Dubai: Pakistan produced a commanding allround performance to defeat the United Arab Emirates by 41 runs in the 10th Group A match of the Asia Cup 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium here on Wednesday night, sealing their place in the Super Four alongside India.
After being sent in to bat by UAE skipper Muhammad Waseem, Pakistan recovered from an early wobble to post 146 for nine in their 20 overs. The innings revolved around left-hander Fakhar Zaman, who struck a polished 50 off 36 balls with two boundaries and three sixes. He was watchful against the new ball, weathering Junaid Siddique’s incisive spell, and later opened up with two towering sixes off Dhruv Parashar and a pair of elegant fours off Haider Ali.
Pakistan, however, kept losing partners. Saim Ayub’s lean patch continued as he was dismissed for a duck by Siddique, while Sahibzada Farhan and captain Salman Agha (20) were also prised out as UAE’s bowlers maintained discipline.
Simranjeet Singh tightened the screws in the middle overs, removing the dangerous Zaman with a soft dismissal and then trapping Hasan Nawaz lbw. He also accounted for Khushdil Shah, finishing with an impressive three for 26.
Junaid Siddique, meanwhile, produced a memorable four-wicket haul (4/18), bowling with variety and control. He clean-bowled Mohammad Haris with a clever slower ball and sent Mohammad Nawaz back with sharp fielding support from Waseem.
Just when Pakistan seemed set for a modest score, Shaheen Afridi produced a late onslaught that turned the momentum. Walking in at No. 9, Afridi hammered 29 not out off just 14 deliveries. His blitz included two sixes and three boundaries. On the final ball, he and Haris Rauf scampered two runs and attempted a third, only for Simranjeet Singh’s accurate throw to Rahul Chopra to run Rauf out without scoring. Afridi’s cameo lifted Pakistan to a competitive 146.
UAE’s reply began shakily as Afridi struck with the new ball to dismiss Alishan Sharafu. Skipper Waseem tried to counterattack with 14, but wickets tumbled at regular intervals. Muhammad Zohaib (4) and Asif Khan (0) fell cheaply, while Harshit Kaushik and Simranjeet Singh were unable to cope with Pakistan’s pace battery.
Rahul Chopra provided brief resistance with a gutsy 35 off 35 deliveries, and Dhruv Parashar chipped in with 20, but once they departed, the lower order folded under pressure. Haris Rauf bowled with fire, picking up two wickets, while Afridi maintained his rhythm with two scalps. Abrar Ahmed’s tidy four overs (2/13) and Salman Agha’s part-time spin (1/9) rounded off a disciplined bowling effort.
UAE were eventually bundled out for 105 in 17.4 overs, falling well short of the target. Pakistan now sit comfortably second on the points table after India.
