Zaman and Abrar Shine as Pakistan Secures Spot in Tri-Series Final Against UAE

Fakhar Zaman delivered an impressive performance, scoring an unbeaten 77, and spinner Abrar Ahmed achieved his career-best bowling figures as Pakistan secured a place in the T20I tri-series final with a 31-run victory over the United Arab Emirates on Thursday.

Zaman played a key role with a dynamic 44-ball 77 for his twelfth T20I half-century while Mohammad Nawaz contributed with a solid 37 off 27 balls, helping Pakistan recover from 80-5 to finish at 171-5 in their allotted 20 overs.

Abrar was instrumental in the bowling attack, taking 4-9 in four economical overs, which limited the UAE to 140-7. Opener Alishan Sharafu provided some resistance, scoring a steady 68 off 51 balls, including four sixes and four fours.

This victory, Pakistan’s third in four matches, not only secured their spot in Sunday’s final but also ensured Afghanistan, set to face the host in the last group match on Friday, would advance.

In other news, India wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia has been ruled out of the Women’s World Cup 2025 due to injury.

UAE’s key players Muhammad Waseem and Asif Khan were dismissed for 19 and 7 respectively, marking UAE’s third consecutive defeat.

Abrar’s previous best bowling performance was 3-19 against Bangladesh in Lahore earlier this year.

Earlier in the match, Pakistan faced early struggles, losing five wickets for just 80 runs in 11.3 overs after opting to bat first.

Openers Saim Ayub scored 11, and Sahibzada Farhan made 16. Captain Salman Agha managed just 7 runs, with Mohammad Haris scoring 14 and Hasan Nawaz 4.

Zaman and Nawaz formed a crucial partnership, adding 91 runs off 51 balls for the sixth wicket to stabilize the innings. This was Zaman’s first half-century in 14 innings since a match against Ireland in Dublin last year, featuring two sixes and ten fours, while Nawaz hit two sixes and three fours.

Their partnership saw a late-onslaught, with 74 runs scored in the last five overs, 42 of which came in the final two.

Nawaz hit three fours and a six in Junaid Siddique’s penultimate over, while Zaman struck five consecutive boundaries off Muhammad Jawadullah’s last over. Spinner Haider Ali was the most effective bowler for UAE, taking 2-17.

This article was published on September 5, 2025.