Pakistan, Afghanistan set to open UAE T20I tri-series in Sharjah
Asia Cup to begin right after tri-nation event in UAE
DUBAI – Pakistan and Afghanistan are set to kickstart the much-anticipated T20 International tri-series in the UAE on Friday, marking the first of seven fixtures that will also feature the hosts United Arab Emirates.
The curtain-raiser will take place at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on 29 August at 7pm local time, with the final scheduled for 7 September at the same venue.
Each team will face the others twice in the group stage, ensuring at least four matches for every side before the top two advance to the decider.
The series serves as a key preparation event for the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025, which begins in the UAE from 9 to 28 September.
UAE tri-series
The fixtures begin with Afghanistan meeting Pakistan on 29 August, followed by UAE’s opening clash with Pakistan on 30 August.
Afghanistan then take on UAE on 1 September, while Pakistan and Afghanistan will meet again on 2 September.
The remaining group matches see Pakistan against UAE on 4 September and Afghanistan against UAE on 5 September, ahead of the 7 September final.
Squads
Pakistan head into the tri-series with a balanced squad combining experienced campaigners and emerging talents. Their line-up includes Shaheen Afridi, Fakhar Zaman, Imad Wasim, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Mohammad Haris, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, and youngsters like Saim Ayub and Hasan Nawaz. The team is supported by a spin attack led by Usama Mir, Usman Qadir and Abrar Ahmed.
Afghanistan have announced a 22-member preliminary squad led by Rashid Khan, with final selection to be trimmed to 15 players after a two-week camp. The squad features regulars such as Mohammad Nabi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Mujeeb Zadran, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Naveen-ul-Haq. The younger crop includes Mohammad Ishaq, Nangyal Kharoti, and Abdullah Ahmadzai, signalling depth in their bench strength.
Asia Cup 2025
This tri-nation tournament will immediately be followed by the Asia Cup, also hosted in the UAE. Scheduled from 9 to 28 September, the continental competition will feature Asia’s top sides vying for the title.
For Pakistan, Afghanistan and UAE, the Sharjah series provides a timely chance to acclimatise to local conditions ahead of the high-profile regional event.