Pakistan registered their lowest T20I total in matches against Afghanistan earlier today (March 24) at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. The Men in Green scored 92/9 in 20 overs after winning the toss and opting to bat first in the opening T20I of the series against Afghanistan.

Shadab Khan is captaining a second-string Pakistan team in their first-ever three-match T20I series against Afghanistan. The two teams only met in one-off matches or multi-nation tournaments prior to this series.

The Sharjah Cricket Stadium has short boundaries, which is why fans hoped for a high-scoring game. However, much to their disappointment, Pakistan could score only 92 runs in 20 overs as Imad Wasim top-scored with a 32-ball 18.

Here's how fans on Twitter reacted to their performance:

Now I understand why Babar Azam used to hold one end πŸ˜” #AFGvPAK https://t.co/FYdh4EfLsw
Meri taraf kya dekh rahe ho? Idhar kuch nahi milega..πŸ˜‚ #PakvsAfg https://t.co/UhY4uwCI7E
"You won't realise how good BABAR AZAM is until he's gone" πŸ™‚πŸ’”#PakvsAfg https://t.co/3ZX5ogWbmV
Dheere Dheere Kuch logon ko samjh arha Babar-Riz slow start kyun krty thy...😢 Hence proved PCT is nothing without BABAR & RIZWAN πŸ”₯❀#PakvsAfg https://t.co/xhEgrSij12
No offense but!!!Have we found perfect replacement for Babar and Rizwan???#PakvsAfg #SaimAyub #Haris https://t.co/JzlwrCtHV0
Jo log hmy selfish bolty thy.....Smjh ty gaye ho gy...#PakvsAfg https://t.co/mXC6ITJ6ah
Well he is on rest now but y'all gotta realise that how important character he is for this pakistan team. #BabarAzam #PakvsAfg https://t.co/z6rdfc9cZm
Afghanistan will likely make history today as they never won against Pakistan In International cricket. #PakvsAfg #PAKvAFG #AfgvPak https://t.co/qwzwJxQfev
Are you missing them right now? πŸ€”#AFGvPAK https://t.co/xqH5sHPOR7
92 is defendable here on this pitch. Only thing is that Afghanistan knows the target that makes it little easier. I am backing Pakistan here.. #PAKvAFG @ACBofficials @TheRealPCB @TheRealPCBMedia
Afghanistan restricted Pakistan to just 92/9 in 20 overs.What a team performance by Afghanistan! https://t.co/aOC4o0xazA
That's why League cricket has no value. twitter.com/mufaddal_vohra…

"We didn't expect them to perform like that" - Hamid Hassan lauds Afghanistan bowlers after brilliant show against Pakistan

Although Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan were absent from the Men in Green's batting lineup, they still had some top talents like Mohammad Haris, Abdullah Shafique, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Saim Ayub, and Azam Khan in their playing XI. However, none of them got going against Afghanistan's bowlers.

Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan bowled an economical spell of 1/15 in four overs, while Mohammad Nabi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman bagged two wickets each.

Commenting on Afghanistan's performance after the first innings, the team's bowling coach Hamid Hassan said in a chat with the broadcasters:

"The boys did really well, we didn't expect them to perform like that. I am so happy with our performance. Anywhere you pay n the world you have to understand the conditions. The result was absolutely amazing."

Earlier in the evening, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) organized a farewell ceremony for Hamid Hassan. He recently announced his retirement and took over the job of the Afghanistan team's bowling coach. The Afghanistan team gave him a guard of honor before the game.

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Edited by Yash Singh
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