Pakistan Edge Bangladesh to Set Up Historic Asia Cup Final Clash with India
Dubai witnessed a tense finish on Thursday night as Pakistan held their nerve to defeat Bangladesh by 11 runs, sealing their place in the Asia Cup final against arch-rivals India on Sunday. It will be the first-ever time the two giants meet in an Asia Cup final, adding extra spice to an already high-voltage rivalry.
The hard-fought win was Pakistan’s second in the Super Four stage, ensuring their progression to the summit clash. The build-up to Sunday’s blockbuster has already intensified, especially after the controversial endings to the two group-stage encounters between India and Pakistan earlier in the tournament, where players notably refrained from shaking hands post-match.
“We are really looking forward to the final,” skipper Salman Agha said after the game. “We back ourselves to beat anyone, and we’ll be fully ready when we face India on Sunday.”
Pakistan’s Batting Struggles
Sent in to bat after losing the toss, Pakistan found the going tough on a slow Dubai pitch. Taskin Ahmed spearheaded Bangladesh’s attack with figures of 3/28, while spinners Rishad Hossain and Mahedi Hasan claimed two wickets each to keep Pakistan in check.
Pakistan’s top order faltered yet again – Sahibzada Farhan departed cheaply for 4, while Saim Ayub recorded his fourth duck of the tournament. Fakhar Zaman (13) and captain Salman Agha (19) offered little resistance.
The innings was steadied by a vital seventh-wicket stand of 38 runs between Mohammad Haris (31) and Mohammad Nawaz (25 off 15, with two sixes and a boundary). Their counter-attack lifted Pakistan to a modest 135/8 in 20 overs.
Bangladesh Fall Short
Chasing 136, Bangladesh never found momentum. Pakistan’s pace duo of Shaheen Shah Afridi (3/17) and Haris Rauf (3/33) ripped through the batting lineup with fiery spells. Shamim Hossain fought back with 30 off 25 balls, while Saif Hassan added 18, but the required rate kept climbing.
Despite a few late hits, Bangladesh finished on 124/9, falling just short of the target.
Afridi, who also chipped in with a cameo of 19 off 13 balls – including two towering sixes – and survived two dropped catches, was named Player of the Match.
Head-to-Head in Finals
The upcoming clash will be the sixth final between India and Pakistan in a multi-team limited-overs tournament. So far, Pakistan hold the edge with three wins to India’s two.
India’s wins: Benson & Hedges World Championship of Cricket (1985), T20 World Cup (2007).
Pakistan’s wins: Austral-Asia Cup (1986, 1994), Champions Trophy (2017).
With both sides carrying fiery form and history on their shoulders, Sunday’s final promises to be nothing short of an epic.
| Year | Tournament | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Benson & Hedges World Championship of Cricket | Melbourne Cricket Ground | India beat Pakistan by 8 wickets |
| 1986 | Austral-Asia Cup | Sharjah | Pakistan beat India by 1 wicket |
| 1994 | Austral-Asia Cup | Sharjah | Pakistan beat India by 39 runs |
| 2007 | T20 World Cup | Johannesburg | India beat Pakistan by 5 runs |
| 2017 | Champions Trophy | The Oval | Pakistan beat India by 180 runs |
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