After a one-hour delay, Muhammad Waseem won the toss and put Pakistan in at Dubai, a decision driven by the likelihood of evening dew in this must-win Asia Cup fixture. Victory propels the winner into the Super Four alongside India; defeat sends the loser home. Straightforward stakes, then.
The match nearly had another twist. The PCB briefly held its players back, unhappy with referee Jeff Crowe’s handling of Sunday’s India game, but relented once they were satisfied an apology had been offered. With that resolved, both elevens were confirmed.
UAE made a single switch: seamer Simranjeet Singh for the left-armer Muhammad Jawadullah. Waseem laid out the plan in plain terms. “We will try to restrict them,” Waseem said. “It is a do-or-die game. We will take advantage. We had a good game in Abu Dhabi; this is a different game.” His hope is that a slightly tacky surface first up, followed by moisture later, will tilt things towards the chase.
Pakistan, who wanted to bat first anyway, welcomed back the fit-again Haris Rauf and added Khushdil Shah’s left-handed hitting. Leg-spinner Sufiyan Muqeem and all-rounder Faheem Ashraf drop out. Captain Salman Agha kept the pre-match chat notably low key. No rallying cries, just a reminder that a calm powerplay with the bat and “sharp, simple plans” with the ball usually get the job done in Dubai.
On paper Pakistan carry more experience, Shaheen Afridi’s new-ball threat in particular. Yet UAE’s top order pushed India for 15 overs in Abu Dhabi and feel one good stand could again set a target within reach. Both sides brushed aside Oman earlier in the week; both folded to India. Tonight decides who gets another crack.
UAE XI: Alishan Sharafu, Muhammad Waseem (capt), Asif Khan, Muhammad Zohaib, Harshit Kaushik, Rahul Chopra (wk), Dhruv Parashar, Haider Ali, Muhammad Rohid Khan, Simranjeet Singh, Junaid Siddique.
Pakistan XI: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Haris (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Salman Agha (capt), Khushdil Shah, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed.
First ball scheduled 9.30 pm local, assuming no further holds-up.
