KABUL: Afghanistan’s national cricket team secured its first victory of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 after defeating the United Arab Emirates by five wickets. Batting first, the UAE posted 160 runs for the loss of nine wickets in their allotted 20 overs. For Afghanistan, Azmatullah Omarzai delivered an outstanding bowling performance, taking four wickets and earning the player-of-the-match award. In reply, Afghanistan chased down the target, reaching 162 runs in 19.2 overs while losing five wickets. Ibrahim Zadran top-scored with 53 runs, while Omarzai contributed an unbeaten 40, playing a key role in the successful chase. With the win, Afghanistan moved up to third place in their group standings, keeping their hopes of advancing to the next stage alive. Meanwhile, Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan reached a historic milestone during the match, becoming the first bowler in cricket history to claim 700 wickets in T20 competitions, further cementing his place in the sport’s record books.
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