Mujeeb's 5-20 helps Afghanistan crush Scotland by 130 runs in T20 World Cup

Published
13
Afghanistan players celebrate their win against Scotland during the Twenty20 World Cup match in Sharjah on Oct 25. — AP
Afghanistan players celebrate their win against Scotland during the Twenty20 World Cup match in Sharjah on Oct 25. — AP
Afghanistan's Mujeebur Rahman (R) celebrates after taking the wicket of Scotland's Calum MacLeod (not pictured) during the ICC men’s Twenty20 World Cup cricket match between Afghanistan and Scotland at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on October 25. — AFP
Afghanistan's Mujeebur Rahman (R) celebrates after taking the wicket of Scotland's Calum MacLeod (not pictured) during the ICC men’s Twenty20 World Cup cricket match between Afghanistan and Scotland at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on October 25. — AFP
Scotland's Chris Greaves (L) plays a shot as Afghanistan's wicketkeeper Mohammad Shahzad watches during the ICC men’s Twenty20 World Cup cricket match between Afghanistan and Scotland at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on October 25. — AFP
Scotland's Chris Greaves (L) plays a shot as Afghanistan's wicketkeeper Mohammad Shahzad watches during the ICC men’s Twenty20 World Cup cricket match between Afghanistan and Scotland at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on October 25. — AFP

Spinner Mujeebur Rahman took five wickets in Afghanistan's record 130-run rout of Scotland in their opening Super 12s match of the Twenty20 World Cup on Monday.

Chasing a daunting 191 for victory, Scotland were bowled out for 60 in 10.2 overs with five batters dismissed for ducks in Sharjah.

Mujeeb returned his best T20 figures of 5-20 and fellow spinner Rashid Khan claimed four wickets to hand Afghanistan their biggest victory margin in the game's shortest format.

Najibullah Zadran set up the win with his 34-ball 59 to guide Afghanistan to their best total of 190-4 in the tournament after they elected to bat first.

Mujeeb remained the hero with his three wickets in one over, including two in successive deliveries, to decimate Scotland's top and middle order.

Scotland, who made the Super 12s of this event for the first time after they won all three matches in the qualifiers, could never recover after Calum MacLeod, Richie Berrington and Matthew Cross fell without scoring, and the team crashed to their lowest T20 total.

Earlier, Najibullah and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (46) put together an attacking 87-run partnership for the third wicket, tearing into the Scotland bowling with seven sixes between them.

Najibullah fell on the final ball of the innings while attempting his fourth six in a 34-ball blitz that took Afghanistan past their previous tournament high of 186 in 2016.

Hazratullah Zazai put on a quickfire opening stand of 54 with Mohammad Shahzad, who made 22.

Zazai smashed 44 off 30 balls but Mark Watt denied the batsman a fifty after bowling him with a toe-crushing yorker.

Safyaan Sharif took two wickets in an innings that witnessed 11 sixes in total.

The win puts Afghanistan at the top of the Group 2 table above Pakistan, who thrashed rivals India by 10 wickets on Sunday.

“We have been playing some good cricket to get here, but sometimes things don't go to plan,” Scotland captain Kyle Coetzer said after the thumping.

“We fought hard in the field. It's just a level check to see where our standards are. We'll be better for it in the next game.”

Opinion

Editorial

Kashmir unresolved
Updated 30 Sep, 2026

Kashmir unresolved

The just solution lies in India addressing the issue through a trilateral dialogue involving the legitimate representatives of the Kashmiri people and Pakistan.
Water shortage
30 Sep, 2026

Water shortage

THAT the country is entering the Rabi season with an anticipated water shortage of nearly 25pc, the lowest carryover...
Young hearts
30 Sep, 2026

Young hearts

THE observance may have passed, but the message of World Heart Day should not fade with it. The occasion is a useful...
Terror and politics
Updated 29 Sep, 2026

Terror and politics

There is an urgent need to tone down the rhetoric and tackle terrorism as a collective challenge for both the affected provinces and the federation.
Watching the glaciers
29 Sep, 2026

Watching the glaciers

THE latest signs from Pakistan’s mountains are worrying. Suparco says the number of unfrozen glacial lakes it...
Dangerous agenda
29 Sep, 2026

Dangerous agenda

AS the world remains fixated on the US-Iran conflict, elsewhere in the Middle East, Israel is consolidating its grip...