DUBAI (Kashmir English): Pakistan on Wednesday beat United Arab Emirates (UAE) in an Asia Cup match to qualify for the Super Four stage of the tournament.
Pakistan won the game by 41 runs after the UAE won the toss and elected to bowl first in their much-delayed men’s Asia Cup encounter.
Pakistan will face India again
The Men in Green will now face arch-rivals India again, in Super Four clash on Sunday.
Shaheen Shah Afridi’s 29 off just 14 balls bolstered Pakistan’s total to 146/9, following a resilient half-century from Fakhar Zaman.
In reply, the UAE faltered despite spirited efforts from Rahul Chopra (35) and Dhruv Parashar (20), with the hosts being bowled out for 105.
The Pakistan-UAE game was set to be held on Wednesday after Zimbabwean referee Andy Pycroft apologised to the Pakistan manager and captain after much uncertainty surrounding the match in the fallout of the Pak-India match last Sunday.
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha at the post-match ceremony said his team didn’t bat at their best yet.
Pakistan were expected to win the match with ease and will now face India again.
Fakhar Zaman hit 50 off just 35 deliveries and got out trying to up the rate. He was the Green Shirts’ sole batter who dominated the UAE bowlers till Shaheen Shah Afridi showed up.
The Green Shirts lost their first wicket in the very first over as Saim continued to have a poor event.
Pakistan had two changes in their team, Haris Rauf and Khushdil Shah were in for Faheem Ashraf and Sufyan Muqeem.
