Pakistan secured a 41-run victory over the United Arab Emirates in Match 10 of the Asia Cup 2025 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. This crucial win allowed Pakistan to advance to the Super Four from Group A, joining India.
The match began poorly for Pakistan as Junaid Siddique took early wickets, dismissing openers Saim Ayub (0 off 2) and Sahibzada Farhan (5 off 12) in his first two overs. However, Fakhar Zaman steadied the innings with a calm half-century, scoring 50 runs off 36 balls, helping Pakistan recover from the early setbacks. Unfortunately, he was dismissed right after reaching his fifty, and a collapse in the middle order gave UAE the upper hand temporarily.
Shaheen Shah Afridi once again played a key role for Pakistan, just like he did against India. His quick 29 not out from 14 balls helped Pakistan reach a decent total in their 20 overs. Among the bowlers, Junaid Siddique took 4 wickets for 18 runs in 4 overs, while Simranjeet Singh grabbed 3 wickets for 26 runs in 4 overs, making them the standout performers.
The UAE started their innings well, but they lost three wickets by the end of the powerplay. Rahul Chopra and Dhruv Parashar then stabilized the innings, preventing further quick losses and keeping their team in the game.
The spin bowlers Abrar Ahmed (2/13) and Ayub (1/18) bowled very well, keeping the batsmen under control. Both UAE batters struggled to score quickly, failing to keep up with the run rate. Under constant pressure, the UAE team collapsed and were all out for just 105 runs in 17.4 overs, losing wickets rapidly.
Player Reactions After the Match
Shaheen Shah Afridi (Player of the Match)
I’ve been focusing on practicing in the nets and trying to apply what I learn in matches. I’m excited for the upcoming games. We lost a few early wickets and also struggled in the middle overs. My role is to score runs and give the team a strong start. I aim to provide that early momentum whenever possible.
Muhammad Waseem (Losing Captain)
I must praise our bowlers for keeping the opposition to a low score. However, we lost because our batting did not perform well. Even after losing three wickets in the powerplay, we were doing okay, but after the 15th over, we kept losing more wickets. Our middle-order should have contributed more. Overall, it was a valuable experience playing against teams like India and Pakistan. We learned a lot and hope to use these lessons in future tournaments.
Salman Ali Agha (Winning Captain)
We won the match, but our batting in the middle overs could have been stronger. The bowlers performed well, and overall, our batting is still not at its best. If we had batted better, we might have scored 170-180 runs. Shaheen is a game-changer, and his batting has gotten better. Abrar has also been excellent, helping us stay in the game. We are ready for any challenge, and if we play well, we can compete strongly against any team.
FAQ
Who won the Asia Cup 2025 match between Pakistan and UAE?
Pakistan won the match by 41 runs against the United Arab Emirates.
Where was the match played?
The match took place at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
What was Pakistan’s total score in the match?
Pakistan scored 146/5 in their 20 overs, boosted by key contributions from Fakhar Zaman and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Who were the standout performers for Pakistan?
Fakhar Zaman scored a composed 50 off 36 balls, and Shaheen Shah Afridi contributed an unbeaten 29 off 14 balls.
