Pakistan have held their nerves under pressure and won the elections again. Pakistan looked like a determined team more so with the ball as batting is still a matter of concern as they had some work there. They batted poorly after being asked to bat first and posted 135/8 in 20 overs with most Pakistani batters struggled to time the ball. Mohammad Haris’ 31 and Mohammad Nawaz’s 25 took Pakistan to a respectable total.
But then with ball in hand, Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf took 6 wickets between them to dismantle Bangladesh as Pakistan advanced to the next stage with a good win and it will be a place in the finals does well, great. Eventually. Bangladesh made 124/9 in 20 overs losing the game by 11 runs and giving them a lot to celebrate as the India Pakistan third clash will be on Sunday 28th September at 8 PM IST. So, it’s going to be interesting to see who comes out on top in the summit clash.
Taskin Ahmed’s 3-wicket haul limits Pakistan to 135/8 in 20 overs
Put into bat first, Sahibzada Farhan walked out to bat alongside Fakhar Zaman for Pakistan while Taskin Ahmed had ball in hand for Bangladesh. Farhan got off the mark with a boundary by a crunching boundary through the covers. But Taskin hit back and got his 100th T20I wicket as Farhan was dismissed for 4 off 4 balls with a boundary to his name.
Taskin went fuller and swung it away from his right-hander. Farhan threw his hands at it and got it from the outside half of the bat. The ball went aerially towards right of backward point. Rishad Hossain took a simple catch at the edge of the circle. Saim Ayub came out to bat next. Mahedi Hasan got the ball from the other end. He got rid of Saim Ayub for a duck, the 4th duck of his this tournament.
Mahedi bowled full and tossed up at the off-stump with a hint of away turn. Ayub stepped down and looked to clear the man at mid-on. He didn’t get the timing right and it went straight into the hands of Rishad Hossain who took yet another catch. Captain Salman Ali Agha came out to bat next. Taskin continued as Zaman broke the shackles by getting a streaky boundary through an inside edge past the stumps to the deep fine leg fence. Salman then hit Mahedi by shimming down the ground and lofted it over mid-off for a boundary. Tanzim Hasan Sakib came into the attack next. Zaman hit Sakib past short fine leg for a boundary.
Mustafizur Rahman came into the attack to bowl the final over of the powerplay. Salman used his feet and stepped down the track and lofted it over extra cover for a boundary. At the end of the powerplay, Pakistan after 6 overs were 27/2 and in a spot of bother.
Rishad Hossain came into the attack post the powerplay. He struck for Bangladesh as he dismissed Fakhar Zaman for 13 off 20 balls with 2 fours to his name. Around the wicket from Rishad as he bowled a full and tossed up delivery outside off-stump which was a leg break. Fakhar made room on the leg side and looked to go up and over long-off. He didn’t get the timing right and it went to the right of Tanzim Hasan Sakib who settled underneath it and took a good catch near the ropes. Hussain Talat came out to bat next.
Sakib returned to the attack and bowled a tidy over. Rishad continued and got rid of Talat for 3 off 7 balls. He bowled from around the wicket a short of a length delivery outside off-stump, Talat backed away and looked to cut but failed to keep it down. It went straight down towards Saif Hasan who dived forward and took a sharp catch just inches above the ground. Mohammad Haris came out to bat next and got off the mark with a brace.
Mahedi came back to bowl the 10th over as Haris tickled the fuller length on the pads to the deep fine leg fence for a boundary. Then there was a short run which Haris was guilty off and so that was signalled as one run was taken away from Pakistan total. At the end of 10 overs, Pakistan were 46/4 and were in need of a good partnership as the players took the Drinks Break.
Mustafizur Rahman continued after Drinks and got rid of Salman Ali Agha for 19 off 23 balls with 2 fours to his name thanks to the current usage of DRS. He bowled a good length delivery on the off-stump holding its line. Salman played from the crease and looked to play towards mid-off as he tried to use the trademark angle of Mustafizur, but this one held its line to go close to the inside edge and carried safely to the keeper. The umpire gave it NOT OUT, but the DRS was taken and the decision turned in its favour and was reversed. Shaheen Afridi was promoted up the order next.
He got off the mark soon. Bangladesh became sloppy in this period as Afridi was dropped by Nurul at short extra covers as a tough one was put down off Rishad’s bowling. Then a close LBW appeal went their way as Umpire’s call saved Afridi. Afridi was put down once again as Mahedi charged in from mid-on and dived forward to drop the catch. Sakib came back to the attack. Afridi launched Sakib over deep midwicket for the maximum. Sakib changed his pace up and pulled the over back.
Afridi then took on Taskin and deposited him over midwicket for the maximum by slogging across the line. But Taskin hit back and got rid of Shaheen Afridi for 19 off 13 balls with 2 sixes to his name. Taskin bowled a low full toss on the stumps. Afridi’s eyes lit up as he cleared his front leg for a heave across the line. He closes the bat face a tad earlier than he would have liked and got a leading edge that went into orbit towards square leg. Jaker Ali called for it with gloves on as he sprints towards the square leg umpire and took a fine high catch in his gloves.
