DELHI, 16 February 2026 – Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) met today in a high-stakes Group D clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. With both teams fighting to keep their tournament hopes alive, the match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium provided a tense battle between the established force of Afghan spin and the rising resilience of the Emirati batting line-up.
Match Update: UAE Set Target of 161
In the 28th match of the tournament, the United Arab Emirates posted a competitive total of 159 for 8 in their allotted 20 overs. The innings was anchored by a gritty performance from Sohaib Khan, who crossed the half-century mark to lead the charge against a disciplined Afghan bowling attack. Despite a strong start that saw the UAE reach 113/3 by the 14th over, Afghanistan’s death bowling proved effective in restricting the final total.
Afghanistan enters the second innings needing 160 runs to win. This is a must-win scenario for the Rashid Khan-led side, following a difficult start to their campaign that included a heavy defeat against South Africa. A loss today would effectively end Afghanistan’s chances of progressing to the Super 8 stage.
Head-to-Head Record: T20 Internationals
Historically, Afghanistan has dominated this fixture, though recent encounters have shown the gap is narrowing. Following today’s first innings, the statistical breakdown of their T20 rivalry is as follows:
| Stat Category | Afghanistan (AFG) | United Arab Emirates (UAE) |
|---|---|---|
| Matches Played | 14 | 14 |
| Matches Won | 11 | 3 |
| First-ever Fixture | 10 July 2015 | 10 July 2015 |
| Highest Score | 203 | 179 |
| Lowest Score | 101 | 101 |
| Current T20 Ranking | 10 | 17 |
Recent Form and Context
The UAE entered this World Cup as a potential “giant killer,” a reputation bolstered by public sentiment following several upsets in the early stages of the 2026 tournament. While Afghanistan remains the heavy statistical favourite with an 11–3 win-loss record, the UAE has shown significant improvement since the 2025 Tri-Series held in Sharjah.
In that 2025 series, Afghanistan secured a 38-run victory behind a record-breaking performance from Rashid Khan, but the UAE pushed them to a nail-biting finish in the subsequent match, losing only in the final over. Today’s performance by Sohaib Khan suggests the UAE continues to find ways to challenge the Afghan spinners, even on the helpful tracks in Delhi.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of today’s match for the T20 World Cup standings?
This is a Group D fixture where both teams are battling for survival. Afghanistan needs a victory to maintain a mathematical chance of reaching the Super 8s, while the UAE is looking to secure a historic win to climb the table and potentially pip South Africa or New Zealand on Net Run Rate (NRR).
Who are the key performers in the UAE vs Afghanistan rivalry?
For Afghanistan, Karim Janat and Rashid Khan have historically been the top performers. For the UAE, captain Muhammad Waseem and wicketkeeper Vritiya Aravind are the primary run-getters, though Sohaib Khan has emerged as a standout performer in today’s World Cup clash.
When was the first time these two teams played each other?
The first T20 International between Afghanistan and the UAE took place on 10 July 2015. Since then, they have met 14 times in the format.