Afghanistan are rotating six spinners in the ongoing tri-nation T20I series, and the results have been impressive, with each spinner stepping up when given the chance.
On Monday, Sharafuddin Ashraf bagged three wickets against the UAE and earned the Player of the Match award. Yet, in a bold move, Afghanistan benched him for the very next game against Pakistan. His replacement, Noor Ahmad, delivered brilliantly, helping Afghanistan secure a vital win. This rotation strategy perfectly highlights the depth of Afghanistan’s spin arsenal.
In Sharjah on Tuesday, Afghanistan defeated Pakistan by 18 runs, with spinners once again dominating. Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, and Noor Ahmad shared six wickets between them, while A.M. Ghazanfar, playing his T20I debut, went wicketless.
Afghanistan’s squad for this series and the upcoming Asia Cup features six spinners. Among them, Nabi and Ashraf are genuine all-rounders, while Rashid’s batting has improved so much that he now also fits that category. This balance allows Afghanistan’s team management to test all six spinners ahead of the Asia Cup.
Rashid and Nabi have been regular starters, playing all three matches so far. In the first game against Pakistan, they were joined by Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and the trio bowled brilliantly despite Afghanistan losing. In the second match versus the UAE, Ashraf joined Rashid, Nabi, and Mujeeb, taking career-best figures of 3 for 24 to claim the Player of the Match award. Rashid and Nabi were their usual consistent selves, though Mujeeb had a quieter outing.
For Tuesday’s rematch against Pakistan, Afghanistan made more changes — Ashraf and Mujeeb were left out, with Noor Ahmad and Ghazanfar getting opportunities. Ghazanfar, who impressed in ODIs, struggled slightly on T20I debut with the new ball. However, Noor shined, taking 2 for 20 in his four overs, the exact figures Nabi recorded. Rashid also contributed 2 for 30, ensuring another dominant display.
After the win, Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan revealed this approach was part of a clear plan:
“You can call it a strategy. We have that depth. It’s not just about the playing XI — whoever gets a chance is capable of delivering. We pick players based on the opposition and the pitch conditions, and today we felt Noor and Ghazanfar would be more effective. We’re happy with how they performed.”
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha also praised Afghanistan’s spin strength after the loss:
“They have world-class spinners. Even the slightest chance, and they capitalize. If we hadn’t lost so many wickets in the middle overs, the result might have been different.”
Both Pakistan and Afghanistan still have one league-stage match each against the UAE. Unless something dramatic happens, these two teams are expected to meet again in the final, meaning fans can look forward to seeing more of Afghanistan’s spin magic.
