Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 11 runs in a low-scoring thriller on Thursday, September 25, to make it to the finals of the 2025 Asia Cup.
Thrilling Super Four Showdown Ends in Pakistan’s Favor
Pakistan edged past Bangladesh by 11 runs in a gripping Super Four clash. The match took place on September 25 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Consequently, Pakistan booked their spot in the Asia Cup 2025 final against India. Both teams entered the game with everything on the line. However, Pakistan’s all-round performance proved decisive in the end.
Toss and Team Decisions Set the Stage
Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bowl first. Surprisingly, they left out skipper Litton Das despite his strong record. Instead, Jaker Ali led the side and made three changes. Meanwhile, Pakistan stuck with their unchanged XI. This decision later paid dividends for the Men in Green.
Pakistan’s Batting Collapses Early
Pakistan’s innings began disastrously as they lost two wickets inside the powerplay. Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub fell cheaply to Taskin Ahmed. After that, Fakhar Zaman and Salman Agha tried to rebuild. Unfortunately, they too perished quickly. At 49/5 in 11 overs, Pakistan looked headed for a sub-100 total.
Late Flourish Lifts Pakistan to 135
Shaheen Afridi arrived at No. 7 and smashed a fearless 19 off just 13 balls. Then, Mohammad Haris and Mohammad Nawaz added a vital 38-run stand. As a result, Pakistan posted 135/8 in their 20 overs. Although modest, the total became defendable thanks to Dubai’s slow pitch.
Pacers Strike Early in Bangladesh Innings
Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf delivered a dream start with the new ball. They ripped through Bangladesh’s top order inside the powerplay. Parvez Hossain Emon, Towhid Hridoy, and Saif Hassan fell quickly. Therefore, Bangladesh found themselves reeling at 29/3 before the fielding restrictions ended.
Spinners Maintain the Stranglehold
Mohammad Nawaz and Saim Ayub choked the middle overs brilliantly. Nawaz dismissed Mahedi Hasan while Ayub trapped Jaker Ali plumb in front. Moreover, Bangladesh kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Consequently, their chase never gained momentum despite Shamim Hossain’s resistance.
Rauf’s Heroics Seal the Game
Haris Rauf returned in the death overs with fire in his eyes. He dismissed Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Taskin Ahmed in the same over. Earlier, he had suffered a minor scare but returned stronger. Ultimately, Bangladesh folded for 124/9 in 20 overs. Thus, Pakistan won by 11 runs in a virtual semi-final.
Star Performers Shine Under Pressure
Shaheen Afridi stood tall with both bat and ball. He scored 19 runs and claimed 3/17 in his four-over spell. Likewise, Haris Rauf finished with 3/28. On the other hand, Taskin Ahmed and Rishad Hossain bowled well for Bangladesh. Sadly, their efforts went in vain due to batting frailties.
Historic Final Beckons for Pakistan
This victory sets up a blockbuster final against India on September 28. It will be the first India-Pakistan final in Asia Cup history after 41 years. Fans across the subcontinent are already buzzing with excitement. Undoubtedly, Dubai will witness a high-voltage showdown this Sunday.
Why Pakistan Had the Edge
Pakistan enjoyed a slight rest advantage over Bangladesh. Also, their head-to-head record favored them heavily—20 wins in 25 T20Is. Furthermore, Google’s win predictor had given them a 70% chance pre-match. All these factors combined to tilt the game in their favor.