The Afghanistan National Cricket Team vs United Arab Emirates National Cricket Team match scorecard from the 28th Match of Group D in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 captured a hard-fought contest that finally gave Afghanistan their first win of the tournament. Played at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on 16 February 2026, the game saw Afghanistan chase down 161 with four balls to spare, winning by five wickets.
The pitch at Arun Jaitley Stadium offered some assistance to bowlers early and stayed on the slower side, rewarding disciplined lengths. Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan won the toss and chose to bowl first, a decision that paid dividends through early breakthroughs.
Afghanistan vs United Arab Emirates T20 2026 – Match Summary
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Afghanistan vs United Arab Emirates, 28th Match, Group D |
| Venue | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi |
| Date | 16 February 2026 |
| Tournament | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Toss | Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bowl |
| UAE Score | 160/9 (20 overs) |
| Afghanistan Score | 162/5 (19.2 overs) |
| Result | Afghanistan won by 5 wickets |
| Player of the Match | Azmatullah Omarzai |
Afghanistan National Cricket Team vs United Arab Emirates National Cricket Team Match Scorecard
UAE started poorly as both openers fell cheaply inside the first two overs. Alishan Sharafu and Sohaib Khan then rebuilt the innings with a strong partnership, with Sohaib’s aggressive 68 giving the total respectability. However, regular wickets in the middle and death overs limited them to 160/9.
UAE Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aryansh Sharma (wk) | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Muhammad Waseem (c) | 10 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 166.67 |
| Alishan Sharafu | 40 | 31 | 3 | 2 | 129.03 |
| Sohaib Khan | 68 | 48 | 6 | 4 | 141.67 |
| Syed Haider | 13 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 130.00 |
| Harshit Kaushik | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Muhammad Arfan | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Haider Ali | 13 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 108.33 |
| Simranjeet Singh | 3* | 4 | 0 | 0 | 75.00 |
| Junaid Siddique | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 150.00 |
| Extras | 10 (lb 4, w 4, nb 2) | ||||
| Total | 160/9 (20 overs, RR: 8.00) |
Afghanistan Bowling Scorecard
Azmatullah Omarzai was outstanding from both ends, claiming four crucial wickets at a miserly economy. Mujeeb Ur Rahman provided early breakthroughs while Rashid Khan kept things tight in the middle overs. The bowling unit never allowed UAE to accelerate freely.
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Azmatullah Omarzai | 4 | 0 | 15 | 4 | 3.75 |
| Mujeeb Ur Rahman | 4 | 0 | 31 | 2 | 7.75 |
| Ziaur Rahman Sharifi | 4 | 0 | 43 | 0 | 10.75 |
| Rashid Khan (c) | 4 | 0 | 24 | 1 | 6.00 |
| Noor Ahmad | 3 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 11.67 |
| Gulbadin Naib | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8.00 |
Afghanistan Batting Scorecard
Afghanistan lost Gurbaz early but Ibrahim Zadran’s composed fifty anchored the chase. Darwish Rasooli and Azmatullah Omarzai then injected the required momentum with quick contributions. Omarzai’s unbeaten 40 off 21 balls sealed the win comfortably with four balls remaining.
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Ibrahim Zadran | 53 | 41 | 6 | 1 | 129.27 |
| Gulbadin Naib | 13 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 108.33 |
| Sediqullah Atal | 16 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 114.29 |
| Darwish Rasooli | 33 | 23 | 3 | 1 | 143.48 |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | 40* | 21 | 2 | 3 | 190.48 |
| Mohammad Nabi | 3* | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Extras | 4 (w 4) | ||||
| Total | 162/5 (19.2 overs, RR: 8.38) |
UAE Bowling Scorecard
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junaid Siddique | 3.2 | 0 | 23 | 2 | 6.90 |
| Haider Ali | 4 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 8.25 |
| Muhammad Jawadullah | 4 | 0 | 39 | 1 | 9.75 |
| Muhammad Arfan | 4 | 0 | 30 | 2 | 7.50 |
| Simranjeet Singh | 4 | 0 | 37 | 0 | 9.25 |
Junaid Siddique struck early and returned effectively at the death. Muhammad Arfan picked up two important middle-order wickets and applied pressure. Overall the UAE bowlers fought hard but could not contain Omarzai’s late assault.
Afghanistan vs United Arab Emirates – Match Highlights
| Match Highlight | Details |
|---|---|
| Best Batter | Sohaib Khan (68) / Ibrahim Zadran (53) |
| Best Bowler | Azmatullah Omarzai (4/15) |
| Best Partnership | Alishan Sharafu & Sohaib Khan (84) |
| Key Moment | Omarzai’s mid-innings double-strike |
| Turning Point | Omarzai’s late batting acceleration |
| Best Bowling Spell | Azmatullah Omarzai 4/15 |
| Best Batting Performance | Azmatullah Omarzai 40* (21) |
| Final Result | Afghanistan won by 5 wickets |
Early UAE setbacks and recovery
Omarzai and Mujeeb reduced UAE to 13/2 inside two overs. Sharafu and Sohaib Khan then stabilised the innings with a well-constructed 84-run stand that formed the backbone of the total.
Middle-order collapse
After the solid platform, Omarzai returned to remove Syed Haider and Harshit Kaushik in quick succession, triggering a slide that saw UAE lose seven wickets for limited runs in the final ten overs.
Afghanistan’s measured chase
Zadran’s patient fifty provided the foundation. Rasooli and Omarzai then accelerated, with their 43-run partnership proving decisive in taking the game away from UAE.
Omarzai’s finishing act
Needing runs in the death overs, Omarzai cleared the boundary multiple times and sealed the win with a boundary off Junaid Siddique in the 20th over.
