Afghanistan secured a dominant start to their three-match T20I series against the West Indies today, January 19, 2026, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Led by a record-breaking partnership and a clinical bowling performance, the Afghans have firmly placed the Caribbean side on the backfoot in this crucial World Cup preparation series.
1. Afghanistan Innings: A Record Recovery
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Afghanistan faced an immediate crisis. Rahmanullah Gurbaz was dismissed for a duck on the very first ball due to a spectacular direct hit by Gudakesh Motie. When Sediqullah Atal fell shortly after, Afghanistan was reeling at 6/2.
- The 162-Run Stand: Ibrahim Zadran and Darwish Rasooli staged a historic recovery, forging a 162-run partnership for the third wicket. This is now one of the highest stands for any wicket in Afghanistan’s T20I history.
- Top Performers: Zadran anchored the innings with a brilliant 87 off 56 balls*, while Rasooli provided the explosive power with 84 off 59 balls before falling on the final delivery of the 20th over.
- Final Total: Afghanistan finished with a formidable 181/3.
2. West Indies Chase: Spinners Dominate
The West Indies’ pursuit of 182 runs began poorly and never quite found its rhythm against a high-quality spin attack.
- Early Blows: Mujeeb Ur Rahman struck in the very first over, bowling Brandon King for 4. Evin Lewis followed in the fifth over, top-edging a pull off Ziaur Rahman Sharifi.
- The Rashid Impact: Returning to lead the side, Rashid Khan made an immediate impact, picking up two wickets in his opening spell, including the dangerous Shimron Hetmyer and Amir Jangoo.
- Current Standing: As of the latest updates, West Indies are struggling significantly at 55/5 after 9 overs, with the required run rate climbing above 11.5 runs per over.
3. Match Context & Series Outlook
This series is the final international assignment for both teams before the T20 World Cup 2026 begins in India and Sri Lanka next month.
- Experimental WI Squad: The West Indies are playing without several first-choice players like Shai Hope and Andre Russell, who are currently fulfilling franchise commitments.
- Full-Strength Afghanistan: In contrast, Afghanistan has called back its major stars from global leagues to ensure the squad is perfectly synced for the mega event.
- Remaining Schedule:
- 2nd T20I: January 21, Dubai
- 3rd T20I: January 22, Dubai
4. Key Match Statistics
| Metric | Afghanistan | West Indies (at 9 overs) |
| Score | 181/3 (20 ov) | 55/5 |
| Run Rate | 9.05 | 6.11 |
| Top Scorer | Ibrahim Zadran (87*) | Johnson Charles (27) |
| Best Bowler | — | Jayden Seales (1/30) |
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