Afghanistan, led by Rashid Khan, will look to keep their Super 8 hopes alive as they face the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in a Group D clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The match is scheduled to take place at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Monday, February 16.
The Afghans will be desperate for two points after a heart-wrenching double Super Over defeat to South Africa. They also lost their opening match to New Zealand. Meanwhile, the UAE suffered a 10-wicket defeat to the Black Caps and will be eager to beat Afghanistan to prove their credentials.
This article covers the AFG vs UAE Match 28, including the match preview, live streaming details, pitch and weather conditions, head-to-head statistics, and key records.
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AFG vs UAE Match 28 Preview:
Date and Venue:
The Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi will host the Group D encounter between Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates on Monday, February 16.
Squads:
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan (c), Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Shahidullah Kamal, Mohammad Ishaq, Ziaur Rahman Sharifi, Abdullah Ahmadzai
United Arab Emirates: Aryansh Sharma (wk), Muhammad Waseem (c), Alishan Sharafu, Mayank Kumar, Sohaib Khan, Harshit Kaushik, Muhammad Arfan, Dhruv Parashar, Haider Ali, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Rohid Khan, Simranjeet Singh, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Farooq, Syed Haider
AFG vs UAE Probable XIs:
Afghanistan Playing XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Shahidullah Kamal, Rashid Khan (c), Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
UAE Playing XI: Aryansh Sharma (wk), Muhammad Waseem (c), Alishan Sharafu, Mayank Kumar, Sohaib Khan, Harshit Kaushik, Muhammad Arfan, Dhruv Parashar, Haider Ali, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Rohid Khan
AFG vs UAE Key Battles
Rahmanullah Gurbaz vs Junaid Siddique
Rahmanullah Gurbaz comes into the game in outstanding form after smashing 84 off 42 balls against South Africa, showing his intent to dominate fast bowlers from the start.
UAE seamer Junaid Siddique could pose a serious early challenge. Siddique relies on lateral movement from early moisture to trouble batters. If conditions assist Siddique, Gurbaz’s aggressive approach will be put to the test in the opening overs.
Muhammad Waseem vs Fazalhaq Farooqi
Muhammad Waseem is known for his raw hitting power and holds the record for the second-most sixes in T20I history with 193 sixes. The short boundaries at the Arun Jaitley Stadium could play into his strengths if he gets going early.
Fazalhaq Farooqi, however, has been one of the most effective new-ball bowlers. He has the ability to swing the ball back into right-handers at high pace. If Farooqi can strike in the opening overs, the UAE’s batting lineup could come under pressure.
Rashid Khan vs Alishan Sharafu
As the Delhi pitch dries out, Rashid Khan is expected to become even more dangerous. He understands these conditions well, having enjoyed success here during the IPL.
Alishan Sharafu, the UAE’s most dependable middle-order batter, will need to handle Rashid’s quick leg-breaks and sharp googlies with care. His ability to pick Rashid’s variations early could decide whether the UAE post a competitive total or suffer a collapse in the middle phase.
AFG vs UAE Key Players:
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rashid Khan, Ibrahim Zadran, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mujeeb ur Rahman
UAE: Muhammad Waseem, Junaid Siddique, Alishan Sharafu, Haider Ali
AFG vs UAE Free Live Streaming in India, Live Telecast
TV Rights in India: The AFG vs UAE match will be shown live on the Star Sports Network, which is the official broadcaster of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in India.
Live Streaming Platform in India: Fans can follow the match online through the Disney+ Hotstar app and website. Free live streaming will be available for users watching on mobile devices.
When will the match take place? The Group D fixture is scheduled for Monday, February 16, 2026.
Where will the match be played? The encounter will be held at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
How to watch the live telecast of the AFG vs UAE match on television? Viewers can tune in to Star Sports channels to watch the match live on TV.
How to live stream the match between Afghanistan and UAE on mobile online? The match can be streamed live on the Jio Hotstar app or website.
AFG vs UAE Match 28 Weather Report, Pitch Report of Arun Jaitley Stadium
AFG vs UAE Weather Report of Delhi:
The weather in Delhi on the morning of February 16 is expected to be sunny. Temperatures during match hours will range between 23°C and 27°C. Early conditions could provide some swing for the fast bowlers. There is no threat of rain, ensuring a full 40 overs of play.
AFG vs UAE Pitch Report of Delhi:
The surface at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi is traditionally a batter’s paradise. There is likely to be some early moisture, which could assist pacers in the first hour. As the match progresses, the pitch is expected to flatten out completely, making batting easier.
AFG vs UAE Head-to-Head Records
| Stats | Matches | AFG Won | UAE Won | NR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 14 | 11 | 3 | 0 |
| In T20 World Cups | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Last 5 T20Is | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
AFG vs UAE Head-to-Head Records: Key Statistics
Afghanistan and the UAE have faced each other 14 times in T20Is. The Afghan team have won 11 matches, while the UAE have managed three victories. Notably, the UAE’s most recent win against them came in December 2023.
AFG vs UAE Head-to-Head Records: Last Five Matches
Afghanistan have dominated recent encounters, winning four of the last five matches. These include a four-run win and a 38-run victory during the series played in Sharjah in late 2025.
AFG vs UAE Head-to-Head Records- Result of the last 5 games:
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Afghanistan won by 4 runs in Sharjah on September 5, 2025
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Afghanistan won by 38 runs in Sharjah on September 1, 2025
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Afghanistan won by 4 wickets in Sharjah on January 2, 2024
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UAE won by 11 runs in Sharjah on December 31, 2023
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Afghanistan won by 72 runs in Sharjah on December 29, 2023
AFG vs UAE – Conclusion:
Afghanistan will enter the match as heavy favourites given their world-class spin attack and the form of Rahmanullah Gurbaz. The UAE have the potential to cause an upset despite the skill gap in the bowling department.
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