West Indies vs Afghanistan Match Scorecard: AFG v WI T20I Stats
Afghanistan clinched the e& Cup T20I series 2-1 in Dubai, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz scoring 156 runs across three matches and Shamar Springer delivering a match-winning hat-trick for West Indies in the final game. The series provided crucial preparation for both teams ahead of the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup.
Series Result: Afghanistan won 2-1 · Format: T20I · Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium · 1st T20I: Afghanistan 181/3 beat West Indies 143/9 by 38 runs · 2nd T20I: Afghanistan 189/4 beat West Indies 150
Quick snapshot
- Afghanistan won the series 2-1 on (Afghanistan Cricket Board)
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz named Best Player of the Series with 156 runs including two half-centuries (Afghanistan Cricket Board)
- Shamar Springer took 4/19 and a hat-trick in the 3rd T20I (Wikipedia)
- Individual player economy rates and strike rates from each innings
- Full squad composition for both teams across all three matches
- Specific details on debutant Quentin Sampson’s bowling figures beyond confirmation of his first appearance
- January 19: Afghanistan 181/3 beat West Indies 143/9 by 38 runs (Windies Cricket)
- January 21: Afghanistan 189/4 beat West Indies 150 by 39 runs (Windies Cricket)
- January 22: West Indies 151/7 beat Afghanistan 136/8 by 15 runs (Afghanistan Cricket Board)
- Both teams shift focus to the preparation
- Afghanistan builds momentum as a rising T20 side
- West Indies searches for consistency ahead of the global tournament
Three matches, three different scripts—the e& Cup T20I series delivered exactly the kind of back-and-forth cricket that makes short-format cricket compulsive viewing.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Series | Afghanistan v West Indies 2025-26 |
| Matches | 3 T20Is |
| Result | Afghanistan 2-1 |
| 1st T20I Score | AFG 181/3, WI 143/9 |
| 2nd T20I Score | AFG 189/4, WI 150 |
| Venue | Dubai International Cricket Stadium |
Who is West Indies’ best player?
When the series schedule came out, Brandon King carried the burden of captaincy and expectations. He delivered with the bat in both the 2nd and 3rd T20Is, scoring 50 off 41 balls in the second match and following it with 47 off 35 in the deciding game. His two fifties showed the kind of stability West Indies need from their top order, even if the team fell short overall.
But Shamar Springer stole the spotlight in the series finale. Taking 4/19 and landing a hat-trick, he dismantled Afghanistan’s batting order when they seemed capable of chasing down 151. The Afghanistan Cricket Board noted his Player of the Match performance as pivotal in West Indies’ only victory of the series (Afghanistan Cricket Board). For a West Indies side rebuilding confidence ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup, Springer’s breakthrough moment offers real hope.
The implication: Springer’s hat-trick wasn’t just a highlight—it was proof that West Indies’ bowling attack can turn matches on its own. If he carries this form into the World Cup, opponents will need to account for him as a genuine wicket-taking threat, not just a supporting bowler.
West Indies Test matches batting most runs career
West Indies cricket has produced legendary batters across formats, with Sir Garfield Sobers, Brian Lara, and Chris Gayle among the names that dominate career run charts. In this T20I series, Brandon King’s 97 runs across two matches won’t eclipse those career totals, but it demonstrated he belongs in the conversation for current white-ball leadership.
Who is the king of the Afghanistan cricket team?
Ask any cricket fan about Afghanistan, and one name surfaces immediately: Rashid Khan. The star leg-spinner captained the side through this series and contributed with both ball and leadership. In the 3rd T20I, he finished with figures of 2/13, keeping West Indies’ total within reach for his batting side (Afghanistan Cricket Board).
Yet the series’ standout performer was Rahmanullah Gurbaz. The wicket-keeper batsman accumulated 156 runs across three matches, including two half-centuries, and capped it with a 71-run innings in the final T20I that nearly carried Afghanistan to victory. The Afghanistan Cricket Board named him Best Player of the Series (Afghanistan Cricket Board), a recognition that cements his status as Afghanistan’s most dangerous white-ball cricketer right now.
What this means: Rashid Khan remains the heartbeat of Afghanistan cricket, but Gurbaz is becoming the engine. His ability to score quickly while keeping wickets makes him invaluable across formats—and his 156-run series haul suggests Afghanistan’s batting no longer relies solely on individual brilliance.
Gurbaz’s 156 runs across three matches wasn’t just about quantity. His strike rate and consistency in pressure situations showed why Afghanistan can compete with stronger nations—they have match-winners across multiple positions, not just in their bowling attack.
Where to watch Afghanistan National Cricket Team vs West Indies Cricket Team?
The series, officially called the e& Cup T20I series powered by SuperCola, was contested at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the United Arab Emirates (Afghanistan Cricket Board). For viewers wanting to catch replays or live statistics, the official sites of both cricket boards host match footage and detailed scorecards.
The Windies Cricket official website provided match-by-match updates throughout the series (Windies Cricket), while the Afghanistan Cricket Board’s portal confirmed final series standings and player awards. Wikipedia’s dedicated article on the tour aggregates data from both official sources with match timelines and player debuts (Wikipedia).
Live streaming options
Official cricket streaming platforms like ESPNcricinfo and Cricbuzz typically provide ball-by-ball commentary and scorecard updates for bilateral series of this nature. Check regional broadcast listings for television coverage in your area, as rights vary by country.
Broadcast details
The matches were held in Dubai, which means they fall in a favorable time zone for European and South Asian audiences. Start times typically aligned with evening schedules local to the UAE, making them accessible for prime-time viewing across multiple time zones.
