Mohammad Nawaz's Historic Hat-Trick Propels Pakistan to Tri-Series Triumph Over Afghanistan

In a spectacular display of all-round cricketing excellence, left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz emerged as the star of the UAE T20I tri-series final held in Sharjah on September 7, 2025. Nawaz's brilliant bowling spell, highlighted by a historic hat-trick, powered Pakistan to a comprehensive 75-run victory against Afghanistan, setting a strong tone for Pakistan's upcoming Asia Cup campaign.

Batting first, Pakistan posted a modest total of 141 for 8 wickets on a tricky Sharjah pitch. Despite early setbacks with wickets falling to Afghanistan pacemen Fazalhaq Farooqi and spinners Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad, Mohammad Nawaz contributed a crucial 25 runs off 21 balls at the lower end. Captain Agha Salman and Fakhar Zaman offered starts but failed to convert them into big scores. Rashid Khan was the leading bowler for Afghanistan with figures of 3 for 38.

Afghanistan's innings crumbled dramatically under Mohammad Nawaz's relentless bowling. Introduced during the middle overs, Nawaz delivered a devastating spell of 4 overs, conceding just 19 runs while taking 5 wickets, including a maiden over. His victims included Darwish Rasooli and Azmatullah Omarzai, who were dismissed in successive deliveries for ducks, followed by Ibrahim Zadran, who was stumped off the first ball of Nawaz's next over to complete the hat-trick.

Notably, Nawaz became the first Pakistani spinner to achieve a hat-trick in men’s T20 internationals and only the third Pakistani bowler overall to claim this feat in T20Is, joining Faheem Ashraf and Mohammad Hasnain. His remarkable performance dismantled Afghanistan’s batting lineup, who were all out for a measly 66 runs in just 15.5 overs, marking their second lowest-ever T20 score.

Pakistan's dominant bowling display was supported by Sufiyan Muqeem and Abrar Ahmed, who took two wickets each, while Rashid Khan tried valiantly with the bat scoring 17. Pakistan's captain Agha Salman praised Nawaz, calling him the player he can rely on in challenging situations, emphasizing Nawaz’s overall form since his recent comeback.

This emphatic win cements Pakistan's status as strong contenders in the regional cricketing arena and boosts confidence ahead of the Asia Cup. Mohammad Nawaz's historic performance is now etched in Pakistan cricket history and will be remembered as a defining moment in the UAE tri-series 2025.