The Afghanistan vs UAE T20 World Cup 2026 Highlights will forever be etched in history as the match where Rashid Khan became the first bowler to reach 700 T20 wickets. In a pulsating Group D clash, Afghanistan clinched a vital 5-wicket win to keep their tournament hopes alive. After Azmatullah Omarzai (4/15) restricted the UAE to 160/9, a composed 53 from Ibrahim Zadran laid the foundation for the chase. It was eventually Omarzai who finished the job with an unbeaten 40 off 21 balls, sealing the victory with four balls to spare and sending the Afghan fans in Delhi into raptures.
Match Summary: Omarzai and Rashid Script a Resurgence
ICC T20 World Cup 2026 - Match 28 - Afghanistan vs UAE
Afghanistan’s 5-wicket victory was a testament to their resilience after two opening losses. Choosing to bowl first, Afghanistan utilized the slow Delhi track to perfection. Despite a fighting 68 from UAE’s Sohaib Khan, the Afghan bowlers kept chipping away at the wickets. The chase was far from simple; after losing Rahmanullah Gurbaz for a duck, Afghanistan relied on a steady 87-run platform built by Ibrahim Zadran. A late surge from the UAE bowlers threatened an upset, but the all-round brilliance of Player of the Match Azmatullah Omarzai ensured Afghanistan crossed the line in 19.2 overs.
Playing XI
Afghanistan
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ibrahim Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan (C), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Ziaur Rahman.
UAE
Aryansh Sharma (WK), Muhammad Waseem (C), Alishan Sharafu, Sohaib Khan, Syed Haider, Harshit Kaushik, Muhammad Arfan, Haider Ali, Simranjeet Singh Kang, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Jawadullah.
Key Stats & Records From Today's Match:
700 Wickets: Rashid Khan became the first player in T20 history to reach 700 wickets (International + Franchise).
World Cup First: Afghanistan secured their first win of the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Omarzai’s Elite Club: Azmatullah Omarzai became only the 3rd player to take 4 wickets and score 40+ runs in a T20 World Cup match (joining Dwayne Bravo and Shakib Al Hasan).
UAE’s Best Streak: Sohaib Khan recorded his second consecutive 50+ score in this tournament.
Innings Breakdown
First Innings: The Sohaib Fight and Rashid’s Milestone
The first half of the Afghanistan vs UAE T20 World Cup 2026 Highlights saw the UAE recover from a disastrous 13/2 start. Sohaib Khan (68 off 48) played a sensational knock, sharing an 84-run stand with Alishan Sharafu (40). However, once the spinners took over, the UAE lost their way. Azmatullah Omarzai was unplayable, finishing with 4/15, while Rashid Khan’s historic 700th wicket highlighted a collapse where the UAE lost 7 wickets for just 63 runs in the final ten overs, finishing at 160/9.
Second Innings: Zadran’s Anchor and Omarzai’s Finish
The chase in the Afghanistan vs UAE T20 World Cup 2026 Highlights began with a shock as Gurbaz fell for a duck. Ibrahim Zadran played the anchor role to perfection, scoring 53 off 41 balls. The UAE bowlers, led by Junaid Siddique (2/23), kept the pressure high, but a 43-run partnership between Darwish Rasooli (33) and *Azmatullah Omarzai (40)** ensured Afghanistan remained favorites. Omarzai showed no nerves at the death, smashing two fours and three sixes to guide his team home in the final over.
Top Performers
Azmatullah Omarzai (4/15 & 40 off 21) - Player of the Match
Omarzai was the undisputed hero in Delhi. His four-wicket haul destroyed the UAE’s momentum in the first innings, and his cool-headed 40* at a strike rate of 190.48 ensured there was no repeat of Afghanistan’s previous “close-call” heartbreaks.
Sohaib Khan (68 off 48 balls) - The UAE Spark
Sohaib continued his incredible form in this World Cup. On a pitch where timing was difficult, he smashed 6 fours and 4 sixes. His ability to counter-attack Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman was the primary reason the UAE set a competitive target.
Ibrahim Zadran (53 off 41 balls) - The Foundation
While Omarzai provided the fireworks, Zadran provided the stability. His 14th T20I fifty ensured that the early loss of Gurbaz didn’t trigger a panic. He neutralized the new-ball threat and ensured Afghanistan were ahead of the rate throughout the middle overs.
Key Moments & Turning Points: The "Bat-Stuck" Run Out
Rashid’s 700th Scalp: The defining moment of the game occurred in the 16th over when Rashid Khan dismissed Muhammad Arfan (hit-wicket). This made him the first player in history to reach 700 T20 wickets, a milestone that stalled the UAE’s late-innings charge.
The Omarzai Double-Strike: UAE were looking dangerous at 97/2 until Azmatullah Omarzai returned to dismiss both Syed Haider and Harshit Kaushik in the 15th over, conceding just 1 run and breaking the back of the UAE middle order.
Arfan’s “Running” Catch: UAE clawed back into the game in the 14th over when Muhammad Arfan took a brilliant running catch to remove a set Ibrahim Zadran (53), leaving Afghanistan needing 64 runs off the final 41 balls.
What This Result Means for Group D
Afghanistan has officially leapfrogged the UAE into 3rd place in Group D. While they are level on 2 points, Afghanistan’s NRR of -0.215 is now superior to the UAE’s -0.797. To qualify for the Super 8s, Afghanistan must beat Canada in their final game and hope New Zealand loses their upcoming fixtures. For the UAE, their qualification hopes are now on life support, requiring a massive win against South Africa and a specific set of results from the other Group D matches.
T20 World Cup 2026 Group D Points Table
Group D Points Table
Match Highlights
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