Afghanistan have officially clinched the three-match T20I series against West Indies, taking an unassailable 2–0 lead with a commanding 39-run victory in the second T20I at Dubai on January 21, 2026. Playing their home season in the UAE, Afghanistan once again proved why their spin attack is among the most feared on slower surfaces.
West Indies, struggling for consistency in recent outings, made two changes and opted to bowl first. Afghanistan, leading 1–0, made a single tweak but retained their spin-heavy strategy—perfectly suited to the Dubai International Cricket Stadium pitch.
Second T20I: Afghanistan’s Batting Brilliance
Batting first, Afghanistan posted an imposing 189/4 in 20 overs. The innings was anchored by Darwish Rasooli (68 off 41 balls) and Zubair Atal (53), who stitched together a crucial partnership in the middle overs.
Rasooli showcased fearless strokeplay, especially against Khary Pierre in the 15th over, while Atal played fluently to keep the momentum alive. West Indies’ best bowler was Matthew Forde, who returned figures of 2/25, but Afghanistan comfortably exceeded their powerplay projections.
West Indies’ Chase Falls Apart
Chasing 190, West Indies never truly settled and were bowled out for 150 in 18.5 overs. Early setbacks derailed the chase as Johnson Charles fell for a duck, Evin Lewis was trapped lbw for 13, and Alick Athanaze was run out for 8.
Brandon King tried to revive hopes with a steady 50 off 41 balls, while Shimron Hetmyer’s explosive 46 off 17 briefly threatened Afghanistan. However, the middle-order collapse sealed West Indies’ fate.
Key Bowling Performances
The star of the show was Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who ripped through the batting lineup with a sensational 4/21, including a match-defining hat-trick.
He was well supported by:
Fazalhaq Farooqi – 2/28
Azmatullah Omarzai – 2/20
Rashid Khan – 1/19
Afghanistan’s disciplined bowling ensured West Indies never gained sustained momentum.
First T20I Recap
In the opening match, Afghanistan set the tone with 181/3, powered by Ibrahim Zadran’s unbeaten 87 off 56 and Rasooli’s 84. The spinners then took control, sharing six wickets as West Indies fell 38 runs short.
What’s Next?
With the series already decided, the third T20I is a dead rubber. However, it offers West Indies a final chance to salvage pride, while Afghanistan will look to extend their dominance.
More importantly, this series underlines Afghanistan’s rapid rise in T20 cricket—driven by fearless batting and world-class spin bowling.