Turning Point Of The Match Between Afghanistan vs United Arab Emirates
- Omarzai’s early and mid-innings wickets – Removing the openers and then striking twice around the 14th-15th overs prevented UAE from posting 180-plus and kept the target manageable.
- The Sharafu-Sohaib partnership – This stand kept UAE competitive and forced Afghanistan to dig deep in the chase.
- Omarzai’s counter-attacking 40* – When the required rate climbed and pressure mounted, his clean striking shifted momentum decisively and closed out the match.
- Zadran’s anchoring innings – Without his stability, the chase could have unravelled after early losses.
These moments swung the contest Afghanistan’s way after UAE had built a platform.
Top Players / Player Performance
| Player | Team | Role | Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azmatullah Omarzai | Afghanistan | All-rounder | 4/15 & 40* (21) |
| Sohaib Khan | UAE | Batter | 68 (48) |
| Ibrahim Zadran | Afghanistan | Batter | 53 (41) |
| Alishan Sharafu | UAE | Batter | 40 (31) |
| Mujeeb Ur Rahman | Afghanistan | Bowler | 2/31 |
| Darwish Rasooli | Afghanistan | Batter | 33 (23) |
Azmatullah Omarzai – Match-Winning All-Rounder
Azmatullah Omarzai was the clear star of the match. With the ball he produced a brilliant spell of 4/15, removing key UAE batters and controlling the middle and death overs. Later with the bat he remained unbeaten on 40 off just 21 balls, hitting three sixes and sealing the chase in style. His all-round impact completely changed the direction of the game.
Sohaib Khan – UAE’s Lone Fighter
Sohaib Khan played the best innings for the United Arab Emirates. He scored a fighting 68 off 48 balls with six fours and four sixes. His partnership with Alishan Sharafu gave UAE hope, but lack of support from the other end meant his effort went in vain.
Ibrahim Zadran – The Anchor of the Chase
Ibrahim Zadran played a mature and responsible knock of 53 off 41 balls. After Afghanistan lost an early wicket, he held one end firmly and built the platform for the middle order. His calm presence allowed Omarzai and Rasooli to play freely later in the innings.
Alishan Sharafu – Solid Contribution for UAE
Alishan Sharafu scored a valuable 40 off 31 balls and shared an important partnership with Sohaib Khan. He looked confident and kept the scoreboard moving, but once he got out the UAE innings lost momentum quickly.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman – Early Breakthroughs
Mujeeb Ur Rahman provided the early breakthroughs Afghanistan needed. He removed both UAE openers and finished with figures of 2/31. His control in the powerplay put UAE under immediate pressure.
Darwish Rasooli – Quick Fire Support
Darwish Rasooli played a useful cameo of 33 off 23 balls. His aggressive intent in the middle overs helped Afghanistan keep the required run rate under control and built a strong platform for Omarzai’s finishing act.
Head-to-Head Record – Afghanistan vs United Arab Emirates
Afghanistan have dominated the United Arab Emirates in limited-overs cricket, especially in the T20I format. The two teams have a competitive history in ODIs but Afghanistan hold a clear upper hand in T20Is.
| Format | Matches | Afghanistan Won | UAE Won |
|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ODI | 6 | 3 | 3 |
| T20I | 15 | 12 | 3 |
Why Afghanistan Won
- Superior bowling, especially Omarzai’s control and strike-taking ability at both ends of the innings.
- Clinical middle-over restriction that prevented UAE from accelerating.
- Zadran’s anchoring innings that absorbed pressure.
- Omarzai’s finishing ability with the bat when the required rate climbed.
- Better handling of key moments and partnerships in the second half of the chase.
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Conclusion Of Afghanistan vs United Arab Emirates
The Afghanistan National Cricket Team vs United Arab Emirates National Cricket Team match scorecard from the 28th Match of the 2026 T20 World Cup tells the story of a competitive contest ultimately decided by Azmatullah Omarzai’s exceptional all-round contribution. UAE fought hard through Sohaib Khan’s half-century and a solid middle-order stand, but Afghanistan’s bowling depth and late batting firepower proved decisive in a five-wicket victory with four balls remaining.
Omarzai’s 4/15 and unbeaten 40 remain the defining performances. While the result was important for Afghanistan’s campaign, both teams ultimately fell short of Super Eight qualification. Fans seeking the complete Afghanistan vs UAE match scorecard, highlights and analysis will find this a thorough record of a memorable Group D encounter.
FAQs About Afghanistan vs United Arab Emirates
1. Where can I check the Afghanistan National Cricket Team vs United Arab Emirates National Cricket Team Match Scorecard?
You can check the complete Afghanistan National Cricket Team vs United Arab Emirates National Cricket Team Match Scorecard on official cricket websites like Cricbuzz, ESPNcricinfo, and the ICC official site.
2. Who was the Player of the Match in Afghanistan vs UAE?
Azmatullah Omarzai was named Player of the Match for his outstanding all-round performance of 4/15 with the ball and an unbeaten 40 with the bat.
3. What was the final result of the Afghanistan National Cricket Team vs United Arab Emirates National Cricket Team Match Scorecard?
Afghanistan won by 5 wickets after successfully chasing the target of 161 runs in 19.2 overs.
4. Who scored the most runs in the Afghanistan vs UAE match?
Sohaib Khan was the highest run-scorer with 68 runs for the United Arab Emirates, while Ibrahim Zadran scored 53 for Afghanistan.
5. What are the key highlights from the Afghanistan National Cricket Team vs United Arab Emirates National Cricket Team Match Scorecard?
The key highlights include Azmatullah Omarzai’s four-wicket haul, Sohaib Khan’s fighting 68, Ibrahim Zadran’s anchoring fifty, and Omarzai’s unbeaten 40 that sealed the chase.
