Sharjah, United Arab Emirates: Captain Mohammad Hafeez returned to form with an unbeaten 42 and guided Pakistan to a six-wicket victory against Afghanistan in the first ever Twenty20 international between the two countries on Sunday.
Hafeez, who had been struggling for runs in the last two series against South Africa, hit two fours and a six but Afghanistan took the game almost to the very end before Pakistan scored 138-4 when medium fast bowler Dawlat Zadran had the last ball of the 20th over and delivered a no-ball.
Earlier, Najibullah Zadran top scored with 38 and Mirwais Ashraf was undefeated on 28 off 22 balls as Afghanistan posted 137-8 after captain Mohammad Nabi won the toss and elected to bat.
Left-arm quicks Junaid Khan (3-24) and Sohail Tanvir (2-11) were the pick of Pakistan's bowlers.
Afghanistan, which has qualified for next year's World Twenty20 tournament in Bangladesh, struggled to put up partnerships and lost top three wickets for just 29 runs on the board by the eighth over.
Nabi and Zadran shared the best stand of 35 runs off 20 balls for the fourth wicket before Shahid Afridi hit the Afghanistan captain's off stump.
Khan removed Samiullah Shenwari (16) and Zadran in his successive overs and in the end it was left to Ashraf to hit two fours and a six to lift Afghanistan's total to some respectability.
Ahmed Shahzad (35) and newcomer opening batsman Sharjeel Khan (18) gave Pakistan a solid start of 49 off 48 balls before both were dismissed while playing needless shots. Shahzad holed out in the deep while Khan was beaten by extra bounce off Nabi's offspin and was caught at point.
Umar Akmal (28) added a quick 47 with Hafeez which included two big sixes before he was bowled off a big inside edge by medium fast Dawlat Zadran while attempting an expansive shot.
Pakistan had few jitters in the end when it needed six off the last six balls. Scores were tied after five deliveries before Dawlat Zadran bowled a short pitched ball over the head of Shahid Afridi and the umpire duly called it a no-ball to signal Pakistan's victory.
Pakistan will now take on Sri Lanka in the two Twenty20 matches on Wednesday and Friday in Dubai before both teams play five one-day internationals and three test matches.
Pakistan's leading offspinner Saeed Ajmal, who missed Sunday's Twenty20 due to personal commitments back home, will be joining the team in time for Wednesday's game against Sri Lanka.
