In a must-win encounter at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Monday, February 16, 2026, Afghanistan kept their Super Eight dreams alive with a hard-fought five-wicket win over the United Arab Emirates. The victory was a direct result of Azmatullah Omarzai’s sensational all-round performance, as he dismantled the UAE middle order before striking the winning runs in the final over.
The result marks Afghanistan’s first win of the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup following a heartbreaking double Super Over loss to South Africa last week.
Match Summary: Afghanistan vs. UAE (Group D)
| Team | Score | Top Performers |
| UAE | 160/9 (20.0) | Sohaib Khan (68), Alishan Sharafu (40) |
| Afghanistan | 162/5 (19.2) | Ibrahim Zadran (53), Azmatullah Omarzai (40)* |
Result: Afghanistan won by 5 wickets (with 4 balls remaining).
How the Match Was Won
1. Omarzai’s Clinical Bowling Spell
After winning the toss and electing to field, Afghanistan struck early through Omarzai and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, leaving UAE reeling at 13/2. Although UAE recovered through a brilliant 84-run stand between Sohaib Khan and Alishan Sharafu, Omarzai returned at the death to take 4/15, triggering a collapse that limited UAE to a par total of 160.
2. Ibrahim Zadran’s Anchoring Fifty
The chase began with a shock as star opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz fell for a duck in the first over. Ibrahim Zadran stepped up, striking a composed 53 off 41 balls to keep Afghanistan in touch with the required rate. However, when he fell in the 14th over, the match hung in the balance with 61 runs still needed.
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3. The Final Counterattack
With the pressure mounting, Omarzai (40* off 21) teamed up with Darwish Rasooli (33) for a decisive 43-run partnership. Omarzai’s aggressive stroke-play, including three towering sixes, reduced the equation to single digits in the final over, where he finished the game with a boundary off Junaid Siddique.
Group D: Super Eight Qualification Scenarios
The win has shifted the dynamics of Group D. While South Africa has officially qualified for the Super Eight with 6 points, the race for the second spot is still wide open.
- Current Standings: New Zealand (4 pts) sits 2nd, with Afghanistan (2 pts) in 3rd.
- The “Miracle” Scenario: Afghanistan must beat Canada in their final game on February 19 and hope that Canada pulls off an upset against New Zealand tomorrow (Feb 17).
- Net Run Rate (NRR): If New Zealand loses to Canada, qualification will be decided by NRR. Currently, the Kiwis hold a significant advantage (+0.701 vs -0.215).
Milestone Alert
During the UAE innings, captain Rashid Khan achieved a historic feat, becoming the first bowler in history to reach 700 wickets in T20 cricket when he dismissed Sohaib Khan in the 19th over.
