The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 presents a fascinating tactical battle as Afghanistan’s world-renowned spin trio faces the United Arab Emirates at Delhi’s run-laden Arun Jaitley Stadium on Monday, February 16.
This 28th match of Group D creates a compelling paradox: Afghanistan’s strength lies in their legendary spin attack featuring Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Noor Ahmad, three of the format’s most dangerous slow bowlers.
Yet they must unleash this weapon on one of India’s most batter-friendly surfaces, where short boundaries and true bounce have consistently produced run-fests. The UAE, despite being clear underdogs based on their 3-11 head-to-head deficit, will relish these conditions that could neutralize Afghanistan’s primary advantage.
Captain Muhammad Waseem knows his batting lineup can exploit the compact Delhi dimensions if they can survive the spin challenge. With the 11:00 AM local start eliminating the dew factor and Afghanistan’s spin wizards adapting their craft to unfriendly conditions, this Group D encounter promises strategic intrigue beyond the lopsided betting odds suggest.
Afghanistan vs UAE Match Schedule & Venue Information
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Match | AFG vs UAE, 28th Match, Group D |
| Tournament | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Date | Monday, February 16, 2026 |
| Time | 11:00 AM LOCAL, 5:30 AM GMT |
| Venue | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi |
Afghanistan vs UAE Betting Odds & Market Analysis
Bookmakers have installed Afghanistan as overwhelming favorites due to their superior squad strength, established tournament pedigree, and commanding historical advantage in this matchup.
| Platform | Afghanistan Win Odds | UAE Win Odds | Toss Odds (Afghanistan) | Toss Odds (UAE) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1xBet | 1.25 | 4.1 | 1.9 | 1.9 |
| Stake | 1.27 | 4 | 1.91 | 1.89 |
| 4RABET | 1.24 | 4.15 | 1.88 | 1.92 |
| BetVibe | 1.26 | 4.05 | 1.9 | 1.9 |
Afghanistan vs UAE Squad Composition & Playing XI
Both nations have selected squads reflecting their distinctive strengths, with Afghanistan banking on elite spin bowling while UAE combines experienced campaigners with emerging talent.
Afghanistan Squad
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Rashid Khan (c), Ibrahim Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Shahidullah Kamal, Mohammad Ishaq, Ziaur Rahman Sharifi, Abdullah Ahmadzai
UAE Squad
Aryansh Sharma (wk), Muhammad Waseem (c), Alishan Sharafu, Mayank Kumar, Sohaib Khan, Harshit Kaushik, Muhammad Arfan, Muhammad Farooq, Haider Ali, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Rohid Khan, Simranjeet Singh, Dhruv Parashar, Syed Haider
Arun Jaitley Stadium Pitch Report & Playing Conditions
Delhi’s premier cricket venue ranks among India’s most batter-friendly surfaces, consistently producing high-scoring encounters that test bowling units’ resilience.
Pitch Report of Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Pitch Behaviour | The wicket overwhelmingly favors batsmen throughout all phases. Compact boundaries combined with consistent bounce create challenging conditions for bowlers attempting to restrict scoring. |
| Batting Assistance | A flat, true-paced surface facilitates aggressive strokeplay and elevated totals. Shortened boundaries enable batsmen to clear ropes with relative ease. |
| Bowling Assistance | Fast bowlers may extract additional bounce and marginal seam movement during opening overs. Spin bowlers gain increasing grip and effectiveness as matches progress. |
| Boundaries Dimensions | Straight boundaries extend approximately 68 metres, with square boundaries measuring around 65 metres. |
| Average 1st Innings Score | Teams batting second typically chase targets around 158 runs in T20 Internationals, though defending totals below 180 proves extremely challenging. |
| Toss Impact & Dew | In morning fixtures, chasing sides face additional difficulty as the pitch gradually loses pace, complicating aggressive batting. |
Afghanistan vs UAE Weather Forecast
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Temperature | Comfortable morning conditions at 28°C ideal for extended play. |
| Weather | Clear skies with bright sunshine anticipated throughout the match. |
| Precipitation | Zero rain probability ensuring uninterrupted play. |
| Humidity | Low humidity at 33% providing comfortable conditions for players. |
| Wind | Minimal breeze at 8 km/h offering negligible assistance to bowlers. |
Afghanistan vs UAE T20I Head-to-Head Record
Afghanistan has established clear superiority in this rivalry, though the UAE has proven capable of occasional upsets against their regional neighbors.
Afghanistan and UAE Head-to-Head in T20Is
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Matches Played | 14 |
| Afghanistan Won | 11 |
| UAE Won | 3 |
Afghanistan vs UAE Key Players & Match-Winners
This encounter will showcase Afghanistan’s celebrated spin arsenal against the UAE’s batting lineup on a surface that could nullify the favorites’ primary weapon.
Key Players to Watch
| Players | T20I Stats |
|---|---|
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz (AFG) | Aggressive wicketkeeper-batsman with 2,250 runs across 85 T20I matches, averaging 26.47. |
| Rashid Khan (AFG) | World-class leg-spinner and captain with 190 wickets in 113 matches at an exceptional economy rate of 6.05. |
| Ibrahim Zadran (AFG) | Consistent opener with 1,717 runs in 63 matches at an impressive average of 31.21. |
| Muhammad Farooq (UAE) | Emerging pace option with 14 wickets in 13 matches, economy rate of 8.02. |
| Muhammad Waseem (UAE) | Prolific captain and opener with 3,306 runs in 95 matches at an average of 37.14. |
| Junaid Siddique (UAE) | Leading wicket-taker with 122 scalps in 88 matches, economy rate of 7.64. |
Suggested Reads:
Afghanistan vs UAE Live Streaming & TV Broadcasting Guide
Cricket fans worldwide can follow this Group D encounter through these official broadcast partners and streaming platforms:
| Region | TV Broadcaster | Streaming Platform |
|---|---|---|
| India | Star Sports | JioHotstar |
| Nepal | Kantipur TV, Nepal Television | ICC.tv |
| Italy | — | ICC.tv |
| Pakistan | PTV Sports, Ten Sports, ASports | Myco, Tapmad, Tamasha |
| United Kingdom | Sky Sports | Sky Go, NOW |
| USA & Canada | Willow TV | Willow by Cricbuzz |
| Australia | Fox Cricket, Nine Network | Amazon Prime Video, Kayo |
| New Zealand | Sky Sport NZ | Sky Go, TVNZ+ |
| South Africa | SuperSport | SuperSport App, DStv |
| Sri Lanka | TV Supreme, Dialog TV | ICC.tv, Sirasa TV |
| Rest of World | Varies by country | ICC.tv |
