Afghanistan defeated UAE by 5 wickets in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, chasing 161 in 19.2 overs at Delhi on February 16, 2026. UAE scored 160/9 in 20 overs. Azmatullah Omarzai’s 4/15 and unbeaten 40 off 21 balls won the match and the Player of the Match award.
With smog settling over Arun Jaitley Stadium and Afghanistan’s World Cup campaign sitting at zero wins, this was not just another Group D fixture. It was a must-win. And for three overs in the 17th, 18th and 19th over, they nearly threw it away.
This is the complete Afghanistan national cricket team vs United Arab Emirates national cricket team match scorecard from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, Match 28, Group D played at Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi, on February 16, 2026 along with full bowling analysis, partnership data, pitch conditions, fantasy picks, win probability and what this result means for both sides going forward.
Match Summary Box
Afghanistan defeated UAE by 5 wickets in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 on February 16, 2026 at Delhi. UAE scored 160/9 in 20 overs. Afghanistan chased 161 in 19.2 overs, finishing at 162/5. Azmatullah Omarzai took 4/15 and scored 40* off 21 balls to win the match and the Player of the Match award.
| Detail | Information |
| Match | 28th Match, Group D, ICC T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Venue | Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi |
| Date | February 16, 2026 |
| Toss | Afghanistan won elected to bowl |
| UAE Score | 160/9 (20 overs) |
| AFG Score | 162/5 (19.2 overs) |
| Result | Afghanistan won by 5 wickets (4 balls remaining) |
| Player of the Match | Azmatullah Omarzai (4/15 + 40* off 21) |
| Rashid Khan Milestone | 700th T20 International wicket |
UAE Batting Scorecard 160/9 in 20 Overs
UAE posted 160/9 in 20 overs, built on a 109-run second-wicket stand between Alishan Sharafu (40 off 31) and Sohaib Khan (68 off 48), before Afghanistan’s bowlers dismantled the lower order.
UAE Full Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
| Muhammad Waseem | — | Low | — | — | — | — |
| Alishan Sharafu | b Omarzai | 40 | 31 | 4 | 1 | 129.03 |
| Sohaib Khan | c & b Omarzai | 68 | 48 | 6 | 2 | 141.67 |
| Syed Haider | — | 13 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 130.00 |
| Harshit Kaushik | — | Low | — | — | — | — |
| Muhammad Arfan | lbw b Omarzai | Low | — | — | — | — |
| Haider Ali | — | Low | — | — | — | — |
| Muhammad Jawadullah | — | Low | — | — | — | — |
| Junaid Siddique | — | Low | — | — | — | — |
| Simranjeet Singh | b Omarzai | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Extras | (w) | — | ||||
| TOTAL | 160/9 | 20 ov | RR: 8.00 |
UAE Fall of Wickets
| Wicket | Score | Over | Batter Dismissed |
| 5th | 114/5 | 14.5 | — |
| 6th | 121/6 | 15.3 | — |
| 7th | 152/7 | 18.3 | — |
| 8th | 157/8 | 19.4 | — |
| 9th | 160/9 | 19.6 | Simranjeet Singh |
UAE Innings Analysis
UAE were 114/5 after 14.5 overs a score that looked likely to settle around 125–130. Instead, their lower order added 46 runs in the last 5 overs while losing only 4 wickets. That finishing ability is what made this a genuine contest.
What most people think vs reality: Fans assume UAE collapses in big ICC tournaments against ranked oppositions. Sohaib Khan’s 68 off 48 at a strike rate of 141.67 on a Delhi pitch that assisted Afghanistan’s seamers in the first six overs directly disproves that assumption.
The Alishan Sharafu and Sohaib Khan partnership was the backbone of the UAE innings. The 109-run second-wicket partnership was the highest partnership of the entire match and the highest UAE has registered in a T20 World Cup against Afghanistan. Without it, UAE would have been chasing a par score of around 120 and the chase would have been a formality.
Afghanistan Bowling Scorecard How They Restricted UAE to 160
Azmatullah Omarzai took 4 wickets for 15 runs in 4 overs an economy of 3.75 to restrict UAE at critical points and prevent a total above 165. Mujeeb Ur Rahman added 2/31 in 4 overs.
This is the section the Afghanistan national cricket team vs United Arab Emirates national cricket team match scorecard requires and that most competitor pages skip completely. Knowing who took wickets and when is the difference between understanding the match and simply reading numbers.
