AFG vs PAK 3rd T20I: Head to Head, Playing XI, Preview, Where to Watch on TV, Online, and Live Streaming Details

Afghanistan will head into the 3rd T20I with aspirations of a whitewash of the Pakistanis in the three-match series.

Published - 27 Mar 2023, 14:10 IST | Updated - 27 Mar 2023, 14:10 IST

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History was made after Afghanistan registered their second consecutive victory against Pakistan in T20Is, just 48 hours after their maiden win, to clinch the three-match series with a game to go. It was the Afghan bowlers who rose to the occasion yet again, restricting the Pakistani batters to a paltry 130 runs in their 20 overs.

Pakistan's top order failed to fire for a second consecutive time as Abdullah Shafique succumbed to his second duck of the series, and fourth successive overall. It was Imad Wasim and skipper Shadab Khan's sixth wicket stand that propelled the Men in Green to a respectable total in the decisive contest.

Despite posting a below-par total on the board, Pakistan pushed Afghanistan all the way in the match as all the bowlers, apart from Naseem Shah, made run-scoring a difficult prospect for the Afghan batters. However, the experience of Mohammad Nabi and Najibullah Zadran triumphed in a last over-thriller, handing Afghanistan a famous victory.

With the series already in the bag, Afghanistan will be eyeing a memorable clean sweep against Pakistan when the two sides meet in the third and final match of the series in Sharjah on Monday, March 27.

Pitch and Conditions

The surface at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium has lived up to the reputation of being a low-scoring venue in the ongoing series. Both the matches have been won by the chasing team and the team winning the toss in the series finale might decide to bowl first, influenced by recent results at this venue.

Probable Playing XI for AFG vs PAK, 3rd T20I

Afghanistan

The Afghanistan bowlers have been terrific in the series so far, especially Fazalhaq Farooqi, who has been a constant threat with the ball. The team management won't be tinkering with the starting eleven, with a memorable clean sweep up for grabs.

Probable Playing XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Usman Ghani, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Janat, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan (c), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveen-ul-Haq

Pakistan

Even though Pakistan succumbed to their second successive loss against Afghanistan, their bowlers have given their all in the three-match series. It has been the batting that has let down the Men in Green and Shadab Khan will be hoping to avoid the embarrassment of a whitewash in the T20I series.

Probable Playing XI: Saim Ayub, Mohammad Haris, Abdullah Shafique, Tayyab Tahir, Azam Khan (wk), Shadab Khan (c), Mohammad Nawaz, Imad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Zaman Khan, Ihsanullah