Afghanistan vs West Indies 1st T20I, Jan 19 2026

Afghanistan kicked off the T20I series against the West Indies at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on January 19, 2026, with a bang. They played smart cricket, batted well, and their spinners were too good, leading to a solid 38-run win and a 1-0 series lead. Ibrahim Zadran and Darwish Rasooli had this great partnership, and the bowlers followed up nicely – Afghanistan just played better than the West Indies all around.

What Happened at the Toss?

Afghanistan won the toss and decided to bat, which turned out to be a smart move. The pitch in Dubai got a bit sticky as the night went on, helping the slower bowlers, and batting got harder after the ball got old. With the T20 World Cup coming up, both teams were really trying to get ready, which made the game even more intense.

You had to be patient when batting and bowl tight, and Afghanistan got the hang of it faster.

Rough Start, Solid Comeback

Afghanistan had a bad start when Rahmanullah Gurbaz got run out on the first ball – pretty unlucky. Then Sediqullah Atal got out soon after, and they were in trouble at 19 for 2. The West Indies thought they might take over right then.

But things changed big time after that.

Zadran and Rasooli Make History

Ibrahim Zadran and Darwish Rasooli put on a huge 162-run partnership for the third wicket, the biggest ever for Afghanistan in T20Is. They stayed calm, picked their shots well, and ran between the wickets like pros.

Zadran played it cool, ending up with 87 not out off 56 balls. He hit eight fours and three sixes, and that was his 14th time scoring over fifty in T20Is, beating Mohammad Shahzad’s record. He keeps showing why he’s Afghanistan’s most dependable T20 batter.

Rasooli helped out a lot with a smooth 84 off 59 balls. Zadran was good at timing and placing the ball, while Rasooli got creative, especially hitting shots on the leg side. He kept the score moving and punished bad balls, so Afghanistan stayed in charge.

West Indies Blow It

The West Indies didn’t help themselves by dropping a bunch of catches near the end. They gave Zadran and Rasooli extra chances, and you can’t do that. A total that could have been okay turned into a tough one.

By the end of their innings, Afghanistan had put up 181 for 3, which was about 20 runs more than it should have been on that kind of pitch.

West Indies Struggle to Chase

When the West Indies tried to chase 182, they just couldn’t get going. Brandon King got out early, and Evin Lewis struggled against the spin, which set the tone. Johnson Charles hit a quick 27, but after he got out, wickets fell one after another.

The Afghan bowlers kept the pressure on, not giving them any easy balls. The run rate kept going up, so the West Indies batters had to take risks.

Spinners Dominate

Afghanistan’s spinners were the key again. Mujeeb Ur Rahman got two big wickets early on, keeping the West Indies from getting ahead. Then Rashid Khan took over in the middle overs, only giving up 19 runs and grabbing two important wickets.

Rashid was in control, mixing things up. He made it really hard for the batters to hit him. Noor Ahmad got a couple of wickets too, and Ziaur Rahman surprised everyone with 3 for 36.

Brief Fightback

Quentin Sampson, playing his first T20I, showed some skill with a 30, and Gudakesh Motie hit some late shots for 28. But they needed way too many runs by then. Once Sampson got out, the West Indies just couldn’t catch up.

They finished with 143 for 9, way short of the target.

Man of the Match

Darwish Rasooli deserved to be the Player of the Match. He scored those important 84 runs and also took three good catches, showing he’s becoming a really valuable T20 player.

Ibrahim Zadran was the top player in the game according to Cricinfo’s MVP rankings, showing how important his batting was. The Zadran-Rasooli partnership not only won the game but also made history for Afghanistan in T20Is.

What People Are Talking About

The game was pretty clean, but the West Indies dropping catches got a lot of criticism. Those mistakes changed the game and made people wonder if they’re ready for the World Cup.

People also talked the West Indies not playing spin very well. They seem to struggle on slower pitches, which has been a problem for them in recent tournaments.

What This Means for the Series

Afghanistan’s 38-run win gives them a lead in the three-match T20I series and sends a message that they’re ready to compete. They showed they have depth, stay calm under pressure, and know how to play smart.

The West Indies need to improve their middle-order batting and fielding.

In a Nutshell: Afghanistan is Getting Good

The Afghanistan vs West Indies 1st T20I on January 19, 2026, showed how far Afghanistan has come as a T20 team. They came back from a rough start, scored a lot of runs, and bowled really well – they were in charge the whole time.

Zadran’s consistent scoring, Rasooli’s winning innings, and the strong spin attack all added up to a big win. Afghanistan will try to keep this going, while the West Indies will need to get it together quickly in tough conditions.