By Himadullah Sohoo 
Pakistan survived a rollercoaster in Dubai to defend 135 and clinch an 11-run win over Bangladesh, locking in the first India–Pakistan Asia Cup final in more than four decades. On a used surface that got slower by the over, Shaheen Shah Afridi led with old-ball guile after new-ball fire, claiming 3/17 and swinging a low-scoring scrap Pakistan’s way.
Pakistan’s batting never truly took off. Taskin Ahmed struck with his first burst—Sahibzada Farhan (4) nicking off—before Mahedi Hasan and Rishad Hossain dismantled the top order. At 49/5, Pakistan were staring at a familiar middle-overs stall. What followed wasn’t pretty, but it was priceless: a series of counterpunches. Mohammad Haris (31 off 23) reversed the momentum, Mohammad Nawaz (25 off 15) maximised the slot balls, and Shaheen’s 19 off 13—two telling sixes—dragged the score to 135/8. The cameo runs proved the difference.
Bangladesh’s chase promised plenty, then unraveled. Shaheen knocked over Parvez Emon early, returned to remove Towhid Hridoy, and later nailed the body blow with Shamim Hossain (30). Between those strikes, Saim Ayub’s skiddy offspin (2/16) and Nawaz’s control (1/14) choked options square and straight. Bangladesh actually cleared the ropes more often, but on a gripping pitch their big swings fed the deep men rather than change the calculus. When Haris Rauf (3/33) scattered the stumps at the death, the last window closed.
This was a night decided by discipline. Pakistan’s seamers owned the back-10—pace off, hard lengths, straight fields—while the spinners stacked dots and forced risks against the turn. Bangladesh’s bowlers had done much right—Taskin 3/28, Rishad 2/18, Mahedi 2/28—but their batters couldn’t pair intent with game awareness. Once the target climbed past a run-a-ball on this surface, every dot felt heavier.
For Pakistan, the positives are layered. Afridi looks in rhythm across phases; Rauf’s death overs have bite; and the lower-order intent from Haris, Nawaz, and Shaheen adds late-innings ceiling that’s been missing. The top order still owes them a powerplay worthy of a final, but the bowlers have set a ferocious baseline.
For Bangladesh, Saif Hassan’s bright start (18 off 15) and Shamim’s counter (30) were glimmers; the lesson is starker: value strike rotation on slow decks, don’t chase the stands. They exit the Super Fours with questions about tempo, middle-over method, and finishing.
The headline, though, writes itself: India vs Pakistan for the Asia Cup