Fakhar, Afridi Lead Pakistan into Super Four as UAE Bow Out
In a tense and dramatic encounter at the Asia Cup, Pakistan edged past a spirited United Arab Emirates (UAE) side by 41 runs to confirm their place in the Super Four. The low-scoring thriller, played amidst off-field tension between the PCB and match referee Andy Pycroft, saw Shaheen Shah Afridi shine with both bat and ball, while Fakhar Zaman anchored Pakistan’s fragile innings.
Pakistan Survive UAE Scare
Pakistan posted 146 for 9 after being put into bat, a total that looked below-par for most of the innings. The batting once again failed to fire, with only Fakhar Zaman (50 off 36) holding things together at the top. Pakistan stumbled to 17 for 2 in the opening four overs, undone by some tight and intelligent bowling from UAE, particularly Junaid Siddique and Simranjeet Singh.
Siddique, already the tournament’s top wicket-taker, delivered another standout performance, finishing with 4 for 18. He removed Saim Ayub for a duck – his third in a row – before returning at the death to dismantle the lower middle order. Simranjeet backed him up superbly with 3 for 26, denting Pakistan’s middle overs.
Shaheen’s Late Fireworks Rescue Pakistan
Just when it looked like Pakistan might struggle to cross 130, Afridi stepped up with a late cameo that swung momentum. He smashed 29* off 14 balls, including two sixes in the final over, scoring 27 runs in just 10 deliveries during the last two overs. His explosive hitting lifted Pakistan to a defendable total and gave the bowlers something to work with.
UAE Collapse After Strong Start
In response, UAE began confidently, racing to 19 in the first two overs. Alishan Sharafu hit the first ball of the innings for four, but his dismissal by Afridi soon after triggered a chain reaction. Though UAE reached 35 for 1 after four overs, a double strike from spinners Abrar Ahmed and Saim Ayub during the final two overs of the powerplay pegged them back to 38 for 3.
Captain Muhammad Waseem’s dismissal to a carrom ball from Abrar, brilliantly caught by Mohammad Nawaz, proved a turning point. A promising 48-run fourth-wicket partnership raised UAE hopes briefly, but Haris Rauf’s dismissal of Dhruv Parashar cracked the door open for Pakistan’s bowlers to take control.
Collapse Under Pressure
From 85 for 3, UAE crumbled under mounting pressure, losing their last seven wickets for just 20 runs in 23 balls. Afridi (2 for 16), Abrar (2 for 13), and Ayub (1 for 18) wrapped up the tail clinically, ensuring Pakistan walked away with a crucial victory.
What’s Next
The win takes Pakistan into the Super Four stage, while UAE bow out after a valiant effort. For Pakistan, batting remains a major concern – three consecutive sub-par displays have put pressure on the bowling unit to deliver. Meanwhile, UAE, though eliminated, earned admiration for their fight and skill, especially with the ball.
Score Summary:
Pakistan – 146/9 in 20 overs (Fakhar 50, Afridi 29*, Siddique 4-18, Simranjeet 3-26)
UAE – 105 all out in 17.5 overs (Chopra 35, Afridi 2-16, Abrar 2-13)
Result: Pakistan won by 41 runs