T20I series 2026

Afghanistan Outclass West Indies Ahead of T20 World Cup 2026

by

Afghanistan 

From Underdogs to Contenders — Afghanistan Mean Business.

Afghanistan delivered a powerful statement ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 by dominating West Indies in a three-match T20I series held in Dubai, UAE, from January 19 to 22, 2026. The series served as a crucial warm-up for the global tournament scheduled in India and Sri Lanka.

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Series Schedule & Venue

The Afghanistan Cricket Board hosted the three-match T20I series in Dubai, with fixtures played on January 19, 21, and 22. Announced in November 2025, the series was designed as final preparation before the T20 World Cup begins on February 7, 2026.

First T20I: Afghanistan’s Commanding Win

Afghanistan set the tone early by posting an imposing 182/2 in the opening match. The highlight was a massive 162-run partnership between:

  • Ibrahim Zadran – 71 runs off 49 balls
  • Darwish Rasooli – 76 runs off 54 balls

West Indies collapsed under pressure, getting bowled out for just 128. Afghanistan’s bowlers dominated:

  • Ziaur Rahman Sharifi – 3 wickets
  • Mujeeb Ur Rahman – 2 wickets
  • Rashid Khan – 2 wickets
  • Noor Ahmad – 2 wickets

Afghanistan sealed the match convincingly, winning by a big margin.

How Afghanistan Sealed the Series

After taking a 2-0 lead, Afghanistan made a few strategic changes in the final match, introducing players like Shahidullah Kamal, Ziaur Rahman Sharifi, and Abdollah Ahmadzai.

Winning the toss in the final T20I, Afghanistan opted to bowl first, staying aggressive in pursuit of a clean sweep. Consistent performances from Rasooli, Ibrahim Atal, and Mujeeb ensured Afghanistan closed out the series in dominant fashion.

Team Performance & Key Players

West Indies, led by Brandon King with Johnson Charles as wicketkeeper, struggled throughout the series. Despite featuring names like Shimron Hetmyer and Gudakesh Motie, the team suffered from:

  • Frequent batting collapses
  • Costly fielding mistakes
  • Inconsistent bowling

Several senior players, including Alzarri Joseph, were not prominently involved as West Indies experimented with combinations ahead of their upcoming South Africa tour.

What This Series Means Going Forward

This dominant performance further cements Afghanistan’s rise in T20 cricket, building on their stunning 2024 T20 World Cup semifinal run. The team now heads into the 2026 World Cup with momentum and confidence.

West Indies, meanwhile, will regroup and test combinations in upcoming fixtures. Attention now turns to World Cup warm-ups, including a key match scheduled on February 4 in Bengaluru.

One thing is clear: Afghanistan are no longer underdogs — they are genuine World Cup contenders.

 

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Afghanistan Seal T20I Series vs West Indies

by

West Indies 

Spin. Skill. Supremacy.

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Series Context

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.

 

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