Afghanistan Full Bowling Scorecard
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Economy |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | 4 | 0 | 15 | 4 | 3.75 |
| Mujeeb Ur Rahman | 4 | 0 | 31 | 2 | 7.75 |
| Rashid Khan | 4 | 0 | — | 1 | — |
| Noor Ahmad | 4 | 0 | — | 1 | — |
| Ziaur Rahman | 4 | 0 | — | 1 | — |
Bowling Insights
Rashid Khan, Afghanistan’s world-class leg-spinner and the most feared bowler in this format, claimed just one wicket. UAE’s batters had clearly studied him. They attacked his googlies rather than playing safe, denying him the control he normally commands.
The entire bowling performance the reason UAE only got to 160 and not 175+ belongs to Omarzai. His 4/15 was not luck it was precision. He bowled at the right length, targeted the stumps, and picked up wickets at exactly the moments UAE threatened to accelerate.
Rashid Khan’s 700th T20I wicket also came in this match, making him the joint-highest T20I wicket-taker in history alongside a historic milestone.
Afghanistan National Cricket Team vs UAE Batting Scorecard (162/5 in 19.2 Overs)
Afghanistan chased 161 in 19.2 overs, finishing at 162/5. Ibrahim Zadran top-scored with 53 off 41 balls, while Azmatullah Omarzai’s unbeaten 40 off 21 balls sealed the chase with 4 balls to spare.
The chase was two innings in one a patient anchor job from Zadran and a controlled explosion from Omarzai. Without both performances, Afghanistan would have lost this match.
Afghanistan Full Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk) | c S Khan b J Siddique | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Ibrahim Zadran | c M Waseem b M Arfan | 53 | 41 | 6 | 1 | 129.27 |
| Gulbadin Naib | c H Kaushik b M Arfan | 13 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 108.33 |
| Sediqullah Atal | b Jawadullah | 16 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 114.29 |
| Darwish Rasooli | b Siddique | 33 | 23 | 3 | 1 | 143.48 |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | NOT OUT | 40 | 21 | 2 | 3 | 190.48 |
| Mohammad Nabi | NOT OUT | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Rashid Khan | DNB | — | — | — | — | — |
| Mujeeb Ur Rahman | DNB | — | — | — | — | — |
| Noor Ahmad | DNB | — | — | — | — | — |
| Ziaur Rahman | DNB | — | — | — | — | — |
| Extras | (w 4) | 4 | ||||
| TOTAL | 162/5 | 19.2 ov | RR: 8.38 |
Afghanistan Partnership Breakdown
| Wicket | Runs | Batters | Balls |
| 1st | 0 | Gurbaz + Zadran | 2 |
| 2nd | 40 | Zadran + Naib | 32 |
| 3rd | 30 | Zadran + Atal | 22 |
| 4th | 27 | Zadran + Rasooli | 22 |
| 5th | 43 | Rasooli + Omarzai | 24 |
| 6th | 22* | Omarzai + Nabi | 14 |
Afghanistan Fall of Wickets
| Wicket | Score | Over | Batter |
| 1st | 0/1 | 0.2 | Rahmanullah Gurbaz |
| 2nd | 40/2 | 5.3 | Gulbadin Naib |
| 3rd | 70/3 | 9.5 | Sediqullah Atal |
| 4th | 97/4 | 13.1 | Ibrahim Zadran |
| 5th | 140/5 | 17.3 | Darwish Rasooli |
UAE Bowling Scorecard Why They Almost Won
UAE’s bowling nearly produced a World Cup upset. Junaid Siddique (2/23) and Muhammad Arfan (2/30) were the standout performers. The match was lost in Jawadullah’s death-over spell, which went for 39 runs in 4 overs at an economy of 9.75.
UAE Full Bowling Scorecard
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Economy | Extras |
| Junaid Siddique | 3.2 | 0 | 23 | 2 | 6.90 | 1w |
| Muhammad Arfan | 4.0 | 0 | 30 | 2 | 7.50 | — |
| Muhammad Jawadullah | 4.0 | 0 | 39 | 1 | 9.75 | 1w |
| Haider Ali | 4.0 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 8.25 | 2w |
| Simranjeet Singh | 4.0 | 0 | 37 | 0 | 9.25 | — |
The Bowling Decision That Cost UAE the Match
Here is the counterintuitive truth: Siddique had 2 wickets and an economy of 6.90. With Afghanistan at 140/5 in the 17th over, the smartest bowling call would have been to bring Siddique back his best ball had already broken the chase twice. Instead, Jawadullah bowled overs that Omarzai dispatched.
The UAE captain hesitated. That hesitation, across three overs in the death, cost his team one of the greatest T20 World Cup upsets in history.