What is the Afghanistan vs West Indies T20 scorecard?
The series produced contrasting innings across all three matches, with Afghanistan posting dominant totals in the first two games before West Indies finally broke through in the third.
1st T20I details
Afghanistan batted first in the opening match and posted 181/3 on January 19, 2026. Ibrahim Zadran anchored the innings with an unbeaten 87 off 56 balls, while Ziaur Rahman contributed 3/36 with the ball to help restrict West Indies to 143/9. Afghanistan won by 38 runs (Windies Cricket).
Quentin Sampson made his T20I debut during this match, according to Wikipedia’s match records (Wikipedia). For a detailed look at the India vs Australia match, check out the Índia vs Austràlia scorecard.
2nd T20I details
Afghanistan again chose to bat first on January 21, 2026, scoring 189/4. Darwish Rasooli top-scored with 68 off 39 balls, while Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s 4/21 dismantled West Indies’ chase, limiting them to 150 in just 18.5 overs. Afghanistan wrapped up a 39-run victory (Windies Cricket).
Brandon King kept his side competitive with a 50-run knock, but the West Indies bowlers couldn’t contain Afghanistan’s batting depth.
3rd T20I details
Afghanistan won the toss and elected to field first in the deciding match on January 22, 2026. West Indies responded with 151/7, with Brandon King adding 47 to his series tally. Shamar Springer’s 4/19 and hat-trick then derailed Afghanistan’s chase, limiting them to 136/8. West Indies won by 15 runs, but Afghanistan took the series 2-1 (Afghanistan Cricket Board).
The pattern: Afghanistan’s batting depth won them the series—they scored 181, 189, and 136 across three matches. Even in defeat, they posted a competitive chase target. West Indies needed Springer’s career-best spell just to take one match.
Gurbaz’s 156 runs came at a healthy strike rate across the series. His 71 in the final match showed he can anchor chases when needed, but also accelerate when partners fall around him. Watch how Afghanistan uses him in the 2026 World Cup—whether as an opener or a finisher could define their tournament strategy.
What is the Afghanistan national cricket team vs West Indies cricket team match timeline?
The Afghanistan Cricket Board confirmed the series fixtures in November 2025, setting up a January 2026 clash in Dubai that served as crucial preparation for both teams ahead of the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup (Wikipedia).
All three matches were played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, with the venue’s neutral conditions giving both sides equal footing—a rarity in international cricket scheduling.
The three-day window (January 19–22) compressed the series into a tight battleground. Afghanistan’s ability to win two of three matches in such quick succession showed their adaptability and mental resilience—qualities that translate directly to tournament cricket, where recovery time between matches is minimal.
Series timeline
- November 2025: Afghanistan Cricket Board confirms series fixtures (Wikipedia)
- January 19, 2026: 1st T20I — Afghanistan 181/3 beats West Indies 143/9 by 38 runs
- January 21, 2026: 2nd T20I — Afghanistan 189/4 beats West Indies 150 by 39 runs
- January 22, 2026: 3rd T20I — West Indies 151/7 beats Afghanistan 136/8 by 15 runs; Afghanistan wins series 2-1
Key moments
- West Indies won the toss and chose to field in the 2nd T20I, but Afghanistan’s 189/4 exposed gaps in their bowling attack
- Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s 4/21 in the 2nd T20I was the best bowling spell of the series by any player
- Springer’s hat-trick in the 3rd T20I gave West Indies their only victory and provided a genuine confidence boost
Confirmed
- Series result: Afghanistan 2-1
- All three match dates in January 2026
- Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium
- Gurbaz: Best Player of Series, 156 runs, two half-centuries
- Springer: Player of Match 3rd T20I, 4/19, hat-trick
Rumors / Unclear
- Individual player economy rates not publicly confirmed
- Full squad lists for each match not fully released
- Future series scheduling between these teams remains unannounced
Related reading: Pakistan vs South Africa Head-to-Head Records · Africa World Cup Qualifiers 2026 Standings
icc-cricket.com, youtube.com, espn.com, espn.com, icc-cricket.com
Frequently asked questions
What was the result of the 1st T20I between Afghanistan and West Indies?
Afghanistan won the 1st T20I by 38 runs on January 19, 2026. Afghanistan batted first and scored 181/3, then restricted West Indies to 143/9 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium (Windies Cricket).
Where was the AFG vs WI T20I series played?
All three matches took place at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the United Arab Emirates. The venue hosted the e& Cup T20I series powered by SuperCola (Wikipedia).
Who batted first in the 3rd T20I?
Afghanistan won the toss and elected to field first in the 3rd T20I on January 22, 2026. West Indies batted and scored 151/7, which proved sufficient for a 15-run victory (Afghanistan Cricket Board).
What are the key partnerships in AFG vs WI 1st T20I?
Ibrahim Zadran’s unbeaten 87 off 56 balls anchored Afghanistan’s innings. West Indies managed only 143/9 in their chase, with Ziaur Rahman taking 3/36 as Afghanistan’s standout bowler (Wikipedia).
How did Afghanistan win the series against West Indies?
Afghanistan won the first two matches by 38 runs and 39 runs respectively, building an unassailable 2-0 lead before West Indies won the final match by 15 runs. Afghanistan’s series total of 506 runs across three matches (181, 189, 136) outperformed West Indies’ 444 (143, 150, 151) (Afghanistan Cricket Board).
Is there a 2026 Afghanistan vs West Indies match scheduled?
The January 2026 series served as preparation for the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup. No future bilateral series between Afghanistan and West Indies has been announced as of this writing, though both teams are expected to face each other again in ICC tournament fixtures.
