Spin bowler Abrar Ahmed leaves UAE puzzled, propelling Pakistan into the tri-series final

In a thrilling turn of events, Pakistan has advanced to the final of the T20 Tri-Series, securing a 31-run victory over UAE. The match, marked by a spectacular recovery by Fakhar Zaman and Haider Ali, saw Pakistan post a formidable total of 171-5 before restricting UAE to 140-7.

Fakhar Zaman, the star of the show, scored an unbeaten 77 off 44 balls, marking his first T20 half-century. Zaman's innings, punctuated by five consecutive fours in Mohammad Jawadullah's last over and a six over cover boundary in the 19th over, played a crucial role in Pakistan's recovery from 80-5 in the 12th over.

Zaman's performance was supported by Haider Ali, who contributed 36 off 28 balls before being dismissed. The duo smacked eight boundaries and a six in the final 10 balls, steering Pakistan towards a competitive total.

Captain Mohammad Waseem's innings was cut short by Ahmed, who dismissed him for 19. Waseem, failing to read a carrom ball, could not continue his impressive form.

UAE's response was led by Sharafu, who scored 68 off 51 balls. However, his countercharge came too late, with UAE falling short by 31 runs. Sharafu's efforts were supported by Junaid Siddique, who conceded 52 runs in his 4 overs, including 12 runs in the penultimate over.

Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed was a standout performer for UAE, achieving a career-best return of 4-9. Ahmed picked up two more wickets in two overs, reducing UAE to 102-5 in 15 overs. Haider Ali also contributed with two wickets for UAE, conceding only 17 runs in his 4 overs.

Interestingly, the trend of teams successfully defending totals continued for the fifth successive game in the T20 Tri-Series.

In the league stage, Afghanistan has already accumulated four points and will play UAE in the last league game. Abrar Ahmed, who was contracted by the Pakistan cricket team for the T20 Tri-Series in 2025, will be eager to make an impact in the final against Pakistan.

The final of the T20 Tri-Series will be played on Sunday, with Afghanistan facing Pakistan. The match promises to be an exciting clash, as both teams have displayed impressive form throughout the tournament.

Spin bowler Abrar Ahmed leaves UAE puzzled, propelling Pakistan into the tri-series final