Nawaz’s Hat-trick Fires Pakistan to Lift Tri-Series Title 2025 with Crushing Win over Afghanistan

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Asif Iqbal | September 8, 2025 | 06:47 AM IST | Breaking News, Cricket, Sports | Follow on Google News

Nawaz’s Hat-trick Fires Pakistan to Lift Tri-Series Title 2025 with Crushing Win over Afghanistan

Sharjah, Sept 7: Mohammad Nawaz produced a spell for the ages in Sharjah, ripping through Afghanistan’s batting line-up with a five-wicket haul that included a hat-trick, as Pakistan clinched the tri-series title with a commanding 75-run victory.

Defending what appeared to be a modest total of 141 on a dewy evening, Pakistan’s spinners took full advantage of a gripping surface. Afghanistan were bundled out for just 66, collapsing in dramatic fashion as Nawaz picked up four wickets in the space of six balls, dismantling their chase before it had even begun.

Pakistan’s innings, after electing to bat first, was far from fluent. Sahibzada Farhan’s early dismissal for a duck set the tone for a scratchy effort where no batter crossed 30. Afghanistan’s spinners kept control, and Pakistan limped to what looked like an underwhelming total at the halfway stage.

But Shaheen Shah Afridi’s early strike against Rahmanullah Gurbaz provided the opening Pakistan needed. From there, Nawaz seized the spotlight. Introduced in the fifth over, he trapped Darwesh Rasooli, followed it up with the dismissal of Azmatullah on the very next ball, and then completed a hat-trick with a beautifully flighted delivery that drew Ibrahim Zadran out of his crease. Mohammad Haris completed the stumping to spark wild celebrations. Nawaz went on to dismiss Karim Janat and Rashid Khan to finish with extraordinary figures, silencing the Afghan-majority crowd.

Three years ago, captain Babar Azam had called Nawaz a “matchwinner,” and on this night, the left-arm spinner embodied that description, looking threatening with nearly every ball he delivered.

Earlier, Pakistan’s batting had a rare moment of aggression when Salman Ali Agha and Faheem Ashraf counterattacked Rashid Khan in his final over, plundering 17 runs off him. In a game where spin largely dictated terms, Pakistan’s ability to score freely off one of the world’s premier bowlers proved decisive.

The emphatic win not only handed Pakistan the tri-series crown but also provided a significant confidence boost ahead of the Asia Cup, starting next week.

Asif Iqbal

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