Dubai, September 17, 2025: Fakhar Zaman’s fighting half-century and a fiery cameo from Shaheen Shah Afridi lifted Pakistan to 146/9 in their 20 overs, setting a 147-run target for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in their crucial Asia Cup 2025 Group A match at the Dubai International Stadium on Wednesday.
Asked to bat first, Pakistan suffered a shaky start as UAE pacer Junaid Siddique removed both openers, Saim Ayub for a duck and Sahibzada Farhan for five, inside the opening two overs, leaving the Green Shirts reeling at 9/2.
Captain Salman Ali Agha then combined with Fakhar Zaman to steady the innings, adding 61 runs for the third wicket. Agha played a cautious knock of 20 off 27 balls before falling to Dhruv Prashar in the 11th over.
Zaman, however, stood firm, smashing two fours and three sixes on his way to 50 off 36 deliveries. His dismissal in the 14th over triggered a mini-collapse as Pakistan slipped from 92/3 to 110/7 in the space of 21 balls.
Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Haris chipped in with 18, but it was Shaheen Afridi’s late fireworks that ensured Pakistan crossed the 140-mark. The left-arm pacer hammered three boundaries and two sixes in an unbeaten 29 off just 14 deliveries.
For UAE, Junaid Siddique was the standout performer with career-best figures of 4/18, while Simranjeet Singh bagged three wickets and Prashar picked up one.
The fixture is a must-win for Pakistan to keep their hopes of qualifying for the Super Four alive.
