Pakistan, Afghanistan, UAE clash in Sharjah tri-series ahead of Asia Cup 2025

Cricket fans are in for an exciting week as Pakistan, Afghanistan, and United Arab Emirates (UAE) will play a T20 tri-series in Sharjah 2025 from August 29 to September 7. This mini-tournament is a perfect Asia Cup 2025 warm-up and gives all three teams a chance to prepare for the big event starting on September 9 in the UAE.

The tri-series will follow a double round-robin format, where each team plays the others twice. The top two teams will then meet in the final on September 7. This makes it a good practice platform, especially to get used to UAE conditions before the Asia Cup 2025.

Why the Sharjah tri-series 2025 is important

Though it looks like a small tournament, the Sharjah tri-series 2025 is very important for all three sides:

• Pakistan T20 cricket team wants to fix batting and bowling issues before facing big teams like India in the Asia Cup.
• Afghanistan T20 squad 2025 comes full of confidence after their semi-final finish in the 2024 T20 World Cup.
• UAE cricket team T20I are underdogs, but their recent 2-1 series win over Bangladesh has shown they can challenge bigger teams.

Pakistan – new captain and plans

Pakistan have a strong T20 record but recent results have been inconsistent. In their last seven T20I series, they have won only three. The Pakistan T20 cricket team will be led by new captain Salman Ali Agha in this tri-series. Senior stars Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are rested, giving youngsters a chance to shine.

Fakhar Zaman will open the batting, known for his aggressive style and ability to score quickly. Middle-order batters like Iftikhar Ahmed and Azam Khan will try to finish the innings strongly.

Bowling has been Pakistan’s concern recently. Coach Mike Hesson prefers using all-rounders, which strengthens batting but reduces specialist bowlers. Pace stars Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf will have to lead the attack. On slow Sharjah pitches, Pakistan’s spinners will also play a key role.

Afghanistan – spin masters of Sharjah

The Afghanistan T20 squad 2025 is balanced with strong batting and a world-class spin attack. Captain Rashid Khan, along with Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi, makes the spin trio difficult to score against. Youngster Noor Ahmad adds variety.

Opening batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz will try to give fast starts, while Ibrahim Zadran adds stability. Middle-order hitters like Najibullah Zadran and Azmatullah Omarzai can play explosive shots.

Afghanistan haven’t played a T20I this year, but their players are active in leagues like IPL, PSL, and BBL. So, the team is expected to perform well. If their batting gives decent totals, their spinners can dominate games at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium T20 matches.

UAE – the rising underdogs

The UAE cricket team T20I side may not have big stars, but they are improving fast. Captain Muhammad Waseem is their key batter, scoring runs at a strike rate over 155. Middle-order hitter Asif Khan provides additional firepower.

Spin will be UAE’s main strength. Haider Ali, a left-arm spinner, and wrist-spinner Zuhaib Zubair can trouble batters on slow Sharjah pitches. This tri-series gives UAE a chance to test their skills against strong opponents like Pakistan and Afghanistan. For UAE, this tournament is crucial for Asia Cup 2025 preparation.

Sharjah – cricket’s historic stage

Sharjah Cricket Stadium is famous worldwide. It has hosted memorable matches, including Javed Miandad’s last-ball six in 1986 and Sachin Tendulkar’s Desert Storm innings in 1998.

Sharjah has shorter boundaries but slow pitches. Scores around 150 are often competitive, and spinners get big help. That’s why the Sharjah tri-series 2025 is perfect for all teams to practice before the Asia Cup 2025 schedule begins.

Key players to watch

• Fakhar Zaman (Pakistan): Explosive opener for the Pakistan T20 cricket team.
• Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan): Lead fast bowler expected to take key wickets.
• Rashid Khan (Afghanistan): World-class spinner and captain of Afghanistan T20 squad 2025.
• Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Afghanistan): Aggressive opener with big-hitting ability.
• Muhammad Waseem (UAE): Main run-scorer and captain of UAE cricket team T20I.
• Haider Ali (UAE): Spinner who can control matches on slow pitches.

Match schedule highlights

Date	Match
Aug 29	Afghanistan vs Pakistan
Aug 30	Pakistan vs UAE
Aug 31 – Sep 5	Double round-robin matches
Sep 7	Final between top two teams

Importance for Asia Cup 2025

This tri-series is a perfect rehearsal for the Asia Cup 2025. Pakistan can test their new captain and fix middle-order problems. Afghanistan can improve team coordination and fine-tune their spin attack. UAE can gain valuable experience against stronger sides.

Winning is not the main goal; learning from mistakes and adapting to Sharjah conditions will be crucial for success in the Asia Cup.

Conclusion

The Sharjah tri-series 2025 may seem small compared to the Asia Cup, but it is very important for all three teams. Pakistan wants consistency, Afghanistan aims to continue their momentum, and UAE wants to surprise stronger teams. Fans can expect exciting cricket, close matches, and memorable moments at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium T20 matches. This tri-series is a perfect Asia Cup 2025 warm-up for all teams.