Pakistan win toss, elect to bat first against Afghanistan in tri-series opener

SHARJAH: Pakistan have won the toss and elected to bat first against Afghanistan in the opening match of the tri-series here at the iconic Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday.

Playing XIs

Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Karim Janat, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan (capt), Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmed

Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Ali Agha (capt), Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Haris (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD:

Both teams have faced each other in seven T20I matches so far. In this competitive rivalry, Pakistan holds a narrow edge with four victories, while Afghanistan has notched three wins.

Matches 7, Pakistan 4, Afghanistan 3

The tri-series will serve as a launching pad for the teams to prepare for and acclimatise to the conditions ahead of the eight-team ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup, scheduled to take place in the UAE from 9 to 28 September.

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