New Delhi, February 16: In a thrilling encounter at the T20 World Cup 2026, Afghanistan secured their first victory by defeating the UAE in Group D. The match, held at the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium on Monday, saw the UAE set a target of 161 runs for Afghanistan.
Afghanistan’s chase began poorly as opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz was dismissed without scoring. However, Ibrahim Zadran and Gulbadin Naib managed to add 40 runs for the second wicket before Naib fell for 13 runs off 12 balls. Afghanistan continued to lose wickets at regular intervals.
Sediqullah Atal scored 16 runs off 14 balls, while Zadran played a crucial innings, scoring 53 runs off 41 balls. Darwish Rasooli contributed 33 runs from 23 balls, hitting three fours and one six. The standout performance came from Azmatullah Omarzai, who remained unbeaten with 40 runs off 21 balls, including three sixes and two fours. Thanks to their efforts, Afghanistan reached 162 runs for the loss of five wickets in 19.2 overs, winning the match by five wickets.
Earlier, after losing the toss, the UAE batted first and managed to score 160 runs for the loss of nine wickets. Shoaib Khan was the top scorer for the UAE, making 68 runs off 48 balls, while Alishan Sharafu added 40 runs off 31 balls.
On the bowling front, Azmatullah Omarzai was exceptional, taking four wickets for just 15 runs in his four overs. Mujeeb Ur Rahman claimed two wickets for 31 runs, and Rashid Khan took one wicket for 24 runs in his four overs.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
