Afghanistan vs UAE Highlights, T20 World Cup 2026: Azmatullah Omarzai Stars As Afghanistan Keep Super 8 Hopes Alive

What's next? Right then, that is it from this game, where Afghanistan have just about kept their hopes alive, but realistically, both teams will need other results to go their way in the group to have any chance of qualification. Up next, we have a European clash between England and Italy at the historic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. That match is already underway with England electing to bat first, so you can simply switch tabs and stay with us for full coverage of that game. Cheers!

The victorious skipper of Afghanistan - Rashid Khan says that he is happy to win and get two points on the board. Adds that they were all over the place in the first 10 overs and it was a good effort overall to restrict the opposition to 160. Feels that the bowling performance is something they need to improve, as it happened against New Zealand and South Africa as well. On Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rashid feels that he plays aggressively in the Powerplay and sometimes it doesn't come off but also feels that someone like Gurbaz, who is in form, needs to hang around for a bit more. On Mohammad Nabi not bowling today, Rashid says that he is the senior-most member of the side and his experience is crucial but the way Mujeeb bowled, they stuck with him for this game. Ends by saying that they would love to get to the next stage of the competition but want to put their best foot forward and get the win in their final group game.

The captain of United Arab Emirates - Muhammad Waseem says that it was a good game and the boys fought well. Adds that they were 10-15 runs short and with the ball, they gave away a few too many boundary balls, which cost them the game. Mentions that after losing early wickets, Sohaib Khan and Alishan Sharafu batted really well, but he thinks Sharafu's wicket came at the wrong time, but also admits it is part of the game. Waseem says that they kept fighting till the end, they were hungry for the win and the boys showed good intent. Tells that they were excellent in the field as well, which kept them in the match. Ends by saying that it will be a different challenge against a different opposition in the next one, but he is looking forward to it.

Time to catch up with the two skippers...

A defence that faltered late - UAE will feel this one slipped from their grasp after being on top at different phases while defending the total. Junaid Siddique was excellent with the new ball, giving nothing away and picking up an early wicket, while Muhammad Arfan chipped in and later broke the key partnership. However, the two spinners went wicketless, which proved costly. UAE did make a real contest of it, but a lack of execution in the death overs ultimately allowed the game to drift away from them.

UAE build big, then fall away - Earlier in the game, UAE posted a fighting total, but they will feel they left plenty out there after reaching 93 for 2 at the halfway mark. The 84-run stand between Sohaib Khan and Alishan Sharafu was the backbone of the innings, with Khan bringing up his second half-century of the World Cup, but the innings fell away badly at the end. UAE could only add 67 runs in the final 10 overs as they lost seven wickets, failing to cash in on the platform they had built. Azmatullah Omarzai led Afghanistan's charge with a four-wicket haul, while Mujeeb Ur Rahman picked up two and Rashid Khan chipped in with one.

Calm heads under pressure - Afghanistan were rocked early, losing Gurbaz for a duck and slipping to 9 for 1 after three overs. However, Ibrahim Zadran and Gulbadin Naib steadied the innings, adding 30 in the next two overs to get them back on track. Ibrahim Zadran played the anchor role in the chase, and while others chipped in around him, his 53 was vital in setting up the platform. Afghanistan did come under pressure late on, but a pair of important quick cameos from Darwish Rasooli and Omarzai, who added 43 runs together, proved enough to carry them over the line.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Azmatullah Omarzai wins the award for his amazing all-round display. 4/15 with the ball and an unbeaten 40 off 21 with the bat. He says that he is very happy with his performance. Reckons that the wicket was playing a bit low to begin with and he tried to hit the hard length. Mentions that it was a bit of a funny first over, with the ball not carrying one time and the other time, it did carry. Azmat adds that they looked to play straight with the bat and the chat was to rotate the strike and put away the bad balls. Feels that in the last game, everyone played well and worked hard but they couldn't get over the line but they are now looking forward to the next game.

A hard-earned first win - Afghanistan have finally crossed the finish line to claim their first win of this T20 World Cup. It did not come easily, with the UAE pushing them all the way, but Azmatullah Omarzai proved the difference with a clutch all-round performance, delivering with both bat and ball in a thrilling contest, a result that also seals South Africa's qualification for the next round.

FOUR! Azmatullah Omarzai ends proceedings in style and brings up Afghanistan's first win of the campaign. Dug in short and outside off, Omarzai stands tall and slaps the ball like a tennis forehand, powering it over extra cover for a boundary. AFGHANISTAN WIN BY 5 WICKETS!

Back of a length and outside off, Nabi goes for the flat-batted shot but toe-ends it towards mid off. The fielder is at the edge of the circle and they pinch a single with ease. 3 needed off 5, UAE need wickets to make things interesting.

Just 4 needed in the last over now. Can Junaid Siddique pull off something special here?

FOUR! Oh, that's a bit cruel on the bowler but that should be the game sealed for Afghanistan. A full ball targeting the leg stump, Azmatullah Omarzai clears the front leg to heave but gets an inside edge past leg stump and the ball rolls away into the fine leg fence. Just 4 needed now off 6 balls.

SIX! Azmatullah Omarzai has recovered the last two dots and he is coming up clutch for his team. Hard length, angled across off and there's just too much width on it. Omarzai reaches out and gets a hold of the lofted shot, nailing it over deep cover for a biggie. The 150 is now up for Afghanistan.

Oh, unlucky for the bowler but the keeper does well here. Slower delivery, full and slanted well across off. Azmatullah Omarzai has another wild swing at it and gets a big outside edge that falls well short of the keeper. Aryansh Sharma does well to lunge and get his body behind the line of the ball. Another dot ball.

Good change-up from Jawadullah. Goes seam-up and slips in a fuller delivery just across the off stump. Azmatullah Omarzai swings and misses.

WIDE! Marginal but seems like the right call. Slower one, bowled very full and well outside off, Omarzai fails to get any bat on it.

Slightly fuller and outside off, dabbed away wide of short third for a quick single.

Goes for the wide yorker, does Jawadullah and gets it pretty spot-on. Omarzai extends the arms and slashes it to deep backward point for just a single.

Muhammad Jawadullah to bowl the penultimate over.