AFG vs UAE 28th Match T20 World Cup 2026: Match Preview, Probable XIs, Pitch Report and Winner Prediction

Afghanistan and United Arab Emirates are ready to face each other in the 28th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, on Monday, February 16. This match is scheduled to begin at 11:00 AM IST. Stay tuned with our AFG vs UAE prediction, team preview, pitch report, player stats and winner prediction ahead of this exciting contest.

Afghanistan have lost both of their matches so far in Group D. They scored well against New Zealand but still lost and then went down to South Africa after a double Super Over. They are still without points and need a win to stay in the race. On the other hand, UAE lost heavily to New Zealand in their first match but bounced back by beating Canada. That win moved them up the table. With UAE gaining momentum and Afghanistan desperate for their first points, this match is very important for both teams in the race to reach the Super 8 stage.

Head-to-Head Record: Till now, a total of 14 T20 matches have been played between these two sides, in which Afghanistan have had a clear upper hand and won 11 games, while the United Arab Emirates have won 3. Moreover, in the last five games, Afghanistan have performed well and have won 4 games, while the UAE have won once.

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Afghanistan Preview

Afghanistan came into this World Cup after a semifinal finish in 2024 but are yet to register a win. Against New Zealand, they posted 182/6 but failed to defend it. In the next match against South Africa, they scored 187 and took the game into two Super Overs before losing. With two close defeats, this match against UAE is a must-win to keep their Super 8 chances alive.

In batting, Gulbadin Naib scored 63 runs in 35 balls against New Zealand, while Sediqullah Atal made 29 and Rahmanullah Gurbaz added 27 in the same match. Gurbaz then scored 84 runs in 42 balls against South Africa and hit three consecutive sixes in the second Super Over. He now has three scores of 30+ in his last five T20Is. Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi continue to provide stability and finishing options in the middle order.

In bowling, Mujeeb Ur Rahman took two wickets for 31 runs against New Zealand, removing two key batters in his first over. Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi picked up one wicket each in that game. Against South Africa, Azmatullah Omarzai claimed three wickets for 41 runs, while Rashid Khan delivered two wickets for 28 runs, breaking a 114-run partnership. With Fazalhaq Farooqi’s left-arm pace and the spin pair of Rashid and Mujeeb, Afghanistan’s bowling unit remains strong and effective.

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United Arab Emirates Preview

United Arab Emirates have recorded one win and one loss in the tournament so far. They scored 173/6 against New Zealand but lost by 10 wickets. In the next match, they chased 151 against Canada and won by five wickets, marking their third win at a major ICC event.

With the bat, Muhammad Waseem scored 66 runs in 45 against New Zealand, while Alishan Sharafu made 55 runs in 47. In earlier T20Is, Waseem also scored 40 against Ireland and 54 against Bangladesh. Against Canada, Aryansh Sharma hit 74 runs in 53 and Sohaib Khan made 51 runs in 29, adding an 80-plus partnership after UAE were 66/4.

In bowling, UAE conceded 175 without taking a wicket against New Zealand. However, they improved against Canada, where Junaid Siddique took five wickets for 35 runs and helped restrict Canada to 150/7. He was supported by Muhammad Jawadullah, Haider Ali, and Muhammad Arfan. If Junaid delivers another strong spell, UAE’s bowling attack can challenge Afghanistan’s batting unit.

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AFG vs UAE Probably Playing XI

Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz(WK), Ibrahim Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan(C), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi.

United Arab Emirates: Dilpreet Bajwa(C), Yuvraj Samra, Navneet Dhaliwal, Nicholas Kirton, Shreyas Movva(WK), Harsh Thaker, Saad Bin Zafar, Jaskaran Singh, Dilon Heyliger, Kaleem Sana, Ansh Patel.

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AFG vs UAE Pitch Report

The pitch at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi is batting-friendly with short boundaries and a quick outfield. Fast bowlers can get some bounce and movement early, but the surface becomes better for batting as the match goes on. In the last World Cup match here, the chasing team won, showing that teams batting second can succeed. The toss-winning captain will decide based on conditions.

The weather on Monday at Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi is expected to be sunny, around 28°C, with 0% chance of rain, moderate 34% humidity, and light winds near 8 km/h.

Venue T20I Statistics

AFG vs UAE Winner Prediction

Afghanistan go into this match as favourites due to their stronger squad and better record against UAE. Rahmanullah Gurbaz is in good form at the top, and their bowling attack, led by Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, is well balanced. With support from Azmatullah Omarzai and Fazalhaq Farooqi, Afghanistan have the tools to control the game.

On the other hand, UAE gained confidence from their win over Canada. Their batting has shown promise, and Junaid Siddique can make an impact with the ball. If UAE start well, they can compete. However, Afghanistan’s overall quality gives them the advantage.

Our Prediction: Afghanistan

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