Abrar Ahmed Spins Pakistan Into Tri-Series Final With Career-Best 4-9
Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed delivered a dazzling spell of mystery spin as Pakistan booked its place in the T20 tri-series final, defeating the United Arab Emirates by 31 runs on Thursday.
Playing his first game of the series, Ahmed ripped through the UAE top order with carrom balls and googlies, finishing with a career-best 4-9 to restrict the hosts to 140-7 in pursuit of 172. His brilliance extended the tournament’s streak of teams successfully defending totals to five straight matches.
Earlier, left-hander Fakhar Zaman rediscovered form with a blistering unbeaten 77 off 44 balls — his first T20I half-century in 15 games — guiding Pakistan to 171-5. Zaman, dropped twice, found support from Mohammad Nawaz (37*), the pair stitching Pakistan’s highest-ever sixth-wicket partnership in T20 internationals with 91 runs off just 51 balls. Their late surge produced 42 runs in the final two overs.
Pakistan had stumbled to 80-5 in the 12th over after Haider Ali (2-17) struck twice, but Nawaz counterattacked with a four-boundary burst off Junaid Siddique in the 19th over before Zaman finished the innings in style, peppering Mohammad Jawadullah for five consecutive fours.
In reply, UAE struggled from the moment Ahmed entered the attack inside the powerplay. Captain Mohammad Waseem (19) sliced a carrom ball to point, while Ethan D’Souza (9) and Asif Khan fell cheaply. Ahmed then removed Rahul Chopra and Harshit Kaushik in quick succession, leaving UAE reeling at 102-5.
Alishan Sharafu mounted a late fightback with 68 off 51 balls, but his resistance ended when Salman Ali Agha plucked a sharp catch off Shaheen Shah Afridi. With Sharafu gone, UAE’s hopes faded.
Pakistan will now face Afghanistan in Sunday’s final after the latter completes its last league fixture against UAE on Friday.
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