KEY POINTS
- Abrar Ahmed’s sensational 4/9 spell dismantled UAE’s chase
- Fakhar Zaman’s unbeaten 77 anchored Pakistan’s innings
SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates: Pakistan booked its place in the final of the T20I Tri-Nation T20 series with a comprehensive 31-run victory over the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Thursday at the Sharjah Cricket Ground.
The match saw a standout performance from leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed, whose four-wicket haul broke the back of UAE’s chase and earned him Player of the Match honours.
Chasing 172 for victory, UAE began their innings on a positive note, with opener Alishan Sharafu leading from the front.
Sharafu struck a fluent 68 off 51 balls, featuring four fours and four sixes, and looked set to guide his team toward a major upset.
However, his dismissal at a crucial juncture in the 15th over, caught off Shaheen Shah Afridi, sparked a collapse from which UAE couldn’t recover.
Captain Muhammad Waseem chipped in with 19 off 19 balls, but no other top or middle-order batter managed to get going.
Abrar Ahmed spun a web around the UAE lineup, claiming 4 wickets for just 9 runs in his full quota of 4 overs, removing Waseem, Asif Khan, Rahul Chopra, and Harshit Kaushik in quick succession to swing the game firmly in Pakistan’s favour.
Late resistance from Dhruv Parashar (18 off 15)* and Haider Ali (12 off 9) offered some hope, but the rising required run rate proved too steep. UAE ultimately finished well short, handing Pakistan a convincing win and a place in the final.
Earlier, Pakistan skipper Agha Salman won the toss and elected to bat first, sticking with a strategy that had worked well previously in Sharjah.
Despite a few early stumbles, Pakistan posted a competitive 171/5 in 20 overs, thanks largely to a masterclass from Fakhar Zaman.
After losing Sahibzada Farhan (16 off 11) and Saim Ayub (11) early, and with Agha Salman falling for just 7, Pakistan were teetering at 50/3 in the powerplay.
But Fakhar Zaman anchored the innings with a powerful and composed 77 not out off 44 balls, hitting 10 boundaries and 2 sixes.
He found a solid partner in Mohammad Nawaz, who finished strong with 37 off 27 balls*, ensuring Pakistan ended with momentum.
With this win, Pakistan remains unbeaten in the Tri-Series, and will head into the final with growing confidence and depth in both batting and bowling departments.
UAE, while spirited in patches, will now reflect on missed opportunities as their hopes of reaching the final fade.
Pakistan Playing XI
Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Agha (c), Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Haris (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Salman Mirza, Sufiyan Muqeem
UAE Playing XI
Muhammad Zohaib, Muhammad Waseem (c), Asif Khan, Alishan Sharafu, Rahul Chopra (wk), Ethan D’Souza, Dhruv Parashar, Saghir Khan, Haider Ali, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Jawadullah
