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The lights of the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi are set to host a high-stakes encounter in Group D of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. On one side, we have an Afghanistan team, wounded, desperate, and searching for their first points of the tournament. On the other, a resilient UAE squad looking to build on the momentum of their historic win over Canada and mount a serious challenge for the Super Eight.
Two years ago, Afghanistan were the darlings of the T20 world after their semi-final run. In 2026, the script has been far harsher. After a clinical defeat to New Zealand, they played what many are calling the “Match of the Century” against South Africa, a double super over thriller that ultimately saw them fall short. Rashid Khan’s men are currently winless and must win every remaining game to keep their slim qualification hopes alive.
UAE are riding high. After a reality-check loss to the Black Caps in their opener, they pulled off a stunning chase against Canada. Aryansh Sharma (74) and Sohaib Khan (51) proved that the UAE batting lineup has the depth to handle pressure. A win here would propel them into a genuine conversation for the next round.
AFG vs UAE, T20 World Cup 2026: Match Details
- Date and Time: February 16 (Monday); 11:00 am IST / 5:30 am GMT
- Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
AFG vs UAE, Head-to-Head Record (T20Is)
Matches played: 15 | Afghanistan won: 12 | UAE won: 3
Arun Jaitley Stadium Pitch Report
The Arun Jaitley Stadium pitch for this encounter is expected to be a traditional Delhi slow-burner, offering significant grip and turn as the match progresses. While the surface is relatively flat and allows for shot-making during the Powerplay, it tends to stay low, making life difficult for batters once the ball loses its shine. Spinners from both sides will likely dominate the middle overs, as evidenced by recent tournament trends where spin has accounted for a record percentage of wickets. With this being a morning game, the dew factor—which often aids chasers under lights—will be non-existent, making a score around 155–165 highly competitive.
Squads
Afghanistan: Rashid Khan (c), Noor Ahmad, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Sediqullah Atal, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Naveen Ul Haq, Mohammad Ishaq, Shahidullah Kamal, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Darwish Rasooli, Ibrahim Zadran
UAE: Muhammad Waseem (captain), Alishan Sharafu, Aryansh Sharma, Dhruv Parashar, Haider Ali, Harshit Kaushik, Junaid Siddique, Mayank Kumar, Muhammad Arfan, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Zohaib, Rohid Khan, Sohaib Khan, Simranjeet Singh.
AFG vs UAE, T20 World Cup 2026: Today’s Match Prediction
Case 1:
- Afghanistan wins the toss and bats first
- Afghanistan powerplay score: 45-55 (6 overs)
- Afghanistan total score: 175-185
Case 2:
- UAE wins the toss and bats first
- UAE powerplay score: 38-48 (6 overs)
- UAE total score: 135-145
Match result: Afghanistan to win the contest.
Also READ: Matt Renshaw pulls no punches after Australia’s shocking loss to Zimbabwe in T20 World Cup 2026
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: crickettimes.com
