Prior to the Asia Cup, Pakistan’s all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz unleashed a spin masterclass against Afghanistan in the T20 tri-nation series final. The left-arm spinner’s hat-trick was pivotal in dismantling the Afghan batting lineup. Nawaz’s hat-trick came in his initial seven deliveries, making him the third Pakistani bowler to achieve this milestone in T20 Internationals. Pakistan won the match with a margin of 75 runs, securing the trophy.
The series served as a warm-up for the Asia Cup 2025, held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), involving UAE, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. The final took place on December 7th in Sharjah. Pakistan, after struggling to put up a substantial score, witnessed Nawaz take control with his spin.
Nawaz, showcasing consistency throughout the tournament, sustained his impressive form in the final. Bowling in the sixth over, he gave up only one run in the first four balls, then secured two wickets in the concluding two balls. He dismissed Darwish Rasooli and Azmatullah Omarzai, moving towards a hat-trick opportunity.
Mohammad Haris’s stumping of Ibrahim Zadran in the eighth over handed Nawaz the hat-trick. Nawaz became the third Pakistani bowler to record a hat-trick in T20 Internationals, following Faheem Ashraf (2017) and Mohammad Hasnain (2019). Both previous hat-tricks by Pakistani bowlers were against Sri Lanka.
The hat-trick was only the beginning of Nawaz’s spell. He added his fourth wicket within the subsequent three balls. In just two overs, he took four wickets while conceding only one run. Nawaz concluded his spell by dismissing Afghan captain Rashid Khan, taking his five-wicket haul. Nawaz ended with a remarkable 5 wickets for 19 runs in his 4 overs, his first five-wicket haul in a T20 International.
Pakistan had previously set a target of 142 runs for Afghanistan to win. Pakistan had a rocky start, losing five wickets for 72 runs. Nawaz (25) contributed with the bat to steady the innings. Nawaz and captain Salman Agha formed a 40-run partnership, helping the team to a competitive score. Nawaz’s five-wicket haul led to Afghanistan’s downfall, with Afghanistan being bowled out for 66 runs in 15.5 overs. Abrar Ahmed and Sufiyan Muqeem each claimed 2 wickets.