Afghanistan national cricket team kept their T20 World Cup 2026 hopes alive with a hard-fought five-wicket victory over the United Arab Emirates national cricket team in Delhi on Monday, chasing down 161 with four balls to spare.

Batting first, UAE posted 160 for 9, anchored by an impressive 68 from Sohaib Khan, whose counterattacking innings held the innings together. Alishan Sharafu added a valuable 40, helping UAE recover from early setbacks. For Afghanistan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Azmatullah Omarzai claimed two wickets each, while disciplined spells from the rest of the attack kept the total within reach.

Afghanistan’s chase began poorly as Rahmanullah Gurbaz departed for a duck, but Ibrahim Zadran steadied the innings with a composed 53 off 41 balls. Darwish Rasooli’s 33 ensured the target remained manageable before Omarzai delivered the decisive blow.

Completing a standout all-round performance, Azmatullah Omarzai smashed an unbeaten 40 off 21 deliveries, guiding Afghanistan to 162 for 5 and sealing a much-needed victory. Mohammad Nabi supported him at the other end as Afghanistan crossed the line comfortably in the end.

The win puts Afghanistan on two points—still facing long odds of reaching the Super Eights. To go through, they now depend on a combination of favourable results elsewhere in the group. But for the moment, the team has kept its World Cup campaign alive, doing just enough under pressure in Delhi to remain in contention.

Afghanistan will face Canada in their next game on Thursday.

Afghanistan will take on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) today, Monday February 16, in a crucial group-stage match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

The match is scheduled to begin at 10:00am local time at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.

Afghanistan head into the contest under pressure after suffering defeats against New Zealand and South Africa in their opening two group-stage matches, leaving them in urgent need of a win to keep their qualification hopes alive.

The UAE, meanwhile, will be aiming to capitalize on the opportunity and strengthen their position in the group.

The encounter is seen as a key test for Afghanistan, who are known for their strength in the shortest format of the game, particularly through their spin attack and aggressive batting – and victory would certainly revive their World Cup campaign.

Cricket’s fiercest rivalry takes center stage this evening, Sunday February 15, as India face Pakistan in what will no doubt be a blockbuster match at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

The high-voltage encounter is set to begin at 6:00 PM Kabul time in Colombo, with the fixture being played at a neutral venue in Sri Lanka amid tight security and global attention.

The match comes after weeks of uncertainty fueled by renewed political tensions between the two neighbors.

Pakistan’s decision to allow its team to compete against India has cleared the way for one of the most watched games in world cricket—an event that routinely draws hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide.

India–Pakistan clashes are rare outside major tournaments, heightening the stakes and intensity. Both sides enter the contest eager to gain early momentum in the group stage, where a single win can prove decisive in the race for the knockout rounds.

The T20 World Cup 2026 is jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka and features 20 teams split into four groups. Each team must navigate a tightly packed group stage, with only the top performers advancing to the playoffs.

With passionate fan bases, elite talent on both rosters, and tournament qualification pressure already building, tonight’s match is expected to be one of the defining moments of the 2026 World Cup.