Afghanistan vs Pakistan in UAE, 2023 - Squads, Fixtures and All you need to know

Afghanistan and Pakistan are traveling to UAE for participating in a 3 match T20I series starting on the 25th of March, 2023. The third and the final T20I of the series will be played on the 27th March.

Both the teams faced each other in the Asia Cup held last year where Naseem Shah won Pakistan the game out of nowhere by hitting 2 consecutive sixes. Both Pakistan and Afghanistan have a passionate fan base and teams will receive equal support at a neutral venue.

Afganistan have named the debutant Sediqullah Atal in their squad. He is a left handed opener who uses his height to great effect. Experienced campaigner Mohammad Nabi has also been added into the squad. Rahmat Shah and Hazratullah Zazai have been dropped from the Afghanistan squad.

According to the ACB CEO, Mr. Naseeb Khan, "Our team has been working hard in training camp and selectors have selected the best available players for the series. I am confident that our team will perform at their best and make our nation proud. We wish our team the best of luck for the series and hope to see them emerge victorious.”

Pakistan on the other hand have named Shadab Khan as the skipper of the side. Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf and Shaheen Afridi have been rested while Khushdil Shah, Asif Ali, Mohammad Hasnain and Haider Ali have been dropped from the squad.

Pakistan's side looks well balanced with the likes of Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Shan Masood and Azam Khan forming a strong squad.

According to the PCB Chief Najam Sethi, "I want to congratulate Shadab Khan on his appointment as the Pakistan team captain for the series against Afghanistan. Shadab Khan has been the Pakistan vice-captain in white-ball cricket for the past couple of years and it is logical that he takes over the side in the absence of Babar Azam for the short three-match T20I tour of Sharjah".

“For the short Sharjah tour and to ensure continuity, we have also appointed Mohammad Yousuf as the interim head and batting coach. Yousuf has been with the national side since last year as a batting coach and has also been working in the National High Performance Centre".

It will be a good contest between both the sides, considering the history of their match ups.

Let's have a look at the fixtures:

24th March – 1st T20I, Sharjah Cricket Stadium, UAE

26th March – 2nd T20I, Sharjah Cricket Stadium, UAE

27th March – 3rd T20I, Sharjah Cricket Stadium, UAE

Let's have a look at the squads:

Afghanistan Squad:

Rashid Khan (C), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ibrahim Zadran, Usman Ghani, Sediqullah Atal, Najibullah Zadran, Afsar Zazai, Karim Janat, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rehman, Fareed Ahmad, Fazal Haq Farooqi and Naveen Ul Haq.

Pakistan Squad:

Shadab Khan (c), Abdullah Shafique, Azam Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Ihsanullah, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Zaman Khan, Tayyab Tahir, Shan Masood, Saim Ayub

Where to watch Afghanistan vs Pakistan in UAE, 2023:

Live Cricket Streaming Afghanistan vs Pakistan in UAE, 2023

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*NB these predictions may be changed nearer the start of the match once the final starting teams have been announced and we will be running ‘In-Play’ features, so stay tuned.

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