Afghanistan and Pakistan are all set to play their first-ever three-match bilateral T20I series, which starts at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the United Arab Emirates on Friday.
The AFGvPAK T20I Series trophy was meanwhile unveiled in the presence of the two team captains, Rashid Khan and Pakistan’s Shadab Khan, at the cricket stadium on Thursday night.
This unique trophy is a masterpiece of artistry and craftsmanship and is made from a handcrafted Afghan carpet, representing the rich heritage and traditions of the country.
The battle for this trophy is expected to be a thrilling one as the neighboring countries both have their eyes on the prize.
Pakistan is however currently ranked No. 3 in the ICC T20I Team Rankings while Afghanistan is ranked No. 10. But earlier this week, Afghanistan announced a strong 17-member squad which includes team captain Rashid Khan.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) also recalled former T20I captain Mohammad Nabi, who stepped down as captain after the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Nabi was dropped for the series against UAE where the ODI mainstay Rahmat Shah earned a call-up to the T20I side. However, Shah was dropped from the squad for the Pakistan series without making his T20I debut.
Following the announcement, ACB CEO Naseeb Khan said: “Our team has been working hard in training camp and selectors have selected the best available players for the series.”
He said: “I am confident that our team will perform at their best and make our nation proud. We wish our team the best of luck for the series and hope to see them emerge victorious.”
The series, marked to be the first multi-match bilateral series between the two sides, will begin on Friday, March 24 and run through to March 27.
Pakistan meanwhile will be led by all-rounder Shadab Khan in the absence of Babar Azam, who has been rested for the series.
Shadab will be captaining a young Pakistan side, which includes as many as four uncapped players.
