Cricket fans are in for a treat as Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the United Arab Emirates battle it out in a high-voltage T20I Tri-Series at the iconic Sharjah Cricket Stadium. The tournament serves as crucial preparation for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, with all three teams eager to test their squads and strategies in competitive conditions. Pakistan, led by a strong mix of youth and experience, will aim to stamp their authority, while Afghanistan, under the captaincy of Rashid Khan, brings their spin-heavy arsenal and fearless batting order. Hosts UAE, captained by Muhammad Waseem, will look to punch above their weight and prove they can challenge the big sides.
Historically, Pakistan and Afghanistan have shared a spirited rivalry in T20Is, producing thrilling encounters, while UAE adds an exciting underdog element to the contest. With the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 on the horizon, this tri-series is a perfect testing ground for all three nations to fine-tune their combinations and gain momentum ahead of major global events.
Schedule
📍 All matches at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, UAE
🕖 Local Time: 7:00 PM GST
1st T20I – Friday, 29 August 2025
Afghanistan vs Pakistan
2nd T20I – Saturday, 30 August 2025
UAE vs Pakistan
3rd T20I – Monday, 1 September 2025
UAE vs Afghanistan
4th T20I – Tuesday, 2 September 2025
Pakistan vs Afghanistan
5th T20I – Thursday, 4 September 2025
Pakistan vs UAE
6th T20I – Friday, 5 September 2025
Afghanistan vs UAE
Final – Sunday, 7 September 2025
Top two teams in the standings
Squads
Pakistan T20I Squad
Salman Ali Agha (c), Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Azam Khan (wk), Mohammad Haris, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Amir, Usama Mir, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Abrar Ahmed.
Afghanistan T20I Squad:
Rashid Khan (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Najibullah Zadran, Hazratullah Zazai, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveen-ul-Haq, Noor Ahmad, Qais Ahmad, Gulbadin Naib, Farid Ahmad.
UAE T20I Squad:
Muhammad Waseem (c), Vriitya Aravind (wk), Alishan Sharafu, Basil Hameed, Aryan Lakra, Aayan Afzal Khan, Rohan Mustafa, Zahoor Khan, Sabir Ali, Junaid Siddique, Sultan Ahmed, Fahad Nawaz, Asif Khan, Ali Naseer, Rahul Chopra.
Conclusion
This Tri-Series is more than just a prelude to the Asia Cup—it’s a chance for Pakistan, Afghanistan, and UAE to sharpen their skills in pressure situations. Pakistan will aim to assert dominance with their pace attack and versatile batting unit, while Afghanistan hopes to leverage their world-class spinners and aggressive batting. The hosts, UAE, will look to use home conditions to spring surprises and gain invaluable experience against top-tier opposition. With evenly matched squads and high stakes, fans can expect an intense week of fast-paced T20 action in Sharjah.
