Key points
- Pakistan come in with strong form, having defeated Afghanistan in the series opener
- UAE eye a big opportunity to test their depth and challenge a top side at home ground
ISLAMABAD: After nearly a decade, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are set to face off in a T20I, in the second match of the Tri-Series at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Saturday. The last time two teams met in the shortest format was back in the 2016 Asia Cup in Mirpur, where Pakistan comfortably won by 7 wickets.
Pakistan enter this contest with momentum on their side, having opened the tri-series with a confident 39-run win over Afghanistan on Friday. Salman Ali Agha, who is captaining the side in the absence of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, played a crucial role with a fiery half-century, backed by disciplined bowling.
Now, Pakistan will look to continue that winning rhythm as they test their new-look squad in challenging conditions. The Sharjah pitch, known for assisting spinners, will once again be a factor as the series progresses.
For the UAE, this match is more than just a fixture, it is a chance to test themselves against world-class opposition and showcase the depth of their squad on home soil. Under the leadership of Muhammad Waseem, the hosts have blended youth and experience, with promising names like Aryansh Sharma and Alishan Sharafu expected to step up. The return of fast bowler Junaid Siddique and the introduction of uncapped all-rounder Harshit Kaushik add further intrigue to the squad.
Despite recent close defeats to Uganda, UAE have shown promise with wins against Kenya and Nigeria, and will be hoping their familiarity with Sharjah helps bridge the gap in experience.
Pakistan’s recent form has been impressive, four wins from their last five matches, including series wins over Bangladesh and West Indies. Meanwhile, UAE has picked up three wins in their last five games and will look to punch above their weight in front of their home crowd. With both sides eager to make a mark and adjust to the turning Sharjah surface, fans can expect an exciting showdown under the lights.
The match begins at 8 PM local time and will be followed by more action in the coming days, leading up to the final on Sunday, September 7.
Pakistan Squad: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (WK), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Waseem Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sufyan Moqim.
UAE Squad: Muhammad Waseem (c), Haider Ali, Rahul Chopra, Ethan D’Souza, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Harshit Kaushik, Asif Khan, Rohid Khan, Saghir Khan, Dhruv Parashar, Alishan Sharafu, Aryansh Sharma, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Zohaib
Tri-series schedule (all matches at Sharjah Cricket Stadium)
29 August – Afghanistan v Pakistan – 8pm local time
30 August – UAE v Pakistan – 8pm local time
1 September – UAE v Afghanistan – 8pm local time
2 September – Pakistan v Afghanistan – 8pm local time
4 September – Pakistan v UAE – 8pm local time
5 September – Afghanistan v UAE – 8pm local time
7 September – Final – 8pm local time
