T20 World Cup 2026: Afghanistan seals first win; South Africa becomes third team to qualifym for Super 8s

Afghanistan sealed its first win of this T20 World Cup with a five-wicket victory over the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in New Delhi, keeping its campaign alive, if only technically, in the group stage. UAE, meanwhile, is now mathematically eliminated.

The result also confirmed South Africa’s place in the next round, making it the third team after West Indies and India to earn a ‘Q’ mark against its name.

On a surface where 160 was just about par, Afghanistan was made to sweat. Rahmanullah Gurbaz departed for a duck early, and while Gulbadin Naib and Sediqullah Atal got starts, neither could turn them into a decisive score. Ibrahim Zadran held the innings together with a half-century, but his dismissal opened the door for the UAE to claw its way back into the contest.

In the end, Afghanistan needed composure, and Azmatullah Omarzai provided it in full. After a four-wicket haul with the ball, he backed it up with a nerveless unbeaten 40 off 21 balls, dragging his side out of trouble and into the points tally.

Published on Feb 16, 2026