Mohammad Nawaz’s Hat-trick Leads Pakistan to 75-Run Victory Over Afghanistan in Tri-Series Final

Pakistani spinner Mohammad Nawaz produced a match-winning bowling performance including a hat-trick, helping Pakistan defend 141 and beat Afghanistan by 75 runs in the 2025 UAE Tri-Series final at Sharjah.In the Tri-Series T20I final at Sharjah, Pakistan crushed Afghanistan by 75 runs to claim the title. Left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz was the star of the show, taking an impressive five-wicket haul including a hat-trick, while Sufiyan Muqeem and Abrar Ahmed picked two wickets each to dismantle Afghanistan’s batting lineup. Afghanistan was bowled out for a mere 66 runs in just 15.5 overs chasing Pakistan’s total of 141/8, powered by contributions from Fakhar Zaman and Nawaz with the bat.

Afghanistan was caught off guard by the spin-friendly conditions, with 29.5 overs bowled by spinners — the second-highest in any men’s T20I between full-member teams. Pakistan started with Shaheen Afridi dismissing Rahmanullah Gurbaz early, then Abrar Ahmed and Nawaz rolled through the middle order, with Nawaz taking three wickets in a span including a hat-trick. The Afghan batting lineup crumbled under pressure, managing only one partnership above 20 runs.

Pakistan’s innings was constrained by Afghanistan’s spinners Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, and Ghazanfar, who claimed six of the eight Pakistan wickets. Despite the bowling threat, Fakhar Zaman and Nawaz managed useful starts, while the middle and lower order kept Pakistan’s total to a modest yet defendable 141 in 20 overs. Nawaz also contributed valuable runs with two sixes, adding balance with his all-round performance.

In reply, Afghanistan never fully recovered wickets falling early and often. Apart from Captain Rashid Khan’s 17, no batsman managed to pass double digits. The intense spin bowling attack led by Nawaz, and backed by Abrar and Muqeem, ensured Afghanistan had no answer, resulting in one of their lowest T20I totals and a comprehensive victory for Pakistan.

The win was celebrated by Pakistan captain Salman Agha, who praised Nawaz’s outstanding performance with both ball and bat. He noted that the spinning conditions favored their approach of deploying multiple spinners while acknowledging Afghanistan’s struggles on the night. With this strong finish, Pakistan heads into the Asia Cup on a confident note.

Afghanistan now looks to regroup quickly for the upcoming Asia Cup, starting just two days after this final. While their campaign in the tri-series displayed moments of promise, this hammering in the final underlines the challenges they face on spin-friendly surfaces against quality opponents like Pakistan.