Mohammad Nawaz came to the crease next. Nawaz got a reprieve as Emon made a meal of it as the ball burst through deep cover’s hands for a boundary. Rishad came back to bowl his final over. Haris went deep in his crease and pulled it away to deep midwicket for a boundary. Rishad finished his spell of 2/18 in 4 overs as Pakistan went to 83/6 in 15 overs.
Mustafizur Rahman continued as Haris launched him by scooping it over fine leg for the maximum showing great innovation. Sakib bowled the next over as the 100 came up for Pakistan in 16.5 overs. There was a miscommunicaton between the two batters but no damage was done in the end. Mahedi returned to bowl the 18th over. Nawaz flat batted it straight down the ground for the maximum past the sightscreen. Mahedi had the last laugh as he dismissed Haris for 31 off 23 balls with 2 fours and a maximum to his name.
Hasan bowled fuller length on the leg stump following Haris who was backing away to make space for himself. He tried to get under it and slammed it downtown. It was too full and too quick to nail the stroke as he hit it flat and straight to the bowler. The ball was travelling and it was a good catch from Mahedi Hasan in his follow through. Faheem Ashraf came out to bat next. He got off the mark straightaway.
Taskin came to bowl the 19th over of the innings. Nawaz hammered him by clearing his front leg and pulled it over deep square leg for the maximum. Taskin hit back taking rid of Nawaz for 25 off 15 balls with 1 four and 2 sixes to his name. Taskin bowled a fuller length outside off-stump slower one. Nawaz backed away and looked to go over covers but failed to pick the change in pace. He ended up slicing it straight up in the air. Parvez Hossain Emon backtracked from extra cover and took a spectacular catch and kept his eyes on the ball till the last moment. 250th wicket in T20s for Taskin Ahmed. Haris Rauf came out to bat next and got off the mark with a brace. Taskin finished his spell as well.
Mustafizur Rahman had ball in hand for the final over of the innings. Faheem Ashraf hit Rahman for a boundary by throwing his hands at it and got a thick outside edge flying away over short third man for a boundary. Runs came in singles and doubles at the moment as Pakistan finished with 135/8 in 20 overs. Faheem Ashraf was unbeaten on 14 off 9 balls with one four to their name while Haris Rauf was unbeaten on 3 off 3 balls. Just 4 extras given by the fielding side.
The Bangladeshi bowlers bowled well with good discipline. Taskin Ahmed was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3/28 in 4 overs. Mahedi Hasan bowled a decent spell of 2/28 in 4 overs. Rishad Hossain bowled well especially in the middle overs as he finished with 2/18 in 4 overs. Mustafizur bowled 4 overs and gave away 33 runs for one wicket. Tanzim Hasan Sakib finished with 0/28 in 4 overs as only 5 bowlers were used by Bangladesh earlier today. That meant the target for Bangladesh was 136 runs to book a place in the final on Sunday.
All-Round bowling performance led by Shaheen Afridi leads Pakistan to a memorable win
Chasing 136 for the win, Saif Hassan and Parvez Hossain Emon came out to bat for Bangladesh while Shaheen Afridi had ball hand for Pakistan. Afridi struck for Pakistan as he got rid of Emon in the first over for a silver duck. He bowled a short of a length around the off-stump. Emon was cramped for room as he looked to play the pick up stroke across the line. A bit of extra bounce there for the left-arm pacer and Emon got a big leading edge that shot up to deep backward square leg. Mohammad Nawaz took the catch getting low to his left in the deep. Shaheen’s 50th wicket in the powerplay in T20Is. Towhid Hridoy came out to bat next.
Faheem Ashraf had ball in hand from the other end. There was a run out appeal but no damage was done. Saif then launched Faheem over long-on for the maximum. Afridi continued and bowled a miserly over. Haris Rauf came into the attack next. Saif flicked Rauf by flicking off the wrists over backward square leg for the maximum. Saif hit another boundary slashed hard over backward point for a boundary. Then Pakistan burnt a review as Saif Hassan survived a close caught behind call.
Bangladesh survived another close call as both batters survived. Shaheen then got rid of Hridoy for 5 off 10 balls. He bowled a fuller length on the off-stump angling across. Hridoy cleared his front leg and looked to heave it across the line and got a top edge that went high in the air. Saim Ayub backtracked at backward point but kept his eyes on the ball to take the catch as Pakistan had another wicket. Mahedi Hasan came out to bat next. Mahedi launched Shaheen by swivelling it over deep fine leg for the maximum.
Haris Rauf struck and got rid of Saif Hassan for 18 off 15 balls with one four and two sixes to his name. Rauf from over the wicket bowled a good length on the middle and leg stump angling in and straightening as Saif got forward and looked to clip. He closed the face bat early and got a leading edge, flying to backward point where Ayub was again in the mix with a sharp catch. Nurul Hasan came out to bat next.
