The Pakistan cricket team toured the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in March 2023 to play three Twenty20 International (T20I) matches against the Afghanistan cricket team.[1] This was the first bilateral series in any format of international cricket between the two teams.[2]
In November 2022, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) signed a five-year agreement with the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) to play their home matches in the UAE.[3] On 7 March 2023, the ACB confirmed the dates for the tour,[4] with the matches scheduled to be played on 25, 27 and 29 March 2023.[5] However, two days later, changes were made to the schedule due to the availability of the Hawk-Eye technology.[6]
Afghanistan won the first T20I by 6 wickets.[7] It was Afghanistan's first win in international cricket against Pakistan.[8] They also went on to win the second T20I by 7 wickets and took an unassailable lead in the series.[9] It was Afghanistan's first bilateral series win over Pakistan, and their first bilateral T20I series victory against any of the top six teams.[a][10] Pakistan won the third T20I by 66 runs.[11]
Background
Originally, Afghanistan were scheduled to play three ODI matches each against Australia and Pakistan, with the series being part of 2020–2023 ICC Cricket World Cup Super League.[12] On 12 January 2023, Cricket Australia (CA) withdrew from ODI series against Afghanistan on the grounds of restrictions on women and girls' education and employment in Afghanistan.[13] Australia forfeited the series and the 30 competition points were awarded to Afghanistan.[14]
This series was originally scheduled to take place in 2021 but was postponed following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.[15] On 23 January 2023, Both ACB and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) agreed to play three T20Is instead of ODIs as both were already qualified for the 2023 Cricket World Cup.[16]
Squads
 Afghanistan[17]
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 Pakistan[18]
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For the series, Pakistan decided to rest their regular captain Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Rizwan, and Fakhar Zaman,[19] with Shadab Khan being named as captain.[20]
Following an erroneous announcement appointing Pakistan's batting coach Mohammad Yousuf as their new interim head coach, Yousuf opted out of the tour citing personal reasons.[21]
T20I series
1st T20I
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- Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat.
- Saim Ayub, Ihsanullah, Zaman Khan and Tayyab Tahir (Pak) all made their T20I debuts.
- Ihsanullah took a wicket in the first delivery of his T20I career.[22]
- This was Afghanistan's first ever win against Pakistan in any format of international cricket.[23]
2nd T20I
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- Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat.
3rd T20I
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- Afghanistan won the toss and elected to field.
- Sediqullah Atal (Afg) made his T20I debut.
- Shadab Khan became the first male cricketer from Pakistan to take 100 wickets in T20Is.[24]
- Najibullah Zadran was replaced by Azmatullah Omarzai after suffering a concussion during Afghanistan's batting innings.[25]
Notes
- ^ At that time, top six teams were Australia, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, and South Africa.
References
- ^ "ACB Announces Schedule for Home Series against Pakistan". Pakistan Cricket Board. 10 January 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
- ^ "Afghanistan to host Pakistan for T20 series in Sharjah from March 25". Dawn. 8 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ^ Friend, Nick (27 November 2022). "UAE to host Afghanistan home matches after agreeing five-year deal". The Cricketer. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
- ^ "ACB Announces Schedule for Home Series against Pakistan". Afghanistan Cricket Board. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
- ^ "Afghanistan announce schedule for home series against Pakistan". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
- ^ "Joint Statement by ACB and PCB". Afghanistan Cricket Board. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
- ^ "Afghanistan register a historic win against Pakistan". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
- ^ "Afghanistan beats Pakistan for first time". Risingbd. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
- ^ "Afghanistan beat Pakistan again, take unassailable lead in three-match series". Gulf Times. 26 March 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
- ^ "Afghanistan thump Pakistan to clinch historic T20I series win". TimesNow. 27 March 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
- ^ "AFG vs PAK, 3rd T20I: Shadab Khan Leads Pakistan's Consolation 66-run win, Afghanistan Take Series 2-1". News18. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
- ^ "Men's Future Tour Programme 2018-2023" (PDF). International Cricket Council. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
- ^ "Rashid Khan threatens to pull out of BBL over Australia's refusal to play Afghanistan". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
- ^ "Australia withdraw from ODI series against Afghanistan". Cricket Australia. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
- ^ "Afghanistan-Pakistan ODI series postponed indefinitely". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
- ^ "Pakistan not withdrawing from series against Afghanistan". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
- ^ "ACB Name Squad for Home Series against Pakistan". Afghanistan Cricket Board. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
- ^ "Shadab to captain Pakistan against Afghanistan in Sharjah". Pakistan Cricket Board. 10 January 2014. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
- ^ "New-look Pakistan bracing for competitive T20I series with Afghanistan". Supersport. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ^ "Afghanistan look to spring a surprise against Shadab-led Pakistan". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ^ "Pakistan batting coach Mohammad Yousuf opts out of Afghanistan T20I series". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
- ^ "Afghanistan's bowlers script their first-ever win over Pakistan". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- ^ "Nabi, bowlers set up Afghanistan's historic win over Pakistan". The Business Standard. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- ^ "Shadab Khan creates new Pakistan record in T20I cricket". Cricket Pakistan. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
- ^ "Saim Ayub, Ihsanullah sparkle for young Pakistan to avert Afghanistan whitewash". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
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