Pakistan almost endured a hiccup before their bowlers produced a tremendous comeback to ensure they meet India for the third time at the Asia Cup 2025. Pakistan locking horns with Bangladesh in a virtual knockout tie won the contest by 11 runs. They will now meet India in the summit clash at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday.
Saim Ayub was the pick among the Pakistan bowlers as he spun a web on the opposition and played a key role in helping his side defend a paltry 135. He registered two scalps and leaked just 16 runs in his full quota of overs. Shaheen Shah Afridi also returned with three scalps and conceded just 17 from his four overs. His seam bowling partner Haris Rauf also returned with the same number of scalps and conceded 33 runs in four overs.
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The match got underway with Bangladesh winning the toss and opting to bowl. The team then got off to a dream start and kept Pakistan on backfoot for most part of the innings.
Taskin Ahmed, who sat out of the India encounter, was recalled in the playing XI and it took him just four deliveries to get into the act. Mahedi Hasan then made it two-in-two as Pakistan lost Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub to reduce Pakistan to 5/2 inside two overs.
Rishad Hossain continued his impressive show from the previous match and packed Fakhar Zaman for 13(20). Hossain took his wicket tally to two in his next over, leaving Pakistan reeling at 33/4 in 8.1 overs.
The wickets kept falling and only for some lusty blows by wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Haris, Shaheen Afridi, and Mohammad Nawaz at no. 6, 7, and 8 respectively took Pakistan to 135/8 in 20 overs.
Bangladesh were jolted early in the run chase, something from which they never really could recover. Parvez Hossain Emon was removed for a duck by Shaheen Shah Afridi, following which there was a brief partnership before the pacer put an end to it. By the time the powerplays were over, Bangladesh had already lost four wickets and the pressure kept building. Eventually the team managed 124/9 in 20 overs.
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