Pakistan endured a mixed outing with the bat in their Asia Cup group-stage encounter against the United Arab Emirates, finishing on 146/9 after 20 overs. Fakhar Zaman was the standout performer, anchoring the innings with a fluent half-century. His knock of 50 off 36 deliveries provided some stability after Pakistan lost wickets in quick succession at the start. Saim Ayub fell for a duck, and other top-order batters struggled to get going on a pitch offering grip and some assistance for the seamers.
Zaman combined with skipper Salman Ali Agha to rebuild through a 61-run partnership, but once Zaman was dismissed, Pakistan’s innings lost momentum. The UAE bowlers, led by Junaid Siddique and Simranjeet Singh, kept things tight and capitalized on Pakistan’s middle-order jitters. Junaid delivered a game-changing spell, taking four wickets for just 18 runs, while Simranjeet chipped in with three crucial breakthroughs, including Zaman’s wicket at a crucial juncture.
Pakistan’s lower order was largely ineffective until Shaheen Shah Afridi stepped up with a late cameo, smashing 29 off 14 balls to push the score towards respectability. His aggressive hitting in the final overs ensured Pakistan had something to bowl at, even if the total was below par by their usual standards.
For UAE, this was one of their most disciplined bowling performances of the tournament. Their bowlers maintained good lines and lengths, used slower deliveries smartly, and fielded with intensity to keep Pakistan under pressure. The crowd at the stadium got behind UAE’s spirited effort, sensing a potential upset as Pakistan continued to lose wickets at regular intervals.
The 146-run total set up an intriguing second innings. While Pakistan still had a world-class bowling attack to defend the score, the momentum appeared to be with UAE, who had restricted a major side to a chaseable target. The result left fans anticipating a competitive chase, with the possibility of a major shock in the tournament if UAE’s top order could build a solid platform.
This innings was a reminder that Pakistan’s batting vulnerabilities remain a concern. Despite Zaman’s form and Afridi’s late blitz, the team will need a more consistent effort from the middle order going forward if they are to dominate stronger opponents in the Super 4 stage. For UAE, this performance further underlined their growing credentials as a competitive side capable of troubling top-tier nations, not just with the bat but with sharp bowling and fielding.
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