In a nail-biting Super Fours match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Pakistan’s pace duo Haris Rauf and Shaheen Shah Afridi each grabbed three wickets to spark a stunning comeback. They helped Pakistan edge out Bangladesh by 11 runs in the Men’s T20 Asia Cup on Thursday, securing a spot in the final against rivals India.
This sets up an epic showdown—the first time in 17 editions of the Asia Cup that India and Pakistan will battle for the title. Fans are already buzzing about the high-stakes India-Pakistan cricket rivalry.
Pakistan struggled first on a worn pitch that gripped and turned for spinners. Bangladesh’s bowlers kept things tight, with Taskin Ahmed leading the way at 3-28. Rishad Hossain (2-18), Mustafizur Rahman, and Mahedi Hasan chipped in with crucial strikes. Pakistan could only muster 135-8 in their 20 overs, powered by quick knocks of 31 from Mohammad Haris and 25 from Mohammad Nawaz. They lacked real momentum throughout the innings.
Chasing 136, Bangladesh’s top order crumbled early under Shaheen’s fiery spell. Poor shot choices and mix-ups among batters sped up their downfall. Shamim Hossain fought back with 30 runs, but his wicket to Shaheen triggered a middle-order collapse. Bangladesh limped to 124-9 in 20 overs, with Saif Hassan adding 18.
Shaheen finished with impressive figures of 3-17, while Rauf claimed 3-33 to seal the thriller. Despite holding the edge at the halfway point, Bangladesh’s flat batting couldn’t hold up against Pakistan’s gritty bowling attack.
Brief scores: Pakistan 135-8 in 20 overs (Mohammad Haris 31, Mohammad Nawaz 25; Taskin Ahmed 3-28, Rishad Hossain 2-18) beat Bangladesh 124-9 in 20 overs (Shamim Hossain 30, Saif Hassan 18; Shaheen Shah Afridi 3-17, Haris Rauf 3-33) by 11 runs.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
