Pakistan Defeats Bangladesh to Qualify for Asia Cup Final

Pakistan Defeats Bangladesh to Qualify for Asia Cup Final

Pakistan secured their spot in the Asia Cup final after defeating Bangladesh by 11 runs in the Super Four stage at the Dubai Cricket Stadium.

Chasing 136 runs, Bangladesh managed to score 124 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in the allotted overs. Shamim Hossain top-scored with 30 runs, while Saif Hassan added 18, Nurul Hasan 16, Mehidy Hasan 11, Tanzim Hasan Sakib 10, captain Zakir Ali 5, Towhid Hridoy 5, Taskin Ahmed 4, and Parvez Hossain Emon was dismissed for 0. Rishad Hossain (16*) and Mustafizur Rahman (6*) remained unbeaten.

For Pakistan, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf claimed 3 wickets each, while Saim Ayub picked up 2 and Mohammad Nawaz 1.

Earlier, invited to bat first by Bangladesh, Pakistan posted 135 runs for 8 wickets in 20 overs. Mohammad Haris was the top scorer with 31 runs, followed by Mohammad Nawaz (25), Shaheen Shah Afridi (19), captain Salman Agha (19), Fakhar Zaman (13), Sahibzada Farhan (4), and Hussain Talat (3). Faheem Ashraf (14*) and Haris Rauf (3*) returned unbeaten.

Saim Ayub was dismissed for a duck, making it the 9th time in his 45-match T20I career — surpassing Shahid Afridi’s tally to become the second Pakistani player with the most ducks.

For Bangladesh, Taskin Ahmed took 3 wickets, while Rishad Hossain and Mehidy Hasan bagged 2 each, and Mustafizur Rahman claimed 1.

The Asia Cup final will be played on Sunday, September 28, with Pakistan facing arch-rivals India.