Pakistan booked their spot in the Asia Cup final with a thrilling 11-run victory over Bangladesh in their final Super 4 match on Thursday. Despite a shaky batting performance, the Men in Green managed to defend a modest total, setting up a historic rematch against arch-rivals India in the final on Sunday in Dubai. This will mark the first India-Pakistan clash in an Asia Cup final in the tournament’s 41-year history.
India, who have remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, were the first team to secure their place in the grand finale, having already defeated Pakistan twice in recent weeks. However, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha remains confident about his team’s ability to rise to the occasion.
“The way we bowled up front, we created pressure. Bowling well with the new ball often sets the platform for wins,” Salman Agha said during the post-match presentation. He added that Pakistan will return on Sunday to prove themselves once again. “We are a good enough team to beat anyone. We will come back and try to do that.”
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Agha also praised Shaheen Shah Afridi for his crucial contributions, stating, “Shaheen is a special player. He delivers exactly what the team needs, and I’m very happy for him.”
Pakistan’s batting, however, showed signs of vulnerability. The team slumped to 71/6 in 13.3 overs before Mohammad Haris steadied the innings with a quickfire 31 off 23 balls, guiding Pakistan to 135/8. Agha admitted the batting line-up needs to improve ahead of the final. “Everyone played really well, but there’s some improvement needed in batting. We will work on that,” he said.
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The Pakistan bowlers stepped up when it mattered most, defending the modest total to restrict Bangladesh to 124/9 in 20 overs. Their disciplined bowling and timely breakthroughs ensured a tense yet memorable victory, keeping alive Pakistan’s hopes of clinching the continental crown against India in the much-anticipated final.
