DUBAI: Fakhar Zaman’s brisk half-century and a dominant bowling performance propelled Pakistan to the super fours, setting up another India clash in the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025.
Pakistan will face India in the Super Fours on Sunday, September 21, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Set 147-run target, UAE crumbled under pressure and were bowled out for 150 in 17.4 overs.
Despite restricting Pakistan to a low total, UAE batters failed to take advantage. Alishan Sharafu and Mohammad Waseem added 21 for the first wicket before the former was castled by Shaheen on the score of 12.
Waseem followed him after making 14 from 15, whereas Saim bamboozled Muhammad Zohaib for four, which left UAE reeling at 37-3 in 5.3 overs.
Following the early wickets, Dhruv Parashar and Rahul Chopra forged a stand of 48 runs. However, the pair took 51 balls for their partnership, and with the required rate creeping up, the hosts slumped and lost wickets in a heave.
Chopra remained the highest scorer, making 35 runs with the aid of a four and a six.
For Pakistan, Abrar Ahmed, Shaheen Afridi, and Haris Rauf bagged two wickets each.
Earlier, Simranjeet Singh and Junaid Siddique combined to rattle Pakistan’s batting lineup, not before Shaheen Afridi’s lusty blows, which took them to a competitive total
UAE capitalized on the decision to bowl first as their bowlers displayed a commendable performance, limiting Pakistan to a modest 146-9 in 20 overs.
For Pakistan, it was a miserable start as Saim Ayub fell for his third consecutive and fifth duck in eight innings. Sahibzada Farhan followed him in the third over after managing to score five from 12 deliveries.
After Green Shirts were reduced to 9-2 in 2.4 overs, Fakhar Zaman and skipper Salman Ali Agha launched a brief recovery with a 61-run partnership.
The duo managed to take Pakistan out of trouble as the scorecard read 70 in 11 overs. However, the stand culminated as Salman Ali Agha’s sluggish knock ended, courtesy of a brilliant catch in the covers. He made 20 off 27 with the help of two fours.
The wicket gave UAE an opening, and the hosts penetrated through the middle order with quick strikes. Fakhar Zaman departed after scoring 50 off 36 balls, striking three maximums and two fours.
The wicket sparked a mini collapse until Shaheen Afridi’s cameo (29 off 14 balls), which took Pakistan to a respectable total.
For UAE, Junaid Siddique – who made early inroads with the new ball, remained the standout bowler with four wickets in his four overs. Simranjeet Singh was excellent as well with three scalps to his name in four overs.
Playing XIs
Pakistan XI: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Agha (capt), Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Khushdil Shah, Abrar Ahmed
UAE XI: Alishan Sharafu, Muhammad Waseem (capt), Asif Khan, Muhammad Zohaib, Harshit Kaushik, Rahul Chopra (wk), Dhruv Parashar, Haider Ali, Muhammad Rohid Khan, Simranjeet Singh, Junaid Siddique
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