Pakistan defeats UAE by 41 runs to qualify for Super Four

Pakistan earned a convincing 41-run victory over the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the final group match held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday. Following the win, Pakistan advances to the Super Four stage of the tournament. 

Opening batter, Fakhar Zaman starred with a half-century, scoring 50 runs off 36 balls, while Shaheen Afridi played an important finishing role with 29 not out from 14 deliveries, helping Pakistan post a competitive total of 146 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs. In response, the UAE struggled to maintain the chase and were bowled out for 105 runs.

Pakistan’s bowling attack, led by Shaheen Afridi, who took two wickets along with Haris Rauf and Abrar Ahmed, was quite assertive, with Junaid Siddique’s 4 for 18 not enough to steer UAE to victory.

This match was not without its off-field drama. Pakistan had initially threatened to pull out of the tournament following the controversial no-handshake incident involving match referee Andy Pycroft during their earlier Asia Cup clash against India on September 14, 2025.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) strongly objected to Pycroft barring the captain and players from the customary handshake, demanding his removal from officiating their next match.

However, Pycroft later issued an apology for the “miscommunication” surrounding the no-handshake incident, as confirmed by the PCB. This apology paved the way for Pakistan to continue in the Asia Cup and participate in the match against the UAE, which had been delayed by an hour due to this controversy.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has expressed willingness to investigate the matter further if the PCB provides additional evidence.

With this win, Pakistan now prepares to face their arch-rivals India once again in the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup. The rivalry between the two countries is set to continue with another tough encounter scheduled for this Sunday, and it is expected to gather traction as the winner of the match will qualify for a spot in the final game.