Asia Cup 2025, the 10th match started with last-minute drama. Pakistan initially withdrew from the game but later returned to play. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) objected to Andy Pycroft being the match referee for their match against the UAE. But later, he apologized (claimed by PCB), and Pakistan agreed to play. The match started an hour late at 9 pm at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, and Pakistan won by 41 runs in the Pakistan vs UAE match. Batting first, Pakistan struggled and scored 146/9 in 20 overs with the help of Fakhar Zaman's triumphant 50 off 36 balls. But Shaheen Afridi became a crucial player to lead Pakistan’s victory. In reply, the UAE was bowled out for just 105 runs. Shaheen Afridi earned the Man of the Match award in the game.

 

 

UAE won the toss and sent Pakistan to bat first. Pakistan faltered in the first overs but played well in the last overs. Openers Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan struggled in the power play, putting the middle order under pressure. However, Fakhar Zaman played with consistency and scored 50 off 36 balls. The middle overs failed to support. Until the 14th over, Pakistan were under pressure at 110/7, but then Shaheen Afridi (29 off 14) smashed three fours and two sixes, leading them to a sturdy total of 149/9 in 20 overs.

 

 

The UAE bowlers have made a perfect start by taking the wickets of Pakistan’s top batters. Junaid Siddique dismissed Pakistan's openers, Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub, in the early overs. He put Pakistan under pressure and took 4 wickets. The left-arm spinner Simranjeet Singh performed well in the middle overs by taking 3 wickets for 26 runs. He broke Pakistan’s vital partnership. Apart from the spell bowlers, no one could perform well in the game. After the 14th over, UAE bowlers struggled to resist Pakistan’s batters, and they managed to score 146/9.

 

 

Not a good day for the UAE team. They started with full confidence but couldn’t hold on in front of the giant. The UAE, which came out to bat in reply, was all out for 102 and lost the match. They also struggled at first. The openers Alishan Sharafu and Muhammad Waseem fell early and left the crease at 35/2 in the 5th over. Rahul Chopra (35 off 35) and Dhruv Parashar (20 off 23) contributed for UAE. However, the rest of the batting lineup failed to perform under pressure, and ultimately, the UAE bowled out for 105 in 17.4 overs.

 

 

Pakistan's bowling attack was commendable. They showed full steadiness throughout the innings. Fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi’s exceptional skill led him to take two main wickets of the UAE, including Harshit Kaushik. Likewise, Haris Rauf also contributed by claiming two wickets of Dhruv Parashar and Haider Ali. He resisted the UAE from Scoring opportunities and building a partnership. Abrar Ahmed and Captain Salman Agha also helped to dismiss the UAE’s top scorer. Eventually, they were restricted and bowled out for just 105 runs.

 

 

The clash between Pakistan and the UAE was full of aggression. Pakistan delayed the match but replied with a 41-run victory. Batting First, Pakistan initially struggled and scored 146/9 in 20 overs with the help of Fakhar Zaman and Shaheen Afridi. For the UAE, Junaid Siddique took 3 wickets. In reply, the UAE managed to score only 105 runs. Rahul Chopra played a crucial role for the UAE. After losing against India in the last match, it was a comeback performance for Pakistan. The win led them into the Super Four stage and might face India on Sunday. 

 

“We are ready, we are ready for any challenge. We just want to play good cricket. If we play good cricket, like we have played in the last few months, I think we'll be good against any side. We got the job done but we still need to improve our batting in the middle order" Pakistan Captain Salman stated after winning the match against the UAE.

 

For the UAE, it was a tough loss and an early exit from the tournament. But they learned their mistakes and will come back stronger in future matches.