DUBAI: Pakistan qualifies Super Four in the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 after a commanding 41-run victory over the United Arab Emirates at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday. The win secured their place in the next round of the eight-nation tournament and lifted team morale ahead of tougher fixtures.
Put into bat first, Pakistan posted 146/9 in 20 overs. Fakhar Zaman led the charge with a composed half-century, but the middle order faltered after his dismissal in the 14th over. The team slipped to 110/7 before Shaheen Shah Afridi rescued the innings with a blistering 29* off 14 balls, including three boundaries and two sixes.
Although the total proved sufficient, captain Salman Ali Agha admitted the team’s batting in the middle overs remains a concern. “We got the job done, but we still need to improve our batting in the middle order,” Agha said. “We haven’t batted at our best yet. If we do, we can push scores to 170 no matter the opposition.”
The match highlighted Pakistan’s depth, with Afridi’s batting evolution and Saim Ayub’s bowling contributions standing out. “Shaheen’s batting has improved a lot—he’s already great with the ball,” Agha noted. “Saim has been bringing us back into games. I hope he continues like this till the end.”
With this result, Pakistan qualifies Super Four, setting the stage for high-stakes clashes ahead. Agha expressed confidence in his squad’s readiness. “We’re ready for any challenge. If we keep playing the way we have over the last four months, we’ll be good against any side.”
Pakistan’s bowlers wrapped up UAE’s chase at 105 in 17.4 overs, with Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed, and Ayub sharing the wickets. The victory not only confirmed their advancement but also reinforced their reputation as a formidable force in the tournament.
