In the fifth and final match of the Super 4 stage of the Asia Cup between Pakistan and Bangladesh, Pakistan won by 11 runs and qualified for the Asia Cup 2025 final. Bangladesh won the toss and chose to bowl first. Pakistan posted a total of 135/8 in 20 overs, and in the response, Bangladesh 124/9 in 20 overs. Shaheen Afridi won the man of the match due to his all-around impactful performance.
Pakistan’s Batting: Early Collapse, Late Recovery
Pakistan Openers Sahibzada Frahan and Fakhar Zaman came to bat, but it turned out to be a disastrous start. Taskin Ahmed struck in the very first over, dismissing Sahibzada Frahan for 4 runs. This wicket marked Taskin's 100th in T20Is, a significant milestone. Mahedi Hasan followed suit, removing Saim Ayub for a duck in the second over. At that time, Pakistan's score was 5/2 and Pakistan was in deep trouble.
Fakhar Zaman, 13 off 20 balls, and captain Salman Agha, 19 off 23 balls, attempted to stabilize the innings but struggled against disciplined bowling. Fakhar was dismissed by Rashid Hossain, while Agha was dismissed by Mustafizur Rahman. Hussain Talat, 3 off 7 balls, also perished cheaply, leaving Pakistan reeling at 49/5 after 10.5 overs.
The middle led by Mohmmad Harris, 31 off 23 balls with 2 fours and a six, and Mohmmad Nawaz, 25 off 15 balls with one four and 2 sixes, provided some resistance. Later, Harris and Nawaz were dismissed by Mehndi and Taskin, respectively. Shaheen Afridi contributed a quick 19 off 13 balls with 2 sixes before falling to Taskin, and Faheem Asharaf remained not out on 14 off 9 balls. Pakistan finished at 135/8 in their 20 overs, a modest total but one that seemed competitive on a challenging pitch.
Bangladesh’s Bowling: Taskin, Rishad Shine
Bangladesh's bowling attack was clinical with their pacers and spinners combining effectively to keep Pakistan under pressure. Taskin Ahmed led the way with a figure of 4-0-28-3, dismissing Farhan, Afridi, and Nawaz with his pace and movement. His early breakthrough set the tone, and his ability to strike at crucial moments earned him the standout performer among the bowlers. Rashid Hossain was equally impressive, finishing with 4-0-18-2. His leg spin troubled Pakistan's batsmen, accounting for Fakhar and Hussian with clever variations. Mehndi also took 2 wickets for 28 runs in his 4-over spell, and Mustafizur took one wicket. Bangladesh's bowlers maintained tight lines and capitalised on the pitch's sluggish nature, restricting Pakistan to a below-par total, but in the last, Pakistan's batsmen went hard on them and made 52 runs in the last 5 overs.
Bangladesh’s Batting: Chase Falters Under Pressure
Chasing 136, Bangladesh needed a solid start but were rocked early by Pakistan's bowlers. Shaheen Shah Afridi struck in the first over, dismissing Pravez Hossain Emon for 0/2. Saif Hassan 18 off 15 balls with a four and 2 sixes showed some intent, hitting a six off Shaheen, but fell to Haris Rauf. Towhid Hridoy, 5 off 10 balls, struggled and was dismissed by Shaheen, leaving Bangladesh at 23/2 after 4.2 overs. Mahedi Hassan 11 off 10 balls and Narul Hasan 16 off 21 balls tried to build, but Mohammad Nawaz and Saim Ayub struck to remove them, reducing Bangladesh to 63/5 after 12 overs. Shamim Hossain 30 off 25 balls, 2 sixes, and Tanzim Hasan Sakib 10 off 11 balls offered some resistance with a 23-run partnership, but Shaheen returned to dismiss Shamim, and Haris Rauf cleaned up Tanzim. Bangladesh finished at 124/9 in 20 overs, falling 11 runs short of the target.
However, Bangladesh will rue their missed chances in the field. Dropped catches at crucial stages—particularly of Mohammad Haris and Shaheen Afridi—proved costly and allowed Pakistan to push their total beyond 130. On a surface where every run mattered, those lapses made the difference.
What does it mean for Pakistan?
Pakistan's bowling attack, led by Shaheen Afridi 4-0-17-3 and Haris Rauf 4-0-33-3 was relentless. Shaheen's early strikes and his dismissal of Shamim in the 17th over were pivotal, while Rauf's peace accounted for Saif Hassan and Tanzim, among others. Saim Ayub also took 2 wickets in his 4 over spell and also went economically low, going for only 16 runs. Mohmmad Nawaz took 1 wicket for 20 runs in 4 4-over spell. The bowlers maintained pressure throughout, with only 10 fours and 6 sixes conceded, ensuring Bangladesh couldn't mount a successful chase.
With this result, the stage is set for a historic showdown: for the first time in 41 years of Asia Cup history, India and Pakistan will face each other in the final. While Pakistan’s bowling, led by Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf, has been their biggest strength, their batting remains a major concern. The openers, captain Agha Salman, and the middle order need to shoulder more responsibility if they are to challenge India in the final.
The bowlers may win matches, but it will be the batting unit’s improvement that could decide whether Pakistan lifts the Asia Cup trophy in 2025.