Fakhar Zaman struck his first T20I half-century in over a year and spinner Abrar Ahmed delivered career-best figures as Pakistan sealed a 31-run victory against United Arab Emirates in the T20I tri-series in Dubai on 4 september, securing their place in Sunday’s final.
Pakistan’s innings wobbled after choosing to bat first, slipping to 80-5 inside 12 overs. Openers Saim Ayub (11) and Sahibzada Farhan (16) departed cheaply, while skipper Salman Agha (7), Mohammad Haris (14) and Hasan Nawaz (4) also failed to settle.
Fakhar Zaman, however, anchored the innings with an unbeaten 44-ball 77, his 12th T20I half-century and his first since may 2023 against Ireland. He struck ten fours and two sixes in a fluent display.
Partnered by Mohammad Nawaz, who smashed 37 not out off 27 balls, the pair added 91 runs for the sixth wicket. Their late assault yielded 74 runs from the final five overs, including 42 from the last two. Nawaz punished Junaid Siddique with three fours and a six in the penultimate over, while Zaman hammered five consecutive boundaries off Muhammad Jawadullah’s last six balls.
Pakistan closed on 171-5 from 20 overs.
UAE’s chase faltered early, with key hitters Muhammad Waseem (19) and Asif Khan (7) failing to make an impact. Only opener Alishan Sharafu offered resistance, crafting a defiant 68 off 51 balls with four fours and four sixes.
Abrar Ahmed proved unplayable, taking 4-9 in his four overs – the best figures of his T20I career, surpassing his 3-19 against Bangladesh in Lahore earlier this year. Supported by Haider Ali (2-17), he restricted UAE to 140-7, condemning the hosts to their third straight defeat.
The result confirmed Pakistan’s passage to the final with three wins in four matches. Afghanistan also secured their place, regardless of the outcome of their final group match against UAE on 5 september.
