Fakhar and Abrar Power Pakistan vs UAE Won to Reach Tri-Series Final
Pakistan stormed into the tri-nation T20I series final with a convincing 31-run victory over the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Thursday. The match witnessed two standout performances — Fakhar Zaman’s explosive batting and Abrar Ahmed’s sensational bowling spell — that turned the game decisively in Pakistan’s favor.
Fakhar Zaman Leads Pakistan’s Recovery
Pakistan, after opting to bat first, found themselves struggling at 80-5 in the 12th over, with early wickets putting pressure on the middle order. Openers Saim Ayub (11) and Sahibzada Farhan (16) failed to convert their starts, while captain Salman Ali Agha (7) and Mohammad Haris (14) also departed cheaply.
At this crucial stage, Fakhar Zaman stood tall, smashing an unbeaten 77 off just 44 balls, decorated with 10 fours and two sixes. It was his first half-century in 14 innings, dating back to May 2024 against Ireland in Dublin. His aggressive stroke play shifted the momentum back to Pakistan.
Mohammad Nawaz’s Late Fireworks
Fakhar was ably supported by Mohammad Nawaz, who played a blistering knock of 37 not out from 27 deliveries. Together, they built a match-defining 91-run partnership for the sixth wicket, rescuing Pakistan from collapse.
The final overs saw a flurry of boundaries — with 74 runs scored in the last five overs and 42 in the final two overs. Nawaz struck three fours and a six in Junaid Siddique’s penultimate over, while Fakhar hammered five consecutive boundaries off Mohammad Jawadullah in the 20th over.
Thanks to their heroics, Pakistan set a competitive total of 171-5 in 20 overs.
Abrar Ahmed’s Magical Spell
In reply, UAE made a promising start through Alishan Sharafu, who fought hard with a brilliant 68 off 51 balls. However, wickets kept tumbling at the other end.
Enter Abrar Ahmed — Pakistan’s mystery spinner, who delivered a career-best spell of 4 wickets for just 9 runs in 4 overs. His variations and control dismantled the UAE batting lineup, ensuring Pakistan maintained their dominance.
His victims included Mohammad Waseem (19), Asif Khan (7), R. Chopra (0), and H. Kaushik (3). Abrar’s spell not only broke partnerships but also killed UAE’s chances of chasing down the target.
UAE’s Struggles Despite Sharafu’s Resistance
While Alishan Sharafu’s 68 (including four sixes and four boundaries) kept UAE in the hunt, the lack of support from the other batters meant the hosts fell short. UAE eventually managed 140-7 in 20 overs, losing their third straight game of the series.
Captain’s Praise and Player Reflections
After the match, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha lauded his teammates:
“Fakhar and Nawaz played outstandingly well. Fakhar is a match-winner — he doesn’t always get the respect he deserves, but he showed his class today.”
Meanwhile, Abrar credited his success to preparation:
“I was watching the earlier matches and observing pitch conditions. I bowled accordingly. The captain asked me to stay ready, and it paid off.”
Road to the Tri-Series Final
This win marked Pakistan’s third victory in four games, sealing their place in Sunday’s tri-series final. The result also confirmed Afghanistan’s qualification for the decider, regardless of the outcome of their final group-stage clash against UAE.
With their batting and bowling firing at the right time, Pakistan now head into the final with strong momentum and renewed confidence.
Score Summary
Pakistan – 171/5 (20 overs)
Fakhar Zaman – 77* (44)
Mohammad Nawaz – 37* (27)
Haider Ali – 2/17
UAE – 140/7 (20 overs)
Alishan Sharafu – 68 (51)
Abrar Ahmed – 4/9 (4 overs)
Shaheen Afridi – 1/23
Result: Pakistan won by 31 runs
Conclusion
The Sharjah clash was a reminder of Pakistan’s depth and resilience. Fakhar Zaman’s return to form and Abrar Ahmed’s magical spell were the highlights of a dominant win that propelled Pakistan into the tri-series final.
Fans will be eager to see if Pakistan can carry this momentum into the decider and claim the trophy with similar authority.
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