Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 11 runs, set up first-ever Asia Cup final against India

Pakistan's bowling attack defended a modest total of 135 to defeat Bangladesh by 11 runs in the Super 4s. This win has set up Pakistan's first-ever Asia Cup final against India, scheduled for the 2025 tournament's grand finale

Dubai: Pakistan’s bowling unit delivered when it mattered the most, defending a modest total of 135 with determination against Bangladesh in their Super 4s clash on Thursday. Pakistan won the match by 11 runs, setting up their first-ever Asia Cup final against arch-rivals India.

Considering the off-field tensions between India and Pakistan, the Asian Cricket Council and the tournament’s official broadcasters must have been delighted, as the game’s drama and intensity would have undoubtedly drawn significant viewership. However, Bangladesh’s batting collapse left them with only 124/9 in 20 overs.

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While the target was achievable with sensible cricket and good shot selection, Bangladesh’s batters found numerous ways to get out. Shaheen Shah Afridi (3/17 in 4 overs) bowled a brilliant opening spell, picking up two wickets in the powerplay.

Once Haris Rauf (3/23 in 3 overs) dismissed the danger-man Saif Hassan (18), who had warmed up with two sixes, Bangladesh’s resistance faded. Rauf later polished off the tail, delivering two express deliveries and keeping his composure to bowl the final two deliveries accurately.

The most frustrating aspect was that none of Bangladesh’s batters appeared to have any answers to Pakistan’s spin trio. Off-spinner Saim Ayub (2/16 in 4 overs), slow left-arm orthodox Mohammed Nawaz (1/14 in 3 overs), and wrist spinner Abrar Ahmed (0/23 in 3 overs) effectively halted the Bangladeshi progress during the middle overs.

Shamim Hossain (30 off 26 balls) attempted a reckless flat-batted reverse shot off Afridi’s back-of-the-hand slower ball and was dismissed. Bangladesh then found themselves needing 39 runs from the final three overs, an impossible task.

Earlier, Bangladesh’s bowlers had given a strong performance in humid conditions, restricting a strong Pakistan batting line-up to 135/8 in this must-win encounter. Senior Bangladesh bowlers Mustafizur Rahman (1/33 in 4 overs), Taskin Ahmed (3/28 in 4 overs), and leg-spinner Rishad Hossain (2/18 in 4 overs) exploited the tacky pitch, and none of Pakistan’s top-order batters could make significant contributions.

Mohammed Haris (31 off 23 balls) was once again the standout performer for Pakistan, playing a gritty knock. Shaheen Shah Afridi (19), with a couple of sixes, and a lucky Mohammed Nawaz (25 off 15 balls) also played important knocks, helping Pakistan reach a total that seemed unlikely after an early collapse.

The match began with controversy as opener Sahibzada Farhan (4) was dismissed slashing a rising delivery from Taskin Ahmed, caught by Rishad Hossain at backward point. Sahibzada’s wicket marked Taskin’s 100th T20 International scalp.

Saim Ayub (0), the over-rated Pakistani youngster, was dismissed for his fourth duck of the tournament, unable to clear mid-on off off-spinner Mahedi Hasan’s (2/28 in 4 overs) bowling.

Fakhar Zaman (13), Hussain Talat (3), and Salman Ali Agha (19) were all dismissed before Pakistan could reach 50. But Afridi, Haris, and Nawaz hit a few sixes, and some dropped catches allowed Pakistan to cross the 125-run mark

Pakistan’s bowling unit delivered when it mattered the most, defending a modest total of 135 with determination against Bangladesh in their Super 4s clash on Thursday. Pakistan won the match by 11 runs, setting up their first-ever Asia Cup final against arch-rivals India.

Considering the off-field tensions between India and Pakistan, the Asian Cricket Council and the tournament’s official broadcasters must have been delighted, as the game’s drama and intensity would have undoubtedly drawn significant viewership. However, Bangladesh’s batting collapse left them with only 124/9 in 20 overs.

While the target was achievable with sensible cricket and good shot selection, Bangladesh’s batters found numerous ways to get out. Shaheen Shah Afridi (3/17 in 4 overs) bowled a brilliant opening spell, picking up two wickets in the powerplay.

Once Haris Rauf (3/23 in 3 overs) dismissed the danger-man Saif Hassan (18), who had warmed up with two sixes, Bangladesh’s resistance faded. Rauf later polished off the tail, delivering two express deliveries and keeping his composure to bowl the final two deliveries accurately.

The most frustrating aspect was that none of Bangladesh’s batters appeared to have any answers to Pakistan’s spin trio. Off-spinner Saim Ayub (2/16 in 4 overs), slow left-arm orthodox Mohammed Nawaz (1/14 in 3 overs), and wrist spinner Abrar Ahmed (0/23 in 3 overs) effectively halted the Bangladeshi progress during the middle overs.

Shamim Hossain (30 off 26 balls) attempted a reckless flat-batted reverse shot off Afridi’s back-of-the-hand slower ball and was dismissed. Bangladesh then found themselves needing 39 runs from the final three overs, an impossible task.

Earlier, Bangladesh’s bowlers had given a strong performance in humid conditions, restricting a strong Pakistan batting line-up to 135/8 in this must-win encounter. Senior Bangladesh bowlers Mustafizur Rahman (1/33 in 4 overs), Taskin Ahmed (3/28 in 4 overs), and leg-spinner Rishad Hossain (2/18 in 4 overs) exploited the tacky pitch, and none of Pakistan’s top-order batters could make significant contributions.

Mohammed Haris (31 off 23 balls) was once again the standout performer for Pakistan, playing a gritty knock. Shaheen Shah Afridi (19), with a couple of sixes, and a lucky Mohammed Nawaz (25 off 15 balls) also played important knocks, helping Pakistan reach a total that seemed unlikely after an early collapse.

The match began with controversy as opener Sahibzada Farhan (4) was dismissed slashing a rising delivery from Taskin Ahmed, caught by Rishad Hossain at backward point. Sahibzada’s wicket marked Taskin’s 100th T20 International scalp.

Saim Ayub (0), the over-rated Pakistani youngster, was dismissed for his fourth duck of the tournament, unable to clear mid-on off off-spinner Mahedi Hasan’s (2/28 in 4 overs) bowling.

Fakhar Zaman (13), Hussain Talat (3), and Salman Ali Agha (19) were all dismissed before Pakistan could reach 50. But Afridi, Haris, and Nawaz hit a few sixes, and some dropped catches allowed Pakistan to cross the 125-run mark