Pakistan 146-9 (20 overs): Fakhar 50 (35), Shaheen 29* (14); Siddique 4-18, Simranjeet 3-26
UAE yet to bat – Men’s T20 Asia Cup, Colombo
A stop-start afternoon in Colombo ended with Pakistan posting 146 for nine, a total that looked rather light until Shaheen Shah Afridi’s spirited unbeaten 29 from 14 balls lifted it into defendable territory.
The contest began an hour late after the PCB confirmed the match would go ahead, having received what the board called “an apology” from referee Jeff Crowe for Sunday’s India-Pakistan controversy. Once play began, UAE captain Muhammad Waseem had no hesitation in bowling first on a fresh, green surface – a decision instantly justified.
New-ball seamer Junaid Siddique removed Saim Ayub for his third successive duck, then had Sahibzada Farhan mis-pulling to the deep. “We spoke about using the grass and keeping the seam upright,” Siddique explained afterwards. “It came out nicely today.” He finished with career-best T20I figures of 4 for 18, helped by left-arm spinner Simranjeet Singh, whose clever pace changes earned 3 for 26.
For Pakistan, Fakhar Zaman counter-punched with a run-a-ball fifty, twice depositing off-spinner Dhruv Parashar into the leg-side stands. His 61-run alliance with Salman Agha steadied the innings, but wickets continued to fall in clumps: Agha sliced to deep cover, Hasan Nawaz was trapped in front, and Mohammad Nawaz nicked behind as Siddique roared in for his second spell.
At 117 for eight, Pakistan looked adrift. Enter Afridi. The left-hander swung two fours and a towering six in the final over, adding 22 with last man Naseem Shah. Bowling coach Morne Morkel remarked, “Those extra 20 runs can change dressing-room energy; Shaheen showed the value of lower-order bravery.”
Pitch and outfield remain true, and dew is unlikely, so anything above 140 still asks questions. UAE have chased 150-plus only once in this format; Pakistan know the job is half-done but far from finished.
