Dubai: Pakistan’s bowlers rose to the occasion when it mattered most, defending a modest total of 135 to beat Bangladesh by 11 runs in Thursday’s Super 4s clash, setting up a maiden Asia Cup final against arch-rivals India.
Amid the simmering off-field tension between India and Pakistan, the Asian Cricket Council and the tournament’s broadcasters will be delighted, as Bangladesh squandered a chase that seemed entirely achievable. They ended on 124 for nine in 20 overs.
Bangladesh’s target could have been easily reached with a bit of cricketing sense, but their batters fell in almost every imaginable way. Shaheen Shah Afridi (3/17 in 4 overs) delivered a brilliant opening spell, claiming two early wickets in the powerplay.
Haris Rauf (3/23 in 3 overs) then removed the danger man Saif Hassan (18), who had begun with two sixes, leaving the rest of the lineup unable to mount a fight. Rauf later cleaned up the tail with pace and precision, finishing the match by landing his last two deliveries on the mark.
Bangladesh struggled particularly against Pakistan’s spin trio—off-spinner Saim Ayub (2/16 in 4 overs), slow left-armer Mohammed Nawaz (1/14 in 3 overs), and wrist-spinner Abrar Ahmed (0/23 in 3 overs)—who controlled the middle overs. Shamim Hossain (30 off 26 balls) compounded their woes with a poorly executed reverse shot off Afridi’s slower delivery in the final over, leaving Bangladesh with no realistic chance of chasing 39 off three overs.
Earlier, Bangladesh’s bowlers had impressed in humid conditions for the second consecutive day, restricting a strong Pakistan batting lineup to 135 for eight in a tense contest. Mustafizur Rahman (1/33 in 4 overs), Taskin Ahmed (3/28 in 4 overs), and leg-spinner Rishad Hossain (2/18 in 4 overs) exploited a tricky pitch, keeping Pakistan’s top order in check.
Mohammed Haris (31 off 23 balls) again showed grit, keeping Pakistan in contention, while Afridi (19) struck a couple of sixes and Nawaz (25 off 15 balls) capitalized on a few lucky breaks. Even when Pakistan’s total looked far from competitive, these innings helped push the score past 125.
The innings began with controversy as opener Sahibzada Farhan (4) edged a rising delivery from Taskin Ahmed, with Rishad Hossain taking a sharp catch at backward point—Taskin’s 100th T20I wicket. Saim Ayub (0) was dismissed for a fourth duck, failing to clear mid-on off Mahedi Hasan (2/28 in 4 overs). Fakhar Zaman (13), Hussain Talat (3), and Salman Ali Agha (19) also fell cheaply before the total reached 50. But Afridi, Haris, and Nawaz’s aggressive hitting, coupled with a few dropped catches, helped Pakistan surpass the 125-run mark.