He got off the mark with a maximum by getting the leading edge over third man for the maximum. Nurul survived another close shout for caught behind. After 6 overs of powerplay, Bangladesh were 36/3 and in real trouble at this stage. Abrar Ahmed came into the attack post the powerplay. He bowled a decent first over. Mohammad Nawaz came onto bowl next. He got rid of Mahedi Hasan for 11 off 10 balls with a maximum to his name.
He bowled a good length pitching outside the leg stump turning away, Mahedi stepped down the track and tried to make room in order to hit with the spin over extra cover. He looked for an inside out stroke and ended up slicing it to deep cover point with Hussain Talat taking an easy catch in the deep. Shamim Hossain came to the crease next.
Saim Ayub came into the attack next. He started his spell with a decent over. Abrar continued as Shamim broke the shackles by slog sweeping over square leg for the maximum. After 10 overs at the halfway stage of the chase, Bangladesh were reeling at 58/4. Nawaz came back into the attack as Shamim survived a close LBW call as umpire’s call saved Shamim. He bowled a miserly over. Saim Ayub came back into the attack and struck as he got rid of Nurul Hasan for 16 off 21 balls with a maximum to his name.
Ayub tossed it up wide outside off-stump a carrom ball turning away from the right-hander. Nurul made room on the leg side and looked to go big over long-off. The bat turned in his hands and it went aerially towards Mohammad Nawaz at wide long-off who settled underneath it and took a simple catch near the ropes. Jaker Ali the captain came out to bat next. He got off the mark soon. Nawaz bowled a decent over keeping things tight.
Ayub continued and got rid of Jaker Ali for 5 off 9 balls. He bowled full and tossed up outside off-stump a carrom ball turned away. Jaker made room on the leg side and looked to go big down the ground. He didn’t get hold of it as the bottom hand comes off the bat and sliced it. The ball went down the throat of Mohammad Nawaz, who ran in a few yards from the deep and took a simple catch. Tanzim Hasan Sakib came out to bat. Abrar came back into the attack as Saif launched him over deep midwicket for the maximum. After 15 overs, Bangladesh were 85/6 as they now needed 51 off 30 balls.
Ayub bowled a tight over as he finished his outstanding spell. Sakib cleared his front leg and slapped it to the left of mid-off for a boundary. Shaheen returned and got rid of Shamim for 30 off 25 balls with 2 sixes to his name. He bowled from over the wicket a slower one back of a length outside off-stump alongside the back of the hand slower ball that moved away from the left-hander after pitching. Shamim looked to clear the off-side field with a reverse hit but doesn’t get any timing on it. The ball went to Hussain Talat at backward point who took a fine catch inside the edge of the circle. Rishad Hossain came out to bat next.
Haris Rauf returned and was injured himself causing a pause in play. Immediately on resumption, Tanzim Hasan Sakib fell for 10 off 11 balls with one boundary to his name. He bowled a slower ball off-cutter on a length as Sakib backed away to heave across the line doesn’t make contact with the ball and cannoned into the top of off-stump as well. Taskin Ahmed came out to the middle as he hit Rauf for a boundary over the keeper’s head as the 100 came up for Go World Wide. Rauf had his man as he dismissed Taskin Ahmed for 4 off 2 balls with a boundary to his name.
Good length delivery pitching around the leg stump line. Pace on the ball and kept it within the stumps. Haris tumbled again on his follow-through but kept his target in check. Taskin backed away for room and cleared his front leg trying to swing across the line. He lost his shape and was beaten for pace on the inside edge. The ball clattered the stumps. Mustafizur Rahman came out to bat next. Faheem Ashraf came into bat late and bowled really well. Mustafizur managed to look into it by slicing it away over backward point for a boundary.
Pakistan too dropped a sitter in the deep as Agha could not believe it. Haris Rauf bowled the final over of the innings and match. Rishad Hossain smashed down the ground and cleared his front leg and drilled it hard down the ground. He beat mid-off for a boundary. Rishad launched Haris Rauf for the maximum over long-on. In the end, Bangladesh ended with 124/9 in 20 overs with 3 extras conceded by fielding side.
Shaheen Afridi was the star with the ball finishing with 3/17 in 4 overs. He was ably supported by Haris Rauf who picked up 3/33 in 4 overs. Saim Ayub bowled well for his 2/16 in 4 overs. Mohammad Nawaz finished with 1/14 in 3 overs. Abrar Ahmed and Faheem Ashraf went wicketless but bowled decently. So, Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 11 runs and advance to the finals where on Sunday night, it will be India vs Pakistan from Dubai. Shaheen Afridi was awarded the Player of the Match.
What Lies Ahead
The stage is set for the final of Asia Cup 2025 as arch rivals India and Pakistan will face each other on Sunday night in Dubai. But before that, it will be India vs Sri Lanka in a proper dead rubber on 26th September 2025 at 8 PM IST as the Super 4 stage will culminate with this game. Sri Lanka will play for pride since they are already out of the tournament. India will continue to carry on the winning momentum.
Let’s see who comes out on top in this battle as a precursor to the big final on Sunday night. India will be favourites in this game, but Sri Lanka are no pushovers whatsoever.
Also Read: Asia Cup 2025: India’s Questionable Catching Leaves Fans Worried