In a thrilling encounter at the ICC T20 World Cup, Afghanistan secured their first victory of the tournament by defeating the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by five wickets on February 16, 2026. Azmatullah Omarzai was the star of the match, showcasing his all-round capabilities with figures of 4 for 15 in four overs and scoring an unbeaten 40 runs off 21 balls. This victory keeps Afghanistan's hopes alive for advancing to the Super Eight stage, as they now have a chance to progress depending on the outcomes of other matches. Captain Rashid Khan expressed optimism, stating, "Always important to have a win at the World Cup and let’s hope for the best in the rest of the competition. We still have a little bit of hope that we can make it to the next stage."