Three Turning Points in the Afghanistan National Cricket Team vs UAE Match
Turning Point 1 Gurbaz Golden Duck Off Ball 2 (Over 0.2)
Rahmanullah Gurbaz was dismissed for a golden duck off the second ball of the Afghanistan innings by Junaid Siddique. Afghanistan’s most dangerous powerplay batter a player who had already performed in this tournament was back in the pavilion before the scoreboard moved.
The knock-on effect: Afghanistan’s powerplay produced 41 runs for 2 wickets. Against a target of 161, a 41/2 powerplay is survival mode, not platform-building. This is where most fans assumed Afghanistan had already lost.
Turning Point 2 Zadran Rebuilds Alone Across Three Partnerships (Overs 1–13)
What most people miss: Zadran’s 53 was not one continuous innings it was three separate rebuilds inside a single innings. He added 40 with Naib, 30 with Atal, and 27 with Rasooli, each time starting again from scratch with a new batter. That kind of innings requires both technical skill and exceptional composure under pressure.
An anchor innings in T20 cricket is the most underappreciated contribution in the format. This was a textbook example.
Turning Point 3 140/5, 21 Needed Off 18 Balls (Over 17.3)
At the moment Rasooli was bowled by Siddique in the 17th over, UAE had approximately a 55–60% win probability. Afghanistan needed 21 off 18 balls with only Omarzai, Nabi and the tail remaining. UAE had the momentum, a clear bowling plan, and a crowd falling silent.
But here is what actually happened: Omarzai did not try to be clever. He attacked every delivery with clear intent pulling short balls over midwicket, driving length through covers. By over 19, Afghanistan needed only 4 more runs. Nabi took 3 off 3 balls. Match over. Cool. Clinical. Experienced.
Match Momentum Breakdown
| Phase | Overs | UAE Innings | AFG Chase |
| Powerplay | 1–6 | Solid platform, Sharafu builds | 41/2 shaky, Gurbaz gone ball 2 |
| Middle Overs | 7–14 | Sohaib Khan dominant, 68 off 48 | Zadran stabilizes, three partnerships |
| Death Overs | 15–20 | UAE adds 46 runs (5 wkts down) | Omarzai explodes, chase complete |
Delhi Pitch and Conditions
The Arun Jaitley Stadium pitch in February assists seamers early with lateral movement, then flattens significantly in the second innings under lights. This explains why Afghanistan’s decision to bowl first was logical their seamers could exploit early movement and why the run chase became progressively easier as the ball went older and the dew settled.
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Player Performances That Defined the Afghanistan vs UAE T20 World Cup Match
Azmatullah Omarzai The Most Complete Performance of This Tournament
Four wickets for 15 runs with the ball. Forty unbeaten runs off 21 balls with the bat. A bowling economy of 3.75. A batting strike rate of 190.48. In any format, this is an exceptional all-round match performance. In a T20 World Cup, against a team that needed only a small upset to shake Group D, it is the kind of performance that shapes careers.
The counterintuitive take: Afghanistan should permanently bat Omarzai at No. 6 not push him higher in panic. His value is maximum when he walks in with 20–30 balls left and 30–50 to score. This match proved exactly that model is correct.
Ibrahim Zadran The Anchor Who Deserves the Headline
Zadran’s 53 off 41 balls contributed to three partnerships totalling 97 runs. Without that structural foundation, Omarzai would have walked in at 97/4 in the 14th over with a mountain left to climb. The social media highlights will show Omarzai’s sixes. The match analysis shows Zadran won this game in the middle overs.
Anchor innings in T20 cricket remain the most undervalued contribution in the format Zadran’s knock here was a perfect example.
Sohaib Khan (UAE) The Player Who Proved UAE’s Batting Potential
A score of 68 off 48 balls at a strike rate of 141.67 on a seaming Delhi pitch places Sohaib Khan in serious conversation as UAE’s best T20 bat. He was not guiding UAE to a par total he was actively building a score that nearly won them a World Cup match. If UAE build a consistent batting structure around Khan, they become a genuinely difficult side for any team.
Junaid Siddique (UAE) Two Wickets That Nearly Changed History
Gurbaz dismissed off the second ball of the game. Rasooli bowled in the 17th over when Afghanistan needed momentum. Siddique’s 2/23 in 3.2 overs including 1 wicket in the final over he bowled was the best ball-for-ball bowling performance of the match. He deserves recognition in defeat.
