Fakhar and Abrar shine as Pakistan storm into the final

Fakhar and Abrar shine as Pakistan storm into the final

Hosts UAE are eliminated following a lackluster performance in the field, ultimately falling short in their pursuit of 172 runs.

Fakhar Zaman achieved a score of 77 not out from 44 deliveries, during the UAE vs Pakistan match in Sharjah, UAE T20I tri-series, on September 4, 2025.

Fakhar Zaman achieved a score of 77 not out from 44 deliveries Emirates Cricket Board

Pakistan posted 171 for 5 (Zaman 77*, Nawaz 37*, Haider 2-17) defeating UAE who scored 140 for 7 (Sharafu 68, Abrar 4-9, Afridi 1-23) by a margin of 31 runs.

Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Nawaz capitalized on a series of errors in the field by the UAE, aiding Pakistan in recovering from a precarious position of 80 for 5 to secure a 31-run victory. After setting a target of 172 for UAE, Abrar Ahmed, making his debut in this series, effectively dismantled the top and middle order, dismissing Muhammad Waseem, Asif Khan, Rahul Chopra, and Harshit Kaushik. The UAE ultimately succumbed with minimal resistance, ensuring that both Pakistan and Afghanistan advance to the final on Sunday, while the hosts are eliminated.

Pakistan encountered difficulties shortly after winning the toss and choosing to bat. Sahibzada Farhan started briskly once again but lacked the ability to sustain his innings, getting caught at the short onside boundary. This marks the fourth consecutive match in which he has failed to convert a promising start, and Saim Ayub followed suit shortly thereafter

UAE managed to rein in Pakistan after the powerplay, but their sloppiness in the field foreshadowed what was to come. After Zaman and Nawaz were both dropped following an impressive over from Haider Ali, Pakistan seized the opportunity to unleash their batting, amassing 69 runs in the final four overs to reach a total of 171.

The response from the hosts never truly gained momentum, as if they were uncertain about how to pace their chase. Waseem was unusually cautious, and Alishan Sharafu did not exhibit the same aggression at the top of the order as he would later demonstrate during his half-century.