Inserted to bat first, Afghanistan piled up 200/4, powered by Ibrahim Zadran’s unbeaten 95, his second successive fifty of the tournament. Sediqullah Atal chipped in with 44, as Afghanistan made a score of 200 in the tournament for the first time.
A run-a-ball 38 not out by Mohammad Nabi after a brilliant display by their bowlers helped Afghanistan beat Pakistan by six wickets in the first of the three T20I matches here.
Afghanistan is all set to tour the UAE next year in the month of February. They will lock horns with the hosts in 3 T20Is, this will be Rashid's first tour as the skipper in the shortest format after 2019
The all-rounder, who will not feature in Test cricket any more, believes that Rashid Khan as a captain across all formats will work for the team.
It is expected that Nabi’s decision to draw curtains to Test match career is his attempt at prolonging his limited-overs career. Notably, the ongoing match is only his third Test match.
Rashid, who already leads his side in Twenty20 Internationals, will take over the captaincy from Gulbadin Naib (ODIs) and Rahmat Shah (Tests).
Shami, who was playing his first match of the ongoing tournament, was hitting the deck harder at knots with great precision in the final over and picked up a hat-trick to bowl out Afghanistan 12 runs short of the target.
To the Afghans' respite, Rashid Khan, who got an infamous tag of conceding most runs in a World Cup match in Afghanistan's previous tie with England, bounced back strongly with the figures of 1 for 38 in his 10 overs.
This victory will boost Afghanistan's confidence as the no. 10 ranked ODI side -- believed to be one the weakest sides this World Cup -- have made a statement that fighting them won’t be cake walk.
"They (cricket fans back home) are waiting. Hopefully, we perform well here," Nabi said.
