Pakistan enters final as Bangladesh slips up

It was a classic case of the occasion getting the better of Bangladesh as it fluffed a 136-run chase at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Thursday (September 25, 2025), setting up the first-ever Asia Cup final between archrivals Pakistan and India.

With 39 runs needed off 20 balls, Bangladesh’s hopes were riding on Shamim Hossain. But when the left-hander reverse-scooped a back-of-the-hand slower delivery from Shaheen Shah Afridi behind point, the Tigers’ challenge was all but over.

Afridi was hostile in the PowerPlay and accounted for Parvez Hossain Emon and Towhid Hridoy. Haris Rauf, bowling with searing pace, drew a fatal leading edge to remove key batter, Saif Hassan, and Bangladesh played catch-up since.

Bangladesh’s brittle middle-order was tentative against the spinners, with the batters getting into position too early, and Mohammad Nawaz and Saim Ayub cashed in by picking three wickets between them.

Earlier, Pakistan’s lower-order was left to pick up the pieces. The 38-run seventh-wicket stand between Mohammad Haris and Nawaz was the biggest of the innings, while Afridi’s 13-ball 19 was the most entertaining knock.

Promoted to No. 7, Afridi flirted with danger before breaking free with two humongous sixes on the leg side. After being dropped twice, it took wicketkeeper Jaker Ali’s spirited sprint to midwicket to put an end to Afridi’s adventurism.

Rishad was all over Pakistan like a rash and was involved in all of the first four wickets it lost. He caught Sahibzada Farhan’s and Fakhar Zaman at backward point and long-off, respectively, before dismissing Saim and Hussain Talat.

Pakistan captain Salman Agha was assured against the spinners, but a cutter from left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman was his undoing, leaving Pakistan reeling at 49 for five. From there, Agha’s men turned things around to clinch an 11-run win.

The scores: Pakistan 135/8 in 20 overs (Mohammad Haris 31, Mohammad Nawaz 25, Taskin Ahmed 3/28) beat Bangladesh 124/9 in 20 overs (Shamim Hossain 30, Shaheen Shah Afridi 3/17, Haris Rauf 3/33). Toss: Bangladesh.