Afghanistan vs West Indies Match Context
Afghanistan vs West Indies kicked off the T20 series in spectacular fashion at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, UAE. This first match was a crucial test for both teams ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026. Afghanistan won the toss and chose to bat first, sending a clear message of intent.
West Indies arrived with several key absences: Shai Hope, Roston Chase, Akeal Hosein, and Sherfane Rutherford were engaged in other tournaments, while Jason Holder, Rovman Powell, and Romario Shepherd were rested strategically. On the other side, Afghanistan fielded a combined squad for the series and the World Cup, with the return of Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and Mohammad Nabi. This set up an intriguing clash of experience versus young talent.
Afghanistan vs West Indies 1st T20I Match Summary
First Innings: Afghanistan Batting
Afghanistan started strongly. Ibrahim Zadran led the charge with a remarkable 87* off 56 balls at a strike rate of 155. Alongside him, Darwish Rasooli contributed 84 runs off 59 balls, helping Afghanistan reach a total of 181/3 in 20 overs.
Fall of wickets (Afghanistan): 0-1, 2-19, 3-181
Top West Indies bowling:
Jayden Seales 1/30
Matthew Forde 1/51
Gudakesh Motie 0/18
This strong total gave Afghanistan a psychological edge heading into the fielding innings.
Second Innings West Indies Batting
West Indies faced pressure from the start. They struggled to find rhythm and finished 143/9 in 20 overs, losing key wickets at critical moments. Afghanistan’s bowling, led by Ziaur Rahman (3/36), maintained constant pressure, preventing any significant comeback.
Despite efforts from Shimron Hetmyer and Evin Lewis, West Indies could not close the gap, losing by 38 runs.
Player of the Match: Darwish Rasooli
Top Player Analysis
Afghanistan
Ibrahim Zadran: 87*, impeccable strike rotation and maintained pressure on bowlers.
Darwish Rasooli: 84 runs in a crucial partnership, earning Player of the Match.
Ziaur Rahman: Key bowler, took 3 vital wickets.
West Indies
Evin Lewis: Top scorer with 38 runs, some brilliance but insufficient.
Jayden Seales & Matthew Forde: Contained damage but could not stop the Zadran-Rasooli partnership.
Turning Point of the Match
The decisive moment was the 162-run partnership between Zadran and Rasooli, which set a defendable total for Afghanistan and broke the momentum of the West Indies chase.
Pitch & Conditions Analysis
The Dubai International Cricket Stadium offered:
Good initial bounce for batters
Slowing surface favoring spinners
As a result, West Indies’ chase became more difficult, highlighting Afghanistan’s tactical advantage.
ICC T20I Rankings and Match Impact
Before the match:
Afghanistan: rising T20I team
West Indies: struggling with inconsistency
Afghanistan’s win confirmed their upward trend, increasing pressure on West Indies to reorganize their strategy and squad for the remaining series matches.
Post-Match Reactions
After the match, Darwish Rasooli emphasized the importance of partnerships and confidence in bowling. The team believed 180 runs would be defendable, especially with spinners in play. Rasooli praised the team for staying calm and executing the plan under pressure.
Complete Statistics – Afghanistan vs West Indies 1st T20I
| Team | Runs | Wickets | Overs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | 181 | 3 | 20 |
| West Indies | 143 | 9 | 20 |
Top Performers Afghanistan:
Ibrahim Zadran 87*
Darwish Rasooli 84
Ziaur Rahman 3/36
Top Performers West Indies:
Evin Lewis 38
Jayden Seales 1/30
Matthew Forde 1/51
The first T20I between Afghanistan and West Indies clearly showcased Afghanistan’s dominance, with outstanding individual performances and superior tactical management. West Indies will need to respond and realign their strategy to avoid another heavy defeat in the series.
