AFG vs WI, 2nd T20I: Mujeeb’s hat-trick helps Afghanistan clinch series against West Indies
Mystery spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman grabbed a hat-trick as Afghanistan warmed up for next month’s T20 World Cup with a series-clinching 39-run win over West Indies on Wednesday.
West Indies, which had lost the first game by 38 runs, got bowled out for 150 in 18.5 overs. Mujeeb claimed four for 21, becoming only the third Afghan bowler after Rashid Khan and Karim Janat to accomplish a hat trick in T20Is.
Earlier, Darwish Rasooli followed his half-century in the first game with 68 off 39 balls, and Sediqullah Atal made 53 in Afghanistan’s total of 189 for four after West Indies won the toss and elected to field.
Mujeeb had Evin Lewis trapped leg-before-wicket off a quicker ball before he dismissed Johnson Charles with a perfect delivery that drifted into the right-handed batter, and West Indies slumped to 38 for three in eight overs.
Mujeeb waited for his hat-trick until he returned for his final over in the death when top-scorer captain Brandon King (50) holed out at long-on and then finished with a four-wicket haul by getting Quentin Sampson clean bowled.
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“The plan was to keep it simple and hit the stumps,” Mujeeb said. “Didn’t know I was on a hat-trick, and I was just looking to hit the right areas. Good preparation for us before the World Cup. This win will give us more energy.”
The three-match series concludes on Thursday.
Shimron Hetmyer briefly challenged the tall target with his 46 off 17 balls that featured six sixes before he holed out to sweeper cover while attempting a big shot against Fazalhaq Farooqi (two for 28).
Fast bowler Azmatullah Omarzai claimed two for 20 before Farooqi dismissed No. 11 batter Ramon Simmonds to seal the series for Afghanistan with seven balls to spare.
Afghanistan’s opening pair of Rahmanullah Gurbaz (1) and Ibrahim Zadran (22) exited inside the Powerplay, but Rasooli and Atal combined in a 115-run stand as they dominated both pace and spin.
Atal smacked three sixes and two fours before he holed out to deep square leg in Matthew Forde’s (two for 25) return spell, and Rasooli fell in the 18th over when he couldn’t clear Alick Athanaze at mid-off.
Omarzai smashed an unbeaten 26 off 13 balls with spinner Gudakesh Motie returning with expensive figures of zero for 54 that included 19 runs in the final over.
“Hetty (Hetmyer) played a fantastic innings, but after he got out, I had to be the person finishing it,” King said. “The fielding has been a disappointment, but that’s something we keep working on.”
Published on Jan 22, 2026
