belong among the top teams. Monday’s clash could shape the Group D standings and decide who stays in the World Cup race.
A win could revive their campaign, while a loss would likely end their tournament early. With pressure mounting and confidence shaken, Afghanistan face a defining moment.
For the UAE, this match is an opportunity to continue their rise and prove they belong among the top teams. Monday’s clash could shape the Group D standings and decide who stays in the World Cup race.
10:09 (IST) Feb 16
AFG vs UAE Live Score: Gurbaz needs to step up again
Rahmanullah Gurbaz has been Afghanistan’s brightest spot in the tournament. His form under pressure could decide not just the match against the UAE, but Afghanistan’s entire campaign.
However, the team must adjust its aggressive batting philosophy. When wickets fall, someone must anchor the innings instead of continuing risky shots. This subtle shift could be the difference between qualification and elimination.
With the stakes high, Afghanistan’s approach in this match will reveal how much they have learned from recent collapses.
However, the team must adjust its aggressive batting philosophy. When wickets fall, someone must anchor the innings instead of continuing risky shots. This subtle shift could be the difference between qualification and elimination.
With the stakes high, Afghanistan’s approach in this match will reveal how much they have learned from recent collapses.
10:08 (IST) Feb 16
AFG vs UAE T20 World Cup Live Score: Death-overs bowling a concern for Afghans
Afghanistan’s biggest worry in the tournament has been their death-overs bowling. They have conceded runs heavily in the final overs, ranking among the most expensive teams in that phase. This weakness was evident in their match against South Africa.
Azmatullah Omarzai, despite being their leading wicket-taker, has struggled with economy, while Mohammad Nabi’s finishing abilities with the bat will be crucial moving forward.
If Afghanistan want to stay in the competition, tightening up their bowling at the end and improving batting stability will be essential.
Azmatullah Omarzai, despite being their leading wicket-taker, has struggled with economy, while Mohammad Nabi’s finishing abilities with the bat will be crucial moving forward.
If Afghanistan want to stay in the competition, tightening up their bowling at the end and improving batting stability will be essential.
10:08 (IST) Feb 16
Afghanistan vs UAE Live Score: UAE beat Canada in their last match
The UAE enter their clash against Afghanistan with renewed confidence after a thrilling win over Canada. Their victory highlighted both strong batting and bowling, with Junaid Siddique taking a historic five-wicket haul and Aryansh Sharma scoring an unbeaten 74.
This performance shows the UAE are no longer underdogs and have real depth in their lineup. Afghanistan, on the other hand, are struggling with momentum after two defeats and must win to avoid early elimination.
The match in New Delhi could be a turning point for both teams, with Afghanistan fighting for survival and the UAE aiming to build on their momentum.
This performance shows the UAE are no longer underdogs and have real depth in their lineup. Afghanistan, on the other hand, are struggling with momentum after two defeats and must win to avoid early elimination.
The match in New Delhi could be a turning point for both teams, with Afghanistan fighting for survival and the UAE aiming to build on their momentum.
10:07 (IST) Feb 16
AFG vs UAE Live Score: Hello and welcome to TimesofIndia.com as we get ready for an interesting encounter between Afghanistan and UAE
Stay with us for all the live updates!
Afghanistan are in a must-win situation after their heartbreaking collapse against South Africa, where a promising chase ended in a double Super Over defeat. The loss exposed key issues in their batting and bowling, especially at crucial moments.
Now, they face the UAE in New Delhi in a match that could decide their T20 World Cup fate. Afghanistan have dominated the UAE historically, but recent performances suggest they cannot afford complacency. Batting collapses and expensive death overs have been recurring problems.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz remains their biggest hope, while senior players like Mohammad Nabi and Azmatullah Omarzai must step up to stabilise the team. With the tournament on the line, Afghanistan need a complete performance to stay alive.
Afghanistan are in a must-win situation after their heartbreaking collapse against South Africa, where a promising chase ended in a double Super Over defeat. The loss exposed key issues in their batting and bowling, especially at crucial moments.
Now, they face the UAE in New Delhi in a match that could decide their T20 World Cup fate. Afghanistan have dominated the UAE historically, but recent performances suggest they cannot afford complacency. Batting collapses and expensive death overs have been recurring problems.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz remains their biggest hope, while senior players like Mohammad Nabi and Azmatullah Omarzai must step up to stabilise the team. With the tournament on the line, Afghanistan need a complete performance to stay alive.
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
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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Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
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