Bangladesh kicked off their T20I series against Afghanistan with a nail-biting four-wicket victory at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on October 02, 2025. Chasing a modest target of 152, the visitors rode on explosive fifties from openers Tanzid Hasan (51) and Parvez Hossain Emon (54) to overcome a spirited fightback from Rashid Khan, who claimed a stunning 4-18 from his four overs. The Afghanistan vs Bangladesh 1st T20I result puts Bangladesh 1-0 up in the three-match series.
The match, played under lights in Sharjah, saw Afghanistan struggle to post a competitive total after winning the toss and electing to bat first. Despite a gritty 40 from wicketkeeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz and a quickfire 38 from veteran Mohammad Nabi, the hosts could only manage 151/9 in their 20 overs.
Afghanistan’s Batting Woes
Afghanistan’s innings never quite gained momentum. After losing Ibrahim Zadran (15) in the fourth over, the team found themselves in early trouble at 31/3 within the powerplay. Sediqullah Atal (10) and Darwish Rasooli (0) fell cheaply, leaving Gurbaz to rebuild the innings.
The middle overs saw some resistance from Azmatullah Omarzai (18) and Gurbaz, who stitched together a 33-run partnership for the fifth wicket. However, Bangladesh’s disciplined bowling attack kept chipping away at the wickets. Rishad Hossain was particularly impressive, picking up 2-33, while Tanzim Hasan Sakib claimed 2-34.
Mohammad Nabi provided some late fireworks with a 25-ball 38 that included three fours and two sixes, helping Afghanistan cross the 150-mark. Sharafuddin Ashraf remained unbeaten on 17, but the damage was already done. The Afghanistan vs Bangladesh match scorecard revealed just how much the hosts struggled, managing only 7.55 runs per over.
Bangladesh’s Powerplay Blitz
Bangladesh came out with clear intent in their chase. Tanzid Hasan and Parvez Hossain Emon launched an aggressive assault on the Afghan bowlers, racing to 50 without loss in just 5.6 overs. The openers looked unstoppable during the powerplay, smashing boundaries at will and putting the home side under immediate pressure.
Parvez reached his fifty off just 35 balls, decorated with three fours and three sixes. Tanzid followed suit shortly after, bringing up his half-century off 34 deliveries. The opening partnership swelled to a mammoth 109 runs before Fareed Ahmad finally broke through in the 12th over, dismissing Parvez for 54.
Rashid Khan’s Stunning Comeback
What followed was one of the most dramatic collapses in recent T20I cricket. Captain Rashid Khan turned the match on its head with a sensational spell of leg-spin. In the space of just 2.2 overs, Bangladesh lost four wickets, slipping from 109/0 to 117/5.
Rashid first trapped Saif Hassan (0) lbw before getting Tanzid caught for 51. He then dismissed captain Jaker Ali (6) and Shamim Hossain (0) in quick succession, finishing with remarkable figures of 4-18. The Afghanistan vs Bangladesh result suddenly hung in the balance as Bangladesh needed 35 runs from 32 balls with just five wickets in hand.
Noor Ahmad joined the party by removing Tanzim Hasan Sakib (0) lbw, leaving Bangladesh at 118/6. The match that seemed like a cakewalk had transformed into a tense thriller.
Nurul Hasan Seals the Deal
With the pressure mounting, experienced campaigner Nurul Hasan stepped up when his team needed him most. The right-hander played a composed knock of 23 not out off just 13 balls, hitting two fours and four boundaries to steady the ship.
Rishad Hossain provided valuable support at the other end with an unbeaten 14 off nine deliveries. The pair added 35 crucial runs for the seventh wicket, guiding Bangladesh across the finish line with eight balls to spare. Nurul’s strike rate of 176.92 proved decisive in the Afghanistan vs Bangladesh 1st T20I at Sharjah.
Scorecard Summary
Afghanistan Innings – 151/9 (20 overs)
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz | 40 | 31 | 5 | 4 | 129.03 |
| Mohammad Nabi | 38 | 25 | 3 | 2 | 152.00 |
| Sharafuddin Ashraf | 17* | 12 | 2 | 1 | 141.66 |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | 18 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 100.00 |
Best Bowling: Rishad Hossain 2-33, Tanzim Hasan Sakib 2-34
Bangladesh Innings – 153/6 (18.4 overs)
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parvez Hossain Emon | 54 | 37 | 5 | 3 | 145.94 |
| Tanzid Hasan | 51 | 37 | 6 | 3 | 137.83 |
| Nurul Hasan | 23* | 13 | 2 | 4 | 176.92 |
| Rishad Hossain | 14* | 9 | 1 | 0 | 155.55 |
Best Bowling: Rashid Khan 4-18
Last 6 Overs Runboard (Bangladesh Innings)
| Over | Runs | Wickets | Key Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13.1-14.0 | 7 | 1 | Tanzid dismissed |
| 14.1-15.0 | 6 | 2 | Jaker Ali & Shamim fall |
| 15.1-16.0 | 1 | 1 | Tanzim out lbw |
| 16.1-17.0 | 13 | 0 | Nurul counterattack |
| 17.1-18.0 | 12 | 0 | Bangladesh closing in |
| 18.1-18.4 | 6 | 0 | Winning runs |
Top Performers
Bangladesh:
- Parvez Hossain Emon — 54 (37 balls), 5×4, 3×6
- Tanzid Hasan — 51 (37 balls), 6×4, 3×6
- Nurul Hasan — 23* (13 balls), 2×4, 4×6
Afghanistan:
- Rashid Khan — 4-18 (4 overs)
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz — 40 (31 balls), 5×4, 4×6
- Mohammad Nabi — 38 (25 balls), 3×4, 2×6
Captain’s Reaction
While official post-match quotes were not immediately available, Bangladesh captain Jaker Ali would surely be relieved with his team’s composure under pressure. Despite losing four wickets in quick succession, the lower middle order held their nerve to secure a crucial away victory.
For Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan, it was a case of “what might have been.” His exceptional bowling spell deserved to be on the winning side, but his batsmen couldn’t provide enough runs to defend.
Match Summary
| Team | Score | Overs | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | 151/9 | 20.0 | Lost by 4 wickets |
| Bangladesh | 153/6 | 18.4 | Won by 4 wickets |
Player of the Match: Parvez Hossain Emon (54 runs)
Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
Toss: Afghanistan won and elected to bat
What’s Next?
The two teams will face off in the 2nd T20I of this three-match series, with Bangladesh looking to seal the series and Afghanistan desperate to level things up. The match is expected to be played at the same venue in Sharjah in the coming days.
Bangladesh will take tremendous confidence from this victory, particularly their opening partnership and Nurul Hasan’s finishing abilities. However, they’ll be concerned about the middle-order collapse that nearly cost them the match.
Afghanistan, meanwhile, will rue their batting performance. Scoring just 151 on a decent Sharjah surface simply wasn’t enough, despite Rashid Khan’s heroics with the ball. The hosts will need their top order to fire if they’re to keep the series alive.
Conclusion
The Afghanistan vs Bangladesh, 1st T20I at Sharjah result showcased exactly why T20 cricket remains the most unpredictable format. From Bangladesh’s dominant opening stand to Rashid’s stunning fightback and finally Nurul’s match-winning cameo, this match had everything a cricket fan could ask for. As the series moves forward, both teams will have plenty to reflect on from this thrilling encounter in the desert.