- Scorecard is available here
Dubai, 17 September 2025: Bowlers helped Pakistan restrict UAE to 105 in 17.4 overs in pursuit of the 147-run target in the 10th match of the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Pakistan finished second in Group A and qualified for the Super-Four stage which begins on Saturday.
After being put in to bat, Pakistan lost opening duo for nine runs in 2.4 overs.
Fakhar Zaman and skipper Salman Ali Agha then steadied the shipas Pakistan found themselves 39-2 after six overs and 67-2 at the halfway stage of the innings. After stitching a 61-run partnership with Fakhar, Agha perished in the 11th over after scoring a 27-ball 20.
Fakhar (50, 36b, 2x4s, 3x6s) reached his 13th T20I half century off 35 balls on the final delivery of the 13th over as Pakistan stood on 86-3, but he was dismissed on the very next ball, trying to chip one over cover. Hasan Nawaz (3) was trapped leg before wicket three balls later, leaving his side 88-5.
Muhammad Haris was joined at the crease by Khushdil Shah, but the left-hander’s innings was cut short when he was caught in the deep during the 16th over. Mohammad Nawaz (4) fell in the following over, leaving Pakistan at 110-7 after 17 overs.
Shaheen Shah Afridi, building on his unbeaten 33 from the previous game against India, produced a brisk cameo of 29 not out off 14 balls, striking three fours and two sixes. His late fireworks lifted Pakistan to a competitive 146-9 from their 20 overs.
For UAE, pacer Junaid Siddique returned figures of 4-0-18-4 while Simranjeet Singh finished with three wickets for 26 runs in his four overs.
In turn, Shaheen provided Pakistan with the first breakthrough as he bowled Alishan Sharafu in the third over for 21. Abrar Ahmed provided his side with the second wicket, when he dismissed skipper Muhammad Wasim courtesy a blinding catch by Nawaz, leaving UAE 35-2.
Saim, maintaining his impressive form with the ball, clean-bowled left-hander Muhammad Zohaib in the sixth over to leave the scoreboard at 37-3. Dhruv Parashar and Rahul Chopra then steadied the innings, guiding their side to 61-3 at the halfway stage.
Haris Rauf, making his return to the side, broke the partnership by removing Dhruv on the final ball of the 14th over, with UAE still needing 62 runs. Abrar struck in the very next over, dismissing Asif Khan for a four-ball duck on the last delivery of his spell, before Agha accounted for Rahul in the following over, reducing UAE to 97-6 after 16 overs.
Shaheen removed Harshit for a golden duck in the next over, and a sharp direct hit from Farhan accounted for Simranjeet in the following over, leaving UAE at 103-8. In the same over, Rauf struck again by dismissing Haider and then ran out Muhammad Rohid off the very next ball, sealing Pakistan’s 41-run win.
For Pakistan, Abrar returned figures of 4-0-13-2. Shaheen and Rauf picked up two wickets apiece while Saim chipped in with one wicket for 18 runs in his 4 overs.
Scores in brief:
Pakistan beat UAE by 41 runs at Dubai International Cricket Stadium
Pakistan 146-9, 20 overs (Fakhar Zaman 50, Shaheen Shah Afridi 29 not out, Salmana Ali Agha 20; Junaid Siddique 4-18, Simranjeet Singh 3-26)
UAE 105 all out, 17.4 overs (Rahul Chopra 35, Dhruv Pareshar 20; Abrar Ahmed 2-13, Shaheen Shah Afridi 2-16, Haris Rauf 2-19)
Player of the match – Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pakistan)
