Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha admitted his team only had themselves to blame after suffering their first defeat of the tri-nation T20I series on Tuesday night, at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Opting to bat first, Afghanistan put up 169/5 in their 20 overs, thanks largely to a superb 113-run stand for the second wicket between Ibrahim Zadran and Sediqullah Atal. Despite early pressure when Saim Ayub removed Rahmanullah Gurbaz for just 8, Afghanistan regrouped. Zadran’s 65 off 45 balls and Atal’s 64 off 45 ensured the innings never lost momentum. Faheem Ashraf was the standout for Pakistan with career-best figures of 4/27, while Saim chipped in with one wicket.

Chasing 170, Pakistan looked in control at 60 for two in the eighth over, but a flurry of wickets in the middle phase shifted m

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