Afghanistan began their T20 World Cup campaign with a dominant 125-run victory over Uganda in Guyana. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran set the tone with a powerful opening partnership, scoring 76 off 45 balls and 70 off 46 balls respectively, propelling Afghanistan to a total of 183-5 in their 20 overs.
Uganda, making their tournament debut, struggled in response and were bowled out for just 58 in 16 overs. Afghanistan’s bowlers, led by Fazalhaq Farooqi, dismantled the Ugandan batting lineup. Farooqi’s exceptional figures of 5-9 are the fourth-best in men’s T20 World Cup history. He was well-supported by captain Rashid Khan and Naveen-ul-Haq, who took two wickets each.
Only two Ugandan batters reached double figures, with Robinson Obuya being the top-scorer with 14 runs. Extras contributed significantly to Uganda’s total, with seven wides and two leg-byes making extras the third-highest scorer with nine runs.
This commanding performance sets a strong precedent for Afghanistan as they move forward in the tournament, showcasing both their batting depth and bowling prowess.
