In a gripping Super Fours match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Pakistan overcame Bangladesh by 11 runs to set up a highly anticipated Asia Cup 2025 final clash against archrivals India. The encounter, rich with tension and dramatic turns, saw a dominant display from Pakistan’s pace bowling attack, spearheaded by Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf.
As the match unfolded, Pakistan struggled to post a substantive total, ending their innings at 135-8 in 20 overs. Despite their challenging batting effort, highlighted by lower-order contributions from Mohammad Haris (31 off 17), Muhammad Nawaz (25 off 15), and Afridi himself (19 off 13), the team made the most of the tricky Dubai pitch. Taskin Ahmed’s tight opening spell for Bangladesh, complemented by his teammates Mahedi Hasan and Rishad Hossain, put Pakistan under early pressure.
In their chase of 136, Bangladesh’s batting lineup faltered against Pakistan’s formidable bowling. Afridi, with figures of 3-17, dismissed two key batsmen in his opening spell, setting a tone of dominance. Haris Rauf also claimed three wickets, tightening the screws on Bangladesh as they fell short of the target at 124-9 after 20 overs. Part-time bowler Saim Ayub contributed to the bowling attack with an economical 2-16 spell.
Bangladesh’s batting saw fleeting partnerships, with Saif Hasan (18) and Shamim Hossain (30) providing brief resistance. Despite the valiant efforts of lower-order batsman Rishad Hossain, who struck two fours and a six in his short innings, Bangladesh could not overhaul Pakistan’s lead.
With Afridi recognized as the player of the match for his influential all-round performance, the victory sets the stage for a thrilling final against India. The two neighboring nations, with a history of high-stakes cricket confrontations, are scheduled to meet in Dubai on Sunday in what promises to be an electrifying battle. This will mark their first India-Pakistan final in the Asia Cup since the tournament began in 1984. Having already faced each other twice in this tournament, India has secured victories on both occasions.
The anticipation is palpable for the final, combining sporting rivalry with broader regional tensions, ensuring a high-octane showdown as Pakistan seeks redemption and India aims for a clean sweep in the tournament.