Pakistan Beats Opponent, Faces India in Final

Against a wicket where it was difficult to score runs, Pakistan’s disciplined bowling effort helped them defend their joint-lowest total against Bangladesh and secure a spot in the 2025 Asia Cup final, where they will take against India on Sunday. At the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday, Pakistan defeated Bangladesh by 11 runs thanks to a late burst from Mohammad Haris and Mohammad Nawaz, who put up 135 for 8.

The game was won where?

Death overs: Bangladesh was theoretically ahead of Pakistan going into the death overs, albeit only by a small margin. On a surface where it was difficult to get the big hits, Mohammad Nawaz, however, was able to take full advantage of a dropped catch and, swinging freely, hammered a breezy 15-ball 25 to help Pakistan to a competitive total. Bangladesh, on the other hand, fought against the Pakistani pacers’ deft pace adjustments and made it to the same level under the strain of a huge needed rate. The last stage was somewhat affected by the middle overs, where Bangladeshi fielders squandered a run-out opportunity after dropping three catches.

Pakistan

Pakistan was strangled during the powerplay.

Score for the phase: 27/2 [RR: 4.50, 5/0 for 4s/6s]

Bangladesh chose to bowl first, and in the opening over of the innings, Rishad Hossain sent Sahibzada Farhan back with a fine catch at backward point. Saim Ayub hit to the same fielder at mid-on a few balls later, and his innings was also ended for a duck (his fourth in six innings). On a pitch where scoring runs was difficult, Mustafizur Rahman and Tanzim Sakib bowled in tight channels and took the pace off the ball to prevent Pakistan from getting a move. Pakistan was limited to 27 for 2, the lowest powerplay total in Dubai at Asia Cup, despite three boundaries from Fakhar Zaman after he had lost two early wickets.

Rishad tightens the noose in the middle overs.

56/4 is the phase score. [RR: 6.22, 3/2 for 4s/6s]

With Rishad hitting twice in his opening two overs, Pakistan found it difficult to turn around their innings in the middle overs. Hussain Talat was caught at backward point after Fakhar Zaman holed out to the fielder at long on. It was hard to put the leggie away. Salman Agha, the captain, was caught inside edging Mustafizur Rahman to the ‘keeper for a 23-ball 19 after struggling to get a move on. A more respectable escape to the last overs was made possible by three simple dropped catches by the Bangladeshi fielders, which helped Mohammad Haris and Shaheen Afridi knock some big strokes towards the end of the middle phase.

Nawaz gives a late flourish in the death overs.

52/2 is the phase score. [RR: 10.40, 1/3 for 4s/6s]

Although Haris was unable to contribute much after surviving a run-out after Parvez Hossain Emon threw him at the wrong end, the lost catches in the middle overs cost Bangladesh dearly as Nawaz gave Pakistan a much-needed boost in the last overs. Before going out, he gave Taskin Ahmed a similar treatment in the following over after smashing Mahedi Hasan for a six down the ground. In the final over, Faheem Ashraf contributed 11 valuable runs to help Pakistan reach a respectable total.

Bangladesh

PowerPlay: Pakistan’s early goal

36/3 is the phase score. [RR: 6.00, 1/4 for 4s/6s]

With three goals in the PowerPlay, Pakistan got off to a strong start in defending their total. Bangladesh tried to be aggressive, but they were also unable to gain ground in terms of runs. Shaheen Afridi’s strike in the opening over marked the beginning of Bangladesh’s demise. In the PowerPlay, Afridi bowled three overs and had Towhid Hridoy top edge to backward point. After a sluggish start against Haris Rauf, Saif Hassan pushed the accelerator in the fourth over before succumbing to the pacer in the final PowerPlay over.

Pakistan uses a spin choke in the middle overs.

49/3 is the phase score. [RR: 5.79, 0/6 for 4s/6s]

It was difficult to score runs even if the needed rate wasn’t very strict. Bangladesh was suffocated by Pakistan’s spin combination of Abrar Ahmed, Muhammad Nawaz, and Saim Ayub during the middle overs, and efforts to hit the big shots were not very successful. Mahedi Hasan holed out to the sweeper cover and went inside out against Nawaz. Saim Ayub lofted to the fielder at long range, ending Nurul Hasan’s agonising time in the middle. Even when the needed rate edged above nine runs, Jaker Ali appeared confident and unhurried, but after settling in a little, Saim’s deft usage of line undid him as well.

Death overs: Bangladesh collapses in ruins

Score for the phase: 39/3 [RR: 7.80, 5/1 for 4s/6s]

By the time they got to the last overs, Bangladesh was under a lot of strain. Pakistan’s pacers made full use of their slower deliveries in the favourable conditions that were available. Haris Rauf foxed and cleaned up Tanzim Sakib. To keep Bangladesh in the hunt till the final over, Mustafizur Rahman and Rishad Hossain swung their bats about. At long on, Nawaz made a simple catch, but it wasn’t for Pakistan’s benefit. To keep their hopes alive, Rishad hit Rauf for a six down the ground with 18 runs needed off the final three balls. However, that was the game’s final scoring attempt.

What are these teams going to do next?

While Pakistan will play India for the third time in the current competition, this time in the high-stakes final, Bangladesh’s season is over.

Brief Scores: Pakistan defeated Bangladesh 124/9 in 20 overs (Shamim Hossain 30, Saif Hassan 18; Shaheen Afridi 3-17, Haris Rauf 3-33) by 11 runs with 135/8 in 20 overs (Mohammad Haris 31, Mohammad Nawaz 25; Taskin Ahmed 3-28, Rishad Hossain 2-18).