Afghanistan, Pakistan, UAE To Play T20 Tri-Series in UAE

Photo: AFP

In a big update for cricket fans, especially those in Asia, the Emirates Cricket Board has announced a T20 tri-series between Afghanistan, Pakistan, and UAE. This exciting tournament will take place in Sharjah, one of the most popular cricket venues in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), during August and September 2025. The matches will act as important preparation games for these teams before the Men’s T20 Asia Cup, which is also scheduled to be played in the UAE from September 9 to 28.

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What is a T20 Tri-Series?

A T20 tri-series is a cricket tournament where three teams compete in the Twenty20 (T20) format. In this format, each team gets to bat for a maximum of 20 overs. In this tri-series:

• Each team will play the other two teams twice.

• After the round-robin stage, the top two teams will play the final match.

• All games will start at 7 PM local time in Sharjah.

Why Is This Tri-Series Important?

This tri-series is not just about playing matches; it has a bigger purpose. The series will:

• Help Pakistan, Afghanistan, and UAE get ready for the Asia Cup.

• Allow teams to test their player combinations and match strategies.

• Give UAE a chance to compete against stronger teams like Pakistan and Afghanistan.

• Give Afghanistan a return to international T20 cricket after a long break.

Which Teams Are Playing in the Tri-Series?

1. Pakistan

   • Current ICC T20 ranking: No. 8

   • A very strong team with experienced players.

   • Known for fast bowlers, power hitters, and match-winning performances.

   • Recently played a white-ball series against West Indies, winning the first game.

   • Will play their first Asia Cup 2025 match against Oman on September 12.

2. Afghanistan

   • Current ICC T20 ranking: No. 9

   • Famous for their world-class spinners like Rashid Khan.

   • Haven’t played any T20I matches since their tour of Zimbabwe at the end of last year.

   • Will begin their Asia Cup campaign against Hong Kong on September 9.

   • This series will help them shake off any rust before the Asia Cup.

3. United Arab Emirates (UAE)

   • Current ICC T20 ranking: No. 14

   • The host team of the tri-series.

   • Not as experienced as Pakistan and Afghanistan but improving rapidly.

   • UAE has not yet qualified for the 2026 T20 World Cup.

   • They will try to improve their form and confidence before their qualifier matches in Oman from October 8 to 17.

What About the T20 Asia Cup?

The T20 Asia Cup 2025 is another major event coming up just after the tri-series. This tournament is scheduled from September 9 to 28 in the UAE. Some details are:

• Big teams from Asia, including India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and others will participate.

• The matches will help teams prepare for the T20 World Cup 2026, to be held in India and Sri Lanka.

• For teams like Afghanistan and Pakistan, this tri-series is a great warm-up before the high-pressure Asia Cup matches.

What About the T20 World Cup 2026?

The T20 World Cup 2026 will be hosted jointly by India and Sri Lanka. Here is how the three tri-series teams stand:

• Pakistan has qualified automatically for the 2026 T20 World Cup.

• Afghanistan has also qualified directly because they were one of the top-seven teams (not including the hosts) in the previous T20 World Cup.

• UAE, however, has not qualified yet. They will play in the Asia-East Asia and Pacific qualifiers in Oman from October 8 to 17.

So, this tri-series becomes extremely important for UAE, as they want to perform well and boost their confidence before the qualifier tournament.

Why Was Pakistan vs Afghanistan Series Changed?

According to the ICC’s Future Tours Programme (FTP), Pakistan was originally supposed to host Afghanistan for a three-match T20I series during this same time period (August-September). However, since the tri-series was planned, that series was replaced by this new format where both teams get to play more matches and face one more team — UAE.

Match Format and Schedule

The format of the tri-series will be simple:

• Round-robin stage where each team plays the others twice.

• After all six matches, the top two teams (based on points) will play the final match.

• All matches will begin at 7 PM local time in Sharjah.

While the full detailed fixture list has not yet been released, fans can expect the series to start in late August or early September, wrapping up just before the Asia Cup begins on September 9.

What to Expect from the Teams?

• Pakistan will look to dominate the series, as they are the highest-ranked team. With players like Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Mohammad Rizwan, they are always dangerous.

• Afghanistan will bring their strong spin attack. Players like Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Mohammad Nabi can turn games around.

• UAE will play fearless cricket. They are used to the conditions and will try to surprise the other two teams with their fighting spirit.

This tri-series is a great idea at a perfect time. It gives Pakistan, Afghanistan, and UAE a wonderful chance to play top-level cricket before the Asia Cup and T20 World Cup 2026 preparations. It also gives fans across Asia and the world a lot of exciting cricket to look forward to.

Even though the main event is the Asia Cup, this tri-series will help coaches, captains, and players understand their team’s strengths and weaknesses. Most importantly, young cricketers in countries like UAE can gain experience by playing with stronger, more established teams.

So, get ready to watch some thrilling T20 action under the lights of Sharjah Stadium, as three exciting teams fight it out for glory, momentum, and pride before heading into even bigger tournaments!

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