Pakistan Secures Super 4s Berth with 41-Run Victory Over UAE in Asia Cup 2025
Dubai – In a dramatic turn of events, Pakistan triumphed over the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by 41 runs during their Asia Cup 2025 encounter, thereby clinching a place in the Super 4s. However, the lead-up to the match was marred by uncertainty regarding Pakistan’s participation at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
The pre-match tension was largely influenced by Pakistan’s previous clash against India, during which the Suryakumar Yadav-led squad declined to shake hands, leaving the Pakistan team unsettled. Subsequently, the Pakistani management threatened to withdraw from the tournament altogether, raising doubts about their scheduled game against the UAE.
The saga intensified on the eve of the match when the Pakistan team did not arrive at the stadium. Although reports of a potential boycott circulated, they eventually arrived an hour late to the match. The team had made multiple requests to the International Cricket Council (ICC) to remove match referee Andy Pycroft but was denied.
Despite these challenges, Pakistan participated in the match. Batting first, they faced difficulties but managed to score 146 runs, thanks to a half-century from Fakhar Zaman and a late contribution of 29 runs off just 14 balls from Shaheen Afridi. The UAE, despite showcasing moments of promise, could not convert their opportunities during the middle overs, leading to their defeat.
This victory assured Pakistan’s qualification for the Super 4s, setting the stage for their highly anticipated match against India on September 21 in Dubai. This matchup follows Pakistan’s previous encounter with India, where they suffered a seven-wicket defeat, highlighting the disparity in form between the two teams.
Playing XIs:
Pakistan (Playing XI): Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Haris (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Salman Agha (c), Khushdil Shah, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed.
United Arab Emirates (Playing XI): Alishan Sharafu, Muhammad Waseem (c), Asif Khan, Muhammad Zohaib, Harshit Kaushik, Rahul Chopra (wk), Dhruv Parashar, Haider Ali, Muhammad Rohid Khan, Simranjeet Singh, Junaid Siddique.
