Afghanistan clinched a crucial five-wicket victory over the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. This win marks Afghanistan’s first triumph in the tournament, boosting their chances of advancing to the Super Eights stage.
Opener Ibrahim Zadran’s steady 53 off 41 balls and Azmatullah Omarzai’s unbeaten 40 off 21 deliveries guided Afghanistan to successfully chase down the target with four balls to spare. Despite a shaky start to the pursuit of 161 runs, Afghanistan’s batsmen held their nerve, with Zadran’s crucial knock and Omarzai’s late flourish ensuring victory.
The UAE’s bowlers put up a strong fight, but Afghanistan’s depth in batting proved decisive. UAE’s total of 160 fell short as Afghanistan’s resilience in the chase secured them their first points in the tournament. This result also confirmed South Africa’s qualification for the Super Eights, joining India and the West Indies.
Afghanistan’s innings faced early setbacks, but Zadran’s aggressive batting and Omarzai’s crucial contributions steered them towards victory. The match saw moments of brilliance from both teams, with Afghanistan ultimately emerging victorious with a well-constructed chase.
