T20I Tri-Series In UAE: Pakistan, Afghanistan, And UAE Battle For Asia Cup Dress Rehearsal

The cricketing spotlight turns to Sharjah as the T20I Tri-Series featuring Pakistan, Afghanistan, and hosts United Arab Emirates (UAE) kicks off from August 29. With the Asia Cup just around the corner, this tournament is the perfect platform for these three teams to test their strongest combinations, acclimatise to Arabian conditions, and fine-tune strategies against quality opposition.

Format, Schedule, and Why This Series Matters

The tri-series follows a double round-robin format: each team plays the other two sides twice. The top two after the league stage will face off in the final on September 7—barely two days before the Asia Cup begins (September 9 to 28).

The timing is ideal. All teams get crucial match practice, but perhaps just as importantly, they can size up each other’s plans, as both Pakistan and Afghanistan are group leaders in the upcoming Asia Cup. For UAE, it’s a rare chance to test themselves against top-tier competition in home conditions.

Team Previews and Key Players

Pakistan: A Transitional Squad With Points To Prove

Pakistan enters with a fresh-faced leadership, with Salman Ali Agha captaining the side in the absence of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. The team is hungry for a reboot after winning only three out of their last seven T20I series.

• Batting Focus: Fakhar Zaman returns from injury and is tasked with giving brisk starts. The squad also includes power-hitters like Saim Ayub and Khushdil Shah.

• Bowling Attack: Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf form a daunting pace duo. Mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed will look to support with guile against aggressive batters.

Pakistan Squad: Salman Ali Agha (capt), Shaheen Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Sufyan Moqim.

Afghanistan: Consistent, Confident, And Spin-Heavy

After a dream semi-final run in the 2024 T20 World Cup, Afghanistan is perhaps the most settled squad here. Skipper Rashid Khan leads a familiar group, only without pacer Naveen-ul-Haq, replaced for this series by Abdullah Ahmadzai.

• Batting Power: Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s explosive starts and Ibrahim Zadran’s consistency remain key.

• Spin Core: Perhaps the world’s most versatile T20 spin attack—Rashid, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Nabi—now reinforced by teenage sensation AM Ghazanfar.

Afghanistan Squad: Rashid Khan (capt), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mohammad Ishaq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Fareed Ahmad, Abdollah Ahmadzai, Fazalhaq Farooqi.

UAE: Hungry Underdogs At Home

The hosts, captained by Muhammad Waseem, are building on recent progress, including a landmark T20I series win over Bangladesh. The squad features four fresh faces, with seasoned quick Junaid Siddique (96 T20I wickets) bolstering their attack.

• Young Talent: Debutants like Harshit Kaushik bring new energy, and the side will look to turn home advantage into upsets.

What To Watch

• Afghanistan vs Pakistan Rivalry: Their T20I head-to-head stands at 4-3 in Pakistan’s favour—expect fireworks.

• Spin vs Power Hitting: Subcontinental pitches mean spinners from both Afghanistan and Pakistan could dominate, but aggressive openers like Fakhar Zaman or Rahmanullah Gurbaz can change games in overs.

• UAE’s X-Factor: Can they spring another surprise and challenge Asia's best?

Broadcasting Details

Fans in India can watch the tri-series on FanCode and Eurosport. Broadcasting and streaming will also be available in Pakistan (A-Sports, Ten Sports), Afghanistan (Lemar TV), and globally via various partners.

Full Series Schedule

Series Importance

This tri-series is more than just a warm-up. It’s a last lap to test death bowling, tinker with line-ups, and gather confidence before the Asia Cup. Teams that experiment wisely here will hope to turn these minutes of fine-tuning into Asia Cup glory starting September 9.