Fakhar Zaman and Abrar Ahmed Shine as Pakistan Defeat UAE by 31 Runs in Sharjah

The evening of September 4, 2025, was electric at Sharjah Cricket Stadium as Pakistan stepped onto the field after winning the toss in the fifth match of the UAE T20I Tri-Series. With the series lead in their grasp, Pakistan were eager to flex their batting muscle against the United Arab Emirates. By the end of their 20 overs, they posted a solid 171/5, thanks to some fiery stroke play, smart partnerships, and a late charge that left UAE with a mountain to climb.

Pakistan Innings

Pakistan’s openers, Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub, walked out with intent, looking to dominate the powerplay. Farhan was in the mood right away, cracking two fours and a massive six in a brisk 16 off 11 balls. He was setting the tone, giving Pakistan the kind of start that gets crowds buzzing. But his fireworks were cut short in the 2.5th over when Dhruv Parashar got him caught by Ethan D’Souza. At 28/1, Pakistan had a platform, but they needed more. Saim Ayub, though, couldn’t quite get going. He managed a six in his 11 off 10 balls, but Junaid Siddique sent him packing in the 4.1st over, caught by wicketkeeper Rahul Chopra. With the score at 35/2, Pakistan were in a spot where they needed someone to take charge.

Saim Ayub failed again and Pakistan lost both the openers inside the powerplay.#UAEvsPAK pic.twitter.com/mWK4Ffp1x6

— Rana Ahmed (@RanaAhmad056) September 4, 2025

That someone was Fakhar Zaman. The left-hander strode in and took the game by the scruff of the neck, finishing unbeaten on 77 off 44 balls. His knock was a thing of beauty with 10 fours, two sixes, and a strike rate of 175.00 that kept the scoreboard ticking like a metronome. Zaman played with the kind of calm aggression that makes him a fan favorite, picking gaps with surgical precision and launching the ball when the moment called for it. He was the glue in the middle overs, but his partners didn’t always stick around. Captain Salman Agha, for instance, came and went quickly, scoring 7 off 5 balls with a single four before Chopra pouched another catch off Muhammad Rohid’s bowling in the 5.4th over. At 50/3, Pakistan were wobbling slightly.

Mohammad Haris, the wicketkeeper-batsman, joined Zaman to steady things. Haris played it safe, scoring 14 off 17 balls with a four and a six, but he couldn’t quite find his groove. Haider Ali trapped him lbw in the 9.6th over, leaving Pakistan at 74/4. Things got trickier when Hasan Nawaz, the next man in, scratched around for 4 off 6 balls before Chopra grabbed his third catch of the day off Haider Ali in the 11.3rd over. At 80/5, Pakistan were in danger of limping to a below-par total. They needed a spark, and they needed it fast.

That spark came in the form of an unbeaten 91-run stand between Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Nawaz. Nawaz played the perfect supporting role, finishing not out on 37 off 27 balls, peppering his knock with three fours and two sixes. He let Zaman take the lead while chipping in with timely boundaries, and together they turned the innings around.

The UAE bowlers, who’d done well to keep things tight early on, started to feel the heat. Junaid Siddique had a tough day, bleeding 52 runs in his four overs despite grabbing a wicket. Haider Ali was the pick of the bunch, bowling brilliantly for 2/17 at an economy of 4.25. Muhammad Rohid kept things tidy with 1/21, but Dhruv Parashar and Muhammad Jawadullah struggled, going at 8.75 and 12.66 runs per over, respectively.

PAKISTAN 81/5 IN 12 OVERS – CLASSIC COLLAPSE UNDER PRESSURE! 👀🔥#UAEvsPAK pic.twitter.com/MmzLEWa7s3

— INDIAN CRICKETER (@indian_Cricket4) September 4, 2025

In the final overs, Pakistan went into overdrive. Zaman was finding the boundary with ease, and Nawaz’s sixes added the extra punch. The powerplay had yielded 41 runs, giving them a strong start, and they built on it with a run rate of 8.55 across the innings. Extras chipped in with 5 runs (1 bye, 2 leg byes, 2 wides), and by the time the innings closed, 171/5 felt like a total that would test UAE’s batting. Pakistan walked off confident, knowing their bowlers could make life tough for the hosts.

UAE Innings

Chasing 172 under the Sharjah floodlights on September 4, 2025, the United Arab Emirates had their work cut out against Pakistan’s bowling attack. This was a do-or-die game for the hosts in the UAE T20I Tri-Series, but Pakistan’s bowlers, led by a devastating Abrar Ahmed, had other plans. Abrar’s 4/9 in four overs ripped through UAE’s batting, limiting them to 140/7 in their 20 overs and handing Pakistan a comfortable 31-run win. Despite a gutsy knock from Alishan Sharafu, UAE couldn’t match Pakistan’s intensity.

