Afghanistan's cricket team soundly defeated a combined Pakistan cricket team Wednesday in the first of six planned matches for the Afghans on a conditioning tour of neighbouring Pakistan.
The hosts bat first at the Niaz Stadium in Hyderabad but set the target low with all out for only 112 runs.
Afghanistan's newest recruit, Hamza Hotak, shone in his first international match, taking five of the nine wickets and allowing only 15 runs.
The Afghans proved a formidable opponent, making 116 runs with only one wicket lost, ultimately beating Pakistan with 9 wickets and 32 overs remaining.
The Afghanistan XI are playing five one-day internationals (ODI) and a Twenty20 at three venues around the country.
Today's match was against a combined regional team led by Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi and comprised of players from Karachi and Hyderabad. Next, the Afghans will take on a combined team from Multan and Bahawalpur on February 8 and another from Rawalpindi and Faisalabad on February 10.
Finally, they will take on Pakistan A, also led by Afridi, for two one-dayers and a Twenty20.
This will be their second series against Pakistan A in the last two years, having lost a one-day series 3-0 in May 2011.
The Afghan team is training at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore for four weeks ahead of their international fixture against Scotland in March.