By Syeda Rubab 
Pakistan needed a statement win before the Asia Cup. Mohammad Nawaz provided it with theatre to spare.
On a surface that gripped under the lights in Sharjah, the left-arm spinner ripped through Afghanistan with 5 for 19, including a hat-trick, to complete a 75-run victory and clinch the United Arab Emirates T20I Tri-Series title. Afghanistan, asked to chase 142, were bundled for 66 in 15.5 overs, their innings throttled by a five-for-four collapse either side of the Powerplay.
Salman Ali Agha had chosen to bat for a reason. No side had won chasing all tournament, and Pakistan’s captain backed his bowlers to boss a sticky, dewy evening. The first half was scratchy. Wickets punctured momentum, with Rashid Khan (3/38) and Noor Ahmad (2/17) prising out the middle order. Fakhar Zaman (27) and Salman (24) made starts, while Nawaz’s brisk 25 off 21 and Faheem Ashraf’s 15 off 8 pinched vital late runs. One over felt different: when Pakistan took 17 off Rashid’s last, Salman clearing the leg side twice before the leggie hit back. Those strokes nudged the total to 141/8, still modest yet competitive on a holding pitch.
From there, the new ball framed the finale. Shaheen Shah Afridi swerved one across Rahmanullah Gurbaz early. Dots mounted. The chase tightened. Cue Nawaz.
Introduced in the fifth, he struck lbw, then immediately drew an edge next ball. On the hat-trick, he gave the ball flight; Ibrahim Zadran advanced, Mohammad Haris removed the bails. Three in three. The spell turned surreal moments later as Karim Janat was trapped sweeping. Afghanistan were 32 for 6, the contest effectively done. Nawaz returned to pry out Rashid Khan as the last significant resistance flickered. Around him, Abrar Ahmed (2/17) and Sufiyan Muqeem (2/9) tightened the screen, with Pakistan’s fielders sharp despite challenging dew.
Afghanistan’s innings teased momentum only in brief bursts. Sediqullah Atal (13) threaded a couple of strokes; Rashid (17) countered with two sixes. But the asking rate, compressed by Nawaz’s sequence, ballooned beyond reach. When the final wicket fell, the crowd—Afghan-leaning for much of the night—was hushed by a Pakistan bowling display built on angles, pace off, and beguiling drift.
Context matters. Pakistan’s batting still has questions: early wickets, a soft middle. Yet the champions extracted value from a difficult strip, found a decisive over against a world-class leg-spinner, and then unleashed a spin template that will travel into the Asia Cup. Most of all, they reaffirmed why Nawaz keeps being labelled a match-winner. Tonight, he wore the tag emphatically.
Brief Scores
Pakistan 141/8 (20 ov): Fakhar 27, Salman 24, M. Nawaz 25; Rashid 3/38, Noor 2/17, Farooqi 2/19
Afghanistan 66 (15.5 ov): Rashid 17; M. Nawaz 5/19 (hat-trick), Abrar 2/17, Muqeem 2/9, Shaheen 1/7
Result: Pakistan won by 75 runs; Pakistan win the UAE T20I Tri-Series
Player of the Match: Mohammad Nawaz
Player of the Series: Mohammad Nawaz
Anas Ahmed 
Himadullah Sohoo