Sharjah, Sept 7 – It was less Pakistan vs Afghanistan and more Nawaz vs Afghanistan, as Mohammad Nawaz produced a once-in-a-lifetime all-round performance to hand Pakistan the Tri-Nation T20 trophy with a thumping 75-run win.
Batting first, Pakistan were shaky at times but managed to post 141/8. Nawaz’s vital cameo of 25 off 21 balls, peppered with two big sixes, proved decisive in pushing the total beyond Afghanistan’s comfort zone.
Then came the real storm. With ball in hand, Nawaz ripped through Afghanistan’s batting, claiming a career-best 5/19 in 4 overs, including a stunning hat-trick. He became just the third Pakistani to achieve a T20I hat-trick, sending shockwaves across the cricketing world right before the Asia Cup. His victims included top-order anchor Ibrahim Zadran, followed by quick dismissals of Darwish Rasooli and Azmatullah Omarzai, before mopping up Karim Janat and danger-man Rashid Khan.
Afghanistan never recovered, collapsing to just 66 all out in 15.5 overs, as Pakistan’s bowlers led by Nawaz dismantled their chase. The victory sealed the Tri-Nation title after both sides had finished level on points in the group stage.
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha praised Nawaz’s nerves of steel, while PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi called the win “a perfect morale boost” ahead of the Asia Cup.
For fans, this final will be remembered not just as another Pakistan victory—but as the night Nawaz single-handedly buried Afghanistan’s hopes and etched his name into T20 history.