Group D Points Table After Match 28
| Team | M | W | L | Pts | NRR |
| South Africa | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | +1.477 |
| New Zealand | 4 | 3 | 1 | 6 | +1.227 |
| Afghanistan | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -0.215 |
| UAE | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -0.797 |
| Canada | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | -1.865 |
This was Afghanistan’s first win of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. South Africa had already qualified for the Super 8s. Afghanistan needed further results to fall their way for Super 8 qualification this win kept the door open, not fully ajar.
What This Win Means for Afghanistan’s T20 World Cup Campaign
The result keeps Afghanistan’s Super 8 hopes alive, but the manner of the win highlights a structural middle-order problem that cannot be solved by Omarzai alone. A team that reaches 140/5 against UAE not England, not South Africa while chasing 161, has a fragility in its batting order that will eventually cost them against stronger opposition.
This is where the real critical thinking begins: Afghanistan’s top-order collapses, their middle order relies on individual brilliance, and their bowling attack Rashid, Mujeeb, Omarzai remains genuinely world-class. The talent ceiling is high. The structural execution around that talent still needs serious improvement before they can challenge for a Super 8s semi-final spot.
For UAE, this was a performance to build on. Sohaib Khan’s 68, Siddique’s 2/23, and the discipline to keep Afghanistan at 140/5 entering the 18th over this was not a minnow performance. This was a team showing they belong at this stage.
Fantasy Cricket Picks Afghanistan vs UAE T20 World Cup 2026
| Pick | Player | Stats | Role |
| Captain | Azmatullah Omarzai | 4/15 + 40* (21) | All-rounder |
| Vice-Captain | Ibrahim Zadran | 53 off 41 | Top-order anchor |
| Power Pick (Bat) | Darwish Rasooli | 33 off 23, SR 143.48 | Middle-order aggressor |
| Differential (Bowl) | Junaid Siddique | 2/23 in 3.2 overs | Death bowler |
| Explosive Pick | Sohaib Khan | 68 off 48, SR 141.67 | UAE anchor |
| Multiplier (Bowl) | Mujeeb Ur Rahman | 2/31 in 4 overs | Powerplay spin threat |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Who won the Afghanistan vs UAE match in T20 World Cup 2026?
Ans. Afghanistan won by 5 wickets, chasing 161 in 19.2 overs at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, on February 16, 2026, with 4 balls remaining.
Q2. What is the full scorecard of Afghanistan national cricket team vs United Arab Emirates national cricket team match in T20 World Cup 2026?
Ans. UAE scored 160/9 in 20 overs. Afghanistan replied with 162/5 in 19.2 overs. Azmatullah Omarzai was Player of the Match for 4/15 and 40* off 21 balls.
Q3. Who was the Player of the Match in Afghanistan vs UAE, T20 World Cup 2026?
Ans. Azmatullah Omarzai won the Player of the Match award for his all-round performance 4 wickets for 15 runs in 4 overs and an unbeaten 40 off 21 balls in the chase.
Q4. Who scored the highest runs for UAE in the T20 World Cup 2026 match against Afghanistan?
Ans. Sohaib Khan top-scored for UAE with 68 off 48 balls at a strike rate of 141.67. Alishan Sharafu contributed 40 off 31 balls in a 109-run partnership.
Q5. What were Azmatullah Omarzai’s bowling figures against UAE in the T20 World Cup 2026?
Ans. Omarzai bowled 4 overs, took 4 wickets, and conceded only 15 runs an economy of 3.75 the most economical and highest wicket-taking spell of the match.
Q6. What happened to Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the Afghanistan chase against UAE?
Ans. Gurbaz was dismissed for a golden duck off the second ball of the Afghanistan innings, caught off Junaid Siddique’s bowling, setting Afghanistan back before the chase even started.
Q7. Was this Afghanistan’s first win in T20 World Cup 2026?
Ans. Yes. This was Afghanistan’s first and only win in the group stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, earned by 5 wickets against UAE in Match 28 of Group D.
Q8. What was the winning partnership for Afghanistan against UAE in the T20 World Cup 2026?
Ans. Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi completed the chase with an unbroken 22-run sixth-wicket partnership. Omarzai scored 40* off 21 balls; Nabi contributed 3 off 3 balls.
Q9. What is the head-to-head record of Afghanistan vs UAE in T20Is?
Ans. Afghanistan lead the T20I head-to-head record 11 wins to 3 against UAE. UAE’s most recent win came in Sharjah in September 2025. Afghanistan have won their last three T20I encounters against UAE.
Q10. What was the match venue and time for Afghanistan vs UAE, T20 World Cup 2026?
Ans. The match was played at Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi, on February 16, 2026, starting at 5:30 AM UTC (11:00 AM IST). Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bowl first.
