Afghanistan vs Qatar Only T20I 2025 – Match Summary, Highlights & Key Moments

🏏 Afghanistan vs Qatar Only T20I – Full Match Recap

Cricket fans got a nice mid-week treat as Afghanistan took on Qatar in a one-off T20 international at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium, Doha, on November 11, 2025.
It wasn’t a big tournament, but for Qatar, this was a proud moment — facing a full-member nation like Afghanistan in their own backyard.

🔹 Afghanistan’s Innings – Rasooli Shines Bright

Afghanistan won the toss and decided to bat first — and that turned out to be the right call.
Opener Darwish Rasooli was the star of the show. His clean hitting and calm temperament set the tone for Afghanistan’s innings. He smashed 66 runs off 37 balls, cracking boundaries all over the ground and treating fans to some delightful stroke play.

Even though Qatar’s bowlers kept things tight in the middle overs, Afghanistan managed to post a competitive 143/6 by the end of their innings. The lower order chipped in with some handy runs, but Rasooli’s knock truly stood out.

🔹 Qatar’s Chase – Tough Ask Against World-Class Bowling

Chasing 144 against a world-class bowling lineup was never going to be easy, and Qatar found that out the hard way.
Afghanistan’s bowlers came out firing on all cylinders — using their pace, variation, and experience to keep Qatar’s batters under constant pressure.

Qatar tried to fight back with a few quick boundaries, but the run rate kept climbing. In the end, Afghanistan’s discipline and superior experience proved too much. Qatar fell short, and Afghanistan sealed the win comfortably.

🔹 Why This Match Matters

For Afghanistan, it was more than just another T20 game.
This match served as a valuable warm-up ahead of their upcoming tournaments, helping them test younger players and keep their rhythm in overseas conditions.

For Qatar, this was a huge learning experience.
Playing against a top international side gave their players a taste of high-pressure cricket — something that’s crucial as Qatar continues to grow as a cricketing nation.

🔹 Standout Performers

• Darwish Rasooli (Afghanistan) – 66 (37 balls)

• Afghanistan bowlers – kept Qatar under control with tight lines and smart variations

• Qatar’s effort – spirited fielding and glimpses of potential, but lacked consistency under pressure

🔹 What’s Next?

This short tour might be over, but it marks an important milestone for cricket in the Gulf.

• Qatar will look to build on this experience and prepare for upcoming Associate-level tournaments.

• Afghanistan, on the other hand, will shift focus toward major international fixtures — including their preparation for the 2026 T20 World Cup.

As more of these smaller tours happen, cricket fans can expect to see exciting matchups between emerging and established teams — and that’s exactly what the sport needs.

🏁 Final Thoughts

While it was “just” one T20I, the Afghanistan vs Qatar clash reminded us how much cricket has grown beyond traditional powerhouses.
Afghanistan showed their class, Qatar showed their promise, and together they gave fans a memorable game under the Doha lights.

Cricket in the Gulf is rising fast — and matches like these are proof that the future of the game is global, exciting, and full of new stories waiting to unfold.