Abasin Defenders pulled off an exciting chase at Ayobi Cricket Stadium on October 17, 2025, defeating Pamir Stars by 5 wickets with 5 balls to spare. Chasing a huge target of 226 runs, captain Samiullah Shinwari led from the front with an unbeaten 78 off 38 balls. Earlier, Pamir Stars posted 225/3 in their 20 overs, powered by Emal’s blazing 81 and Atta Mohammad Zarmal’s explosive 52 off just 13 balls. The high-scoring thriller kept fans on the edge of their seats as both teams traded powerful blows in this run-fest.
Source: Match scorecard from Kabul Premier League official records, Ayobi Cricket Stadium, Kabul
Scorecard
| Team | Score | Overs | Wickets | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pamir Stars | 225 | 20.0 | 3 | Lost by 5 wickets |
| Abasin Defenders | 228 | 19.1 | 5 | Won by 5 wickets |
Match Details:
- Venue: Ayobi Cricket Stadium, Kabul
- Toss: Pamir Stars won and elected to bat first
- Player of the Match: Samiullah Shinwari (Abasin Defenders)
- Umpires: Bahadur Niazi, Mahmood Kharoti
Top Performers
| Player | Team | Role | Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samiullah Shinwari | Abasin Defenders | Batsman | 78* (38 balls, 6 fours, 6 sixes) |
| Emal | Pamir Stars | Batsman | 81 (38 balls, 7 fours, 6 sixes) |
| Atta Mohammad Zarmal | Pamir Stars | Batsman | 52* (13 balls, 4 fours, 6 sixes) |
| Hassan Eisakhil | Abasin Defenders | Batsman | 55 (23 balls, 7 fours, 4 sixes) |
| Mohammad Nabi | Pamir Stars | Bowler | 2/23 (4 overs, economy 5.75) |
Key Moments
- Explosive Start: Hassan Eisakhil raced to his fifty in just 20 balls, smashing 7 fours and 4 sixes to give Defenders a flying start in the chase.
- Powerplay Domination: Abasin Defenders scored 86 runs in the first six overs, their highest powerplay score, setting up the chase perfectly.
- Atta’s Fireworks: Atta Mohammad Zarmal destroyed the Defenders bowling in the final overs, hitting 52 runs off only 13 balls with 6 massive sixes.
- Captain’s Knock: Samiullah Shinwari held his nerve under pressure, building crucial partnerships and finishing the match with a winning six.
- Mohammad Nabi’s Control: The experienced spinner gave away just 23 runs in 4 overs and took 2 important wickets to keep Pamir Stars in the game.
- Costly Bowling: Pamir Stars bowlers struggled with extras, giving away 25 runs (16 wides, 7 leg-byes, 2 no-balls) that proved costly in a tight finish.
Match Analysis
This match showed the true excitement of T20 cricket. Pamir Stars looked in complete control after posting 225, especially after Atta Mohammad Zarmal’s blistering finish that added 75 runs in the last 3 overs. His strike rate of 400 was simply outstanding.
However, Abasin Defenders refused to back down. Hassan Eisakhil’s aggressive approach in the powerplay put pressure right back on Pamir Stars. When he fell for 55, the match was evenly balanced. The middle order wobbled slightly with quick wickets, but captain Samiullah Shinwari stayed calm and played smart cricket.
The turning point came when Shinwari and Shawkat Zaman added 88 runs for the sixth wicket. They found the boundary regularly and ran well between wickets. Shinwari reached his fifty off just 25 balls and never let the required run rate get out of hand.
Mohammad Nabi tried his best with the ball, using his experience to slow down the scoring. His economical spell of 2/23 kept Pamir Stars hoping for a miracle. But on a flat batting pitch, the other bowlers leaked too many runs. Rohed Janzai went for 70 runs in 4 overs without taking a wicket.
What’s Next
This win keeps Abasin Defenders’ campaign alive in the Kabul Premier League 2025. Captain Samiullah Shinwari’s form with the bat will give his team huge confidence going into the next matches. For Pamir Stars, despite the loss, they can take positives from their batting performance. Atta Mohammad Zarmal’s explosive hitting and Emal’s consistency show they have match-winners in their lineup.
Both teams will need to work on their bowling, especially controlling wides and no-balls. In such high-scoring matches, every extra run matters. The Kabul Premier League continues to deliver thrilling cricket, and fans can expect more exciting contests in the coming days.