Abrar Ahmed's first match of the tri-series is a record-breaking one 📈 pic.twitter.com/NvCJS2xpXa

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) September 5, 2025

UAE’s chase started with Alishan Sharafu and captain Muhammad Waseem at the crease, looking to make the most of the powerplay. They got off to a decent start, but Pakistan’s bowlers kept things tight. Waseem played with aggression, hitting a four and a six in his 19 off 19 balls, but Abrar Ahmed cut his innings short in the 6.1st over, with Faheem Ashraf taking the catch. At 41/1, UAE were still in the game. Sharafu, meanwhile, was playing a gem of an innings, anchoring the chase with 68 off 51 balls. His four fours and four sixes were a treat to watch, and he reached his fifty off 38 balls, keeping UAE’s hopes flickering.

Ethan D’Souza came in next but couldn’t quite get going, scoring 9 off 14 balls before Saim Ayub caught him off Mohammad Nawaz in the 10.6th over. UAE were 72/2, and the pressure was building. Asif Khan tried to keep the momentum going but fell for 7 off 5 balls, including a six, caught by Shaheen Shah Afridi off Abrar in the 12.3rd over. The very next over, Rahul Chopra lasted just two balls, trapped lbw by Abrar for a duck, leaving UAE at 84/4. Abrar was on fire, his figures of 4/9 in four overs turning the game on its head with an economy of just 2.25.

Harshit Kaushik was next to go, scoring 3 off 5 balls before Faheem Ashraf caught him off Abrar in the 14.6th over, with UAE at 102/5. Sharafu kept fighting, but the required run rate was climbing fast. His valiant knock ended in the 16.6th over when Salman Agha caught him off Shaheen Shah Afridi for 68, leaving UAE at 113/6. Haider Ali, who’d bowled so well earlier, chipped in with 12 off 9 balls, including a four, but a run-out in the 19.3rd over ended his stay. Dhruv Parashar battled to an unbeaten 18 off 15 balls, and Junaid Siddique was not out on 0, but UAE finished at 140/7, well short of the target.

Abrar Ahmed is excellent as he notches up his best-ever T20I figures 👏 pic.twitter.com/6UHYGJKPaV

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) September 4, 2025

Pakistan’s bowling was relentless. Abrar Ahmed was the star, earning Player of the Match for his four wickets. His 15 dot balls showed how he choked UAE’s scoring. Shaheen Shah Afridi backed him up with 1/23 in four overs, and Mohammad Nawaz took 1/30. Salman Mirza didn’t take a wicket but kept things tight with 0/31. Saim Ayub and Faheem Ashraf were pricier, going at 9.66 and 11.00 runs per over, but UAE couldn’t capitalize. The powerplay gave UAE 41 runs without loss, but they were only 58/1 at the drinks break. They crossed 100 in the 14.2nd over, but wickets kept falling. Pakistan’s sharp fielding, with key catches and a run-out, sealed UAE’s fate.

TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game

Fakhar Zaman’s unbeaten 77 off 44 balls was the game’s defining moment, earning TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game. In a thrilling 20-over battle, Pakistan’s 171/5 owed much to Zaman’s brilliance. His 10 fours and two sixes, at a strike rate of 175.00, lit up Sharjah.

Fakhar Zaman made excellent use of his experience today.#UAEvsPAK pic.twitter.com/kGRI9JKRDl

— 𝐅 𝐀 𝐈 𝐙 𝐀 𝐍 💫🇵🇰 (@Faizanali_152) September 4, 2025

Coming in after early blows as Sahibzada Farhan (16) and Saim Ayub (11) fell quickly while Zaman steadied the ship. Even as Salman Agha (7) and Mohammad Haris (14) struggled, he kept going, forging a match-changing 91-run stand with Mohammad Nawaz (37* off 27). Against a tough UAE attack, led by Haider Ali’s 2/17, Zaman’s ability to find gaps and dominate made the difference, setting a total that proved too much for UAE.

TCNI’s Hero of the Day

Abrar Ahmed was TCNI’s Hero of the Day, delivering a match-winning spell that crushed UAE’s chase of 172. His 4/9 in four overs, at an economy of 2.25, was a masterclass in spin bowling.

ABRAR AHMED STRIKES! 💥🔥

Key breakthrough for Pakistan 🇵🇰

Changes the game with one magical delivery 👌#UAEvsPAK pic.twitter.com/cXiRJcXCfC

— Rana Ahmed (@RanaAhmad056) September 4, 2025

Taking out Muhammad Waseem (19), Asif Khan (7), Rahul Chopra (0), and Harshit Kaushik (3), Abrar triggered a collapse that left UAE at 140/7. His 15 dot balls stifled the hosts, outshining Shaheen Shah Afridi (1/23) and Mohammad Nawaz (1/30). Despite Alishan Sharafu’s brave 68, Abrar’s control ensured Pakistan’s 31-run victory, making him the undeniable star of the match.