Dubai, 26 September (Shahi)
The Asia Cup 2025 Super Four match between Pakistan and Bangladesh, played on September 25, 2025, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, was a thrilling low-scoring encounter that saw Pakistan secure an 11-run victory, earning them a spot in the final against India. Below is a comprehensive overview of the match based on available reports.
Match Overview
- Event: Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025, 17th Match, Super Fours
- Date: September 25, 2025
- Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai, UAE
- Result: Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 11 runs
- Player of the Match: Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pakistan) – 19 runs off 13 balls & 3 wickets for 17 runs
- Toss: Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bowl first
- Match Type: T20 International
Pakistan Innings
Pakistan posted a total of 135/8 in 20 overs, a modest score on a used pitch offering variable bounce and turn. The innings was a struggle for Pakistan’s top order, but contributions from the lower-middle order and some resilience helped them reach a competitive total.
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- Batting Highlights:
- Top Scorers:
- Mohammad Haris: 31 runs off 23 balls, providing a crucial cameo.
- Mohammad Nawaz: 25 runs off 15 balls, adding impetus with a 38-run partnership alongside Haris.
- Shaheen Shah Afridi: 19 runs off 13 balls, promoted up the order to No. 7, dropped twice during his breezy knock.
- Salman Ali Agha: 19 runs, showing intent but unable to convert into a big score.
- Early Collapse: Pakistan lost openers Sahibzada Farhan (4 runs) and Saim Ayub (0 runs) early, slumping to 27/2 inside the powerplay. By the ninth over, they were reeling at 37/4 after losing Fakhar Zaman and Hussain Talat.
- Middle-Order Struggles: The top order failed to stabilize, with Bangladesh’s bowlers exploiting the tricky surface. Pakistan were 49/5 after 11 overs.
- Late Recovery: The partnership between Haris and Nawaz, along with Afridi’s contribution, dragged Pakistan to a defendable 135. The team hit only five sixes in their innings, reflecting the challenging batting conditions.
- Top Scorers:
- Bangladesh Bowling:
- Taskin Ahmed: 3 wickets for 28 runs, including the early dismissal of Sahibzada Farhan.
- Rishad Hossain: 2 wickets for 18 runs, bowling tightly and breaking partnerships.
- Mahedi Hasan: Contributed to keeping Pakistan’s scoring in check, though specific figures weren’t detailed in all sources.
- Bangladesh’s disciplined bowling, particularly in the middle overs, restricted Pakistan’s momentum, but dropped catches (notably Afridi twice) cost them a chance to bowl Pakistan out for less.
Bangladesh Innings
Chasing a target of 136 runs (required run rate of 6.8 runs per over), Bangladesh finished at 124/9 in 20 overs, falling short by 11 runs. Their chase was derailed by early wickets, aggressive shot-making that didn’t suit the pitch, and Pakistan’s disciplined bowling attack.
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- Batting Highlights:
- Top Scorer: Shamim Hossain – 30 runs off 25 balls (2 sixes), the highest score for Bangladesh, but not enough to anchor the chase.
- Other Contributions:
- Saif Hassan: 18 runs off 15 balls (1 four, 2 sixes).
- Nurul Hasan: 16 runs off 21 balls (1 six).
- Rishad Hossain: 16 runs off 11 balls (2 fours, 1 six), unbeaten but too late to make a difference.
- Mustafizur Rahman: 6 runs off 4 balls (1 four), also unbeaten.
- Key Moments:
- Bangladesh started cautiously but lost Parvez Hossain Emon for a duck in the first over to Shaheen Afridi.
- By the end of the powerplay, Bangladesh were 23/3, with Afridi and Haris Rauf claiming early wickets, including Towhid Hridoy (5 runs).
- The middle overs saw Bangladesh lose wickets at regular intervals, with Saim Ayub’s spin (2/16) and Mohammad Nawaz’s tight bowling (1/14) stifling the chase.
- Despite hitting seven sixes (more than Pakistan’s five), Bangladesh’s aggressive approach led to frequent dismissals, as they kept holing out while searching for big shots on a pitch not conducive to such play.
- The fall of wickets included key players like Jaker Ali (5 runs) and Shamim Hossain, with Bangladesh collapsing to 97/8 by the 17th over.
- Pakistan Bowling:
- Shaheen Shah Afridi: 4 overs, 3 wickets for 17 runs (economy 4.25), dismissing Parvez Hossain Emon, Towhid Hridoy, and Shamim Hossain.
- Haris Rauf: 4 overs, 3 wickets for 33 runs (economy 8.25), removing Saif Hassan, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, and Taskin Ahmed.
- Saim Ayub: 4 overs, 2 wickets for 16 runs (economy 4.00), picking up Nurul Hasan and Jaker Ali.
- Mohammad Nawaz: 3 overs, 1 wicket for 14 runs (economy 4.66), dismissing Mahedi Hasan.
- Faheem Ashraf (2 overs, 0/18) and Abrar Ahmed (3 overs, 0/23) provided support but didn’t take wickets.
- Pakistan’s bowlers, particularly their pacers in the powerplay and spinners in the middle overs, exploited the pitch’s turn and grip to keep Bangladesh under pressure.
- Fall of Wickets:
- 1/1 (Parvez Hossain Emon, 0.5 overs)
- 23/2 (Towhid Hridoy, 4.2 overs)
- 29/3 (Saif Hassan, 5.1 overs)
- 44/4 (Mahedi Hasan, 8 overs)
- 63/5 (Nurul Hasan, 11.4 overs)
- 73/6 (Jaker Ali, 13.5 overs)
- 97/7 (Shamim Hossain, 16.5 overs)
- 97/8 (Tanzim Hasan Sakib, 17.2 overs)
- 101/9 (Taskin Ahmed, 17.4 overs)
Key Moments and Analysis
- Pitch Conditions: The Dubai pitch was described as used, offering variable bounce and sharp turn, which made batting challenging. Both teams struggled to play fluent shots, and the match was characterized by a low-scoring, attritional battle.
- Pakistan’s Recovery: Despite a top-order collapse, Pakistan’s lower-middle order (Haris, Nawaz, and Afridi) showed resilience to post a defendable total. Their ability to scrap to 135 proved crucial.
- Bangladesh’s Tactical Error: Bangladesh’s aggressive batting approach, particularly their pursuit of sixes (seven in total), was ill-suited to the pitch. They matched Pakistan’s sixes by the tenth over but kept losing wickets to reckless shots, leading to their downfall.
- Pakistan’s Bowling Strategy: Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf’s early strikes in the powerplay set the tone, while spinners Saim Ayub and Mohammad Nawaz applied the squeeze in the middle overs, exploiting the pitch’s grip and turn.
- Impact Performances:
- Shaheen Afridi’s all-round contribution (19 runs and 3/17) earned him the Player of the Match award.
- Saim Ayub, despite a duck with the bat, redeemed himself with 2/16, proving his value as a part-time spinner.
- Haris Rauf’s fiery spell (3/33) was instrumental in breaking Bangladesh’s middle order.
Teams
- Pakistan Playing XI: Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha (c), Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed
- Bangladesh Playing XI: Saif Hassan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Jaker Ali (wk/c), Nurul Hasan, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Mustafizur Rahman
Post-Match Implications
- Pakistan’s Qualification: The victory secured Pakistan’s place in the Asia Cup 2025 final against India, scheduled for September 28, 2025, in Dubai. This marked the first India-Pakistan final in the T20 format of the Asia Cup and the first in any Asia Cup format in 17 editions.
- Bangladesh’s Exit: Bangladesh’s loss eliminated them from the tournament, despite earlier wins in the Super Fours against Sri Lanka. Their inability to adapt to the pitch conditions and manage the chase cost them a chance at the final.
- Context in Super Fours: Pakistan had lost to India but beaten Sri Lanka in earlier Super Four matches, while Bangladesh had defeated Sri Lanka but lost to India. This match was effectively a semi-final eliminator.
