A powerful unbeaten knock from Fakhar Zaman and a career-best bowling display by spinner Abrar Ahmed guided Pakistan to a 31-run victory over the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Thursday, sealing their place in the T20 tri-series final.
Fakhar smashed a blistering 44-ball 77 not out, his 12th T20I half-century, to revive Pakistan after an early collapse. He was well supported by all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz, who struck an unbeaten 37 off 27 balls, as the pair added 91 runs for the sixth wicket to steer Pakistan to 171-5 in their allotted 20 overs.
Pakistan had slipped to 80-5 in 11.3 overs after losing openers Saim Ayub (11) and Sahibzada Farhan (16) cheaply, along with skipper Salman Ali Agha (7), Mohammad Haris (14), and Hasan Nawaz (4). Fakhar and Nawaz then launched a brutal counterattack, hammering 74 runs in the last five overs and 42 off the last two overs. Nawaz hit three fours and two sixes, while Fakhar finished with ten boundaries and two sixes, including five consecutive fours off Mohammad Jawadullah in the final over.
“Fakhar is a match-winner — he doesn’t always get the respect he deserves but he showed his class today,” captain Salman said after the match. “Credit also goes to Nawaz; they gave us those extra 20 runs.”
In reply, UAE managed only 140-7, with young opener Alishan Sharafu fighting a lone battle with 68 off 51 balls, hitting four sixes and as many fours. However, wickets fell regularly at the other end as Abrar Ahmed spun through the middle order, finishing with 4-9 in four overs — his best-ever T20I figures.
Shaheen Shah Afridi and Nawaz chipped in with one wicket apiece, while UAE’s big-hitters Mohammad Waseem (19) and Asif Khan (7) failed to deliver, leaving the hosts winless in the series.
Abrar credited his success to careful planning. “I was watching earlier matches and studying the pitch conditions, so I bowled accordingly. There is always extra pressure, but the captain told me to be ready at any stage,” he said.
The victory, Pakistan’s third in four games, secured their place in Sunday’s tri-series final alongside Afghanistan, who advanced after UAE’s defeat.
