Asia Cup 2025: Pakistan Defeats UAE to Set Up India Showdown

The start of the innings in Pakistan was not very good, with Saim Ayub being one of the early casualties with a duck and Sahibzada Farhan coming right after him with a very low score of 5, with the team in shambles at 9/2 at only 2.4 overs. Captain Salman Agha and Fakhar Zaman then stabilized the innings and accumulated a 61-run partnership, which was vital in restoring the innings. Agha had added 20 before being caught in a smart cover, and Fakhar scored a quick 50 in 36 balls with 3 sixes and 2 fours, becoming the main pillar in the total of Pakistan.

Fakhar would have been gone, but Pakistan remained stuck in the middle order until Shaheen Shah Afridi paddled in towards the end with 29 runs on 14 balls to make the difference. Extras 13 added, which is due to the constant pressure of the UAE bowlers during the innings.

The bowling unit of the UAE was also outstanding, with Junaid Siddique coming out as a star when he snatched 4 wickets in a mere 18 runs. Simranjeet Singh was his complement as he took 3 wickets in his four-over spell. Dhruv Parashar, Haider Ali, and Muhammad Rohid bowled tight lines so that Pakistan never rested fully.

Pakistan completed the task in 146/9 in 20 overs, giving a tough target of 147. With this total, Pakistan advances to the Super Fours. The next match promises another thrilling encounter in the Asia Cup.

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