Pakistan overcome Bangladesh to book Asia Cup 2025 final clash with India
DUBAI: Pakistan bowlers once again rose to the occasion as Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf grabbed three wickets apiece to defend a modest target of 136 and secure an 11-run victory over Bangladesh in a do-or-die ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 Super Four clash at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Thursday.
The hard-fought win booked Pakistan’s spot in the grand final, where they will lock horns with traditional rivals India for the first-ever time in Asia Cup history.
Bangladesh, chasing 136, could only manage 124/9 in their 20 overs despite a fighting 30 from Shamim Hossain.
The chase began poorly for the Tigers when Shaheen struck in the very first over to remove Parvez Hossain Emon for a duck. Soon after, Saif Hassan (18) and Towhid Hridoy (5) fell in quick succession, leaving Bangladesh tottering at 29/3 inside six overs.
Mahedi Hasan (11) and Nurul Hasan tried to rebuild but their 15-run stand was broken by Mohammad Nawaz in the eighth over. At 44/4, Bangladesh looked in deep trouble.
Shamim, however, tried to revive the innings with a counter-attacking knock, hitting two boundaries in his 25-ball 30. Just as he threatened to take the game away, Shaheen dismissed him in the 17th over.
After his departure, Haris Rauf struck twice in the same over to derail Bangladesh further, reducing them to 101/9 in the 18th. Shaheen and Haris finished with three wickets each, Saim Ayub claimed two, while Nawaz added one to his tally.
Earlier, Bangladesh’s stand-in skipper Jaker Ali opted to bowl first, a move that looked justified as his bowlers restricted Pakistan to 135/8.
Pakistan’s innings got off to a disastrous start with Sahibzada Farhan (4) and Saim Ayub (0) back in the hut inside two overs. Fakhar Zaman (13) and skipper Salman Ali Agha (19) attempted to steady the innings but could only take the score to 29 before both departed in successive overs.
Rishad Hossain’s double strike, including the prized wicket of last match hero Hussain Talat (3), left Pakistan reeling at 33/4. Agha’s departure in the 11th over for a scratchy 19 put Pakistan further on the back foot at 49/5.
In a surprise move, Shaheen Afridi was promoted up the order and added some quick runs with two sixes in a brisk 19 off 13 balls before falling to Taskin Ahmed.
The most crucial stand came between wicketkeeper Haris and Mohammad Nawaz, who put together 38 runs for the seventh wicket. Haris top-scored with a determined 31 off 23 balls, while Nawaz chipped in with 25 from 15, including two sixes and a four, to push Pakistan past the 130 mark.
For Bangladesh, Taskin Ahmed shone with figures of 3/28, Mahedi Hasan and Rishad Hossain grabbed two each, while Mustafizur Rahman bagged one.
