Pakistan Vs UAE Highlights, Asia Cup: PAK Win By 41 Runs, Join India In Super Fours | UAE 105 All Out (17.4)

Welcome to the live coverage of the Pakistan Vs UAE clash at the 2025 Asia Cup taking place at the Dubai International Stadium, Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, September 17.

Pakistan are reportedly set to forfeit their Asia Cup 2025 Group A match against UAE after the ICC refused to remove Andy Pycroft as match referee, handing UAE a Super 4 spot.

Reports says that the match has been delayed by an hour. Officials and teams are yet to clarify the next steps, and fans are waiting for more updates on the situation.

We have confirmation now that the match has indeed been delayed by one hour. Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi has posted on X (formerly Twitter): "We have asked the Pakistan team to depart for the Dubai Cricket Stadium. Further details to follow."

If at all Pakistan do not forfeit it and the match goes through, the toss will be held at 8:30pm IST. We should have an update from the Pakistan camp before that.

It is a must win game for both the teams. In case, Pakistan boycott this they will be eliminated from the tournament. As of now, the toss has been delayed.

Despite Pakistan’s protests and requests, it's been reported that Andy Pycroft will remain the match referee for today’s Asia Cup clash against UAE.

Earlier, multiple sources confirmed that the PCB had indeed threatened to boycott the match entirely, citing unresolved grievances over the controversial 'no handshake' incident during their previous clash with India. Many Indian outlets reported that the boycott was already in effect, with players told to remain in their rooms.

Update: The Pakistan team has arrived at Dubai International Stadium. The toss is scheduled for 7:00 PM local time, with the first ball set to be bowled at 7:30 PM as the Asia Cup clash gets ready to begin.

The Pakistan players are warming up ahead of the toss. They huddle together as coach Mike Hesson addresses the team, followed by captain Salman Agha. A must-win clash for the Men in Green.

Toss Update: Andy Pycroft is walking out to the middle for the toss. Despite earlier protests, he will remain the match referee for today’s Pakistan vs UAE Asia Cup 2025 clash.

UAE have won the toss and they have decided to bowl first. "Going to bowl first. Today the way the weather is, dew will play a role. Will try to restrict them to a low total. It's a do or die game. We had a good game in Abu Dhabi." UAE Captain Muhammad Waseem said.

"We wanted to bat first and put them under scoreboard pressure. Great day for us to play a perfect game. They're a very good side. If we execute our plans for longer periods, we have a chance against any side." Pakistan Captain Salman Agha said.

UAE: Alishan Sharafu, Muhammad Waseem(c), Asif Khan, Muhammad Zohaib, Harshit Kaushik, Rahul Chopra(w), Dhruv Parashar, Haider Ali, Muhammad Rohid Khan, Simranjeet Singh, Junaid Siddique

Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Haris(w), Fakhar Zaman, Salman Agha(c), Khushdil Shah, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed

PCB statement: "The ICC's match referee, Andy Pycroft, has apologised to the manager and captain of the Pakistan cricket team.

"Andy Pycroft had barred the captains of India and Pakistan from shaking hands during their match.

"The Pakistan Cricket Board had strongly reacted to Andy Pycroft's actions.

"Andy Pycroft termed the September 14 incident a result of miscommunication and apologised.

"The ICC has expressed its willingness to conduct an inquiry into the code of conduct violation that occurred during the September 14 match."

After all that drama and delayed start, Pakistan make an inauspicious start to their innings against UAE. Saim Ayub slashes at a short and wide delivery by Junaid Siddique in the opening over, only to be caught by Muhammad Rohid at deep third. It's a third consecutive duck for Ayub, a statistic that would not surely not please him or Pakistan.

PAK 3/1 (1)

Junaid Siddique dislodges Pakistan's second opener, Sahibzada Farhan, too. He cramps the batter for room and the right-hander ends up miscuing a lofted shot to Muhammad Zohaib in the third over.

But Fakhar Zaman arrives at the crease, determined to make the most of the powerplay restrictions. He dispatches Dhruv Parashar for back-to-back sixes to make his intentions clear and Pakistan stabilize.

PAK 39/2 (6)

Salman Ali Agha has joined Fakhar Zaman but started quite sluggishly. While Zaman is striking at over 150, the Pakistan captain is unable to break the shackles yet and is batting at 19 off 24 balls. The Men In Green, thus only manage to score 67 runs off the first 10 overs. Let's see how many they get in the last 10.

PAK 67/2 (10)

Salman Ali Agha's struggle ends as he perishes to Dhruv Parashar in the pursuit of breaking free, for a 27-ball 20. Fakhar Zaman, meanwhile carries on to get to a vital half-century. But Simranjeet Singh foxes him soon after, having the southpaw caught at short extra cover.

UAE's slow bowlers continue to do a fantastic job.

PAK 86/4 (13.1)

Simranjeet Singh is weaving a web around the Pakistan batters. The Indian-origin left-arm spinner snares his third wicket in the form of Khushdil Shah, who holes out to deep midwicket. The lack of pace supplied by the tweaker is proving to be batter after Pakistan batter's undoing, as Simranjeet finishes with figures of 3/26 off his four overs.

PAK 105/6 (16)

It takes an invaluable 14-ball 29 from Shaheen Shah Afridi lower down the order to drag Pakistan to a respectable 146-run total in 20 overs. UAE continued to chip away with the ball and despite the late onslaught, would fancy their chances of chasing down this total. Can Pakistan avoid a massive upset? Find out soon.

PAK 146/9 (20)

Alishan Sharafu and UAE captain Muhammad Waseem get their chase underway. Shaheen Shah Afridi has the ball in hand and he is welcomed with a cracking first-ball boundary by Sharafu. Afridi responds well with a nip-backer but Sharafu survives. This promises to be an engrossing contest.

UAE 6/0 (1)

UAE are taking the attack to Pakistan in the powerplay. Alishan Sharafu hits an 8-ball 12 before playing on to Shaheen Afridi, but skipper Muhammad Waseem has continued strongly. The top-order has shown intent and the asking rate is down to seven an over.

UAE 35/1 (4)

Pakistan have turned things around admirably with the ball. Just like the UAE spinners, but the Men In Green's tweakers are also getting the ball to grip and making stroke-making difficult. Muhammad Waseem perishes to Abrar Ahmed as Mohammad Nawaz takes a fantasting diving catch at cover point, and Saim Ayub then cleans up Muhammad Zohaib.

UAE 46/3 (8)

UAE have decided to consolidate and stabilize their innings, so as to stay in the hunt for the chase, even if that means a high required run rate later. Dhruv Parashar has stitched together a useful partnership with Rahul Chopra, but 73 runs still needed off the last eight overs.

UAE 74/3 (12)

That's what scoreboard pressure does to you. Pakistan reap the rewards of some tight bowling in the middle overs, dealing three quick blows in the form of Dhruv Parashar, Asif Khan and Rahul Chopra to leave UAE tottering. The biggest wicket in the match context is that of Chopra, who was looking for some lusty hits before Salman Agha had the last laugh.

UAE 97/6 (16)

UAE collapse rather spectacularly in the end. The hosts lose three wickets in the 18th over, including a comical run-out of Muhammad Rohid that culminates the innings and match. Pakistan win the game by a resounding 41-run margin to qualify for the Super Fours, where they join India from Group A.

This also means that we are set for an India vs Pakistan clash on September 21. But before that, India take on Oman in a dead rubber on September 19.

UAE 105 all out (17.4 overs) lose by 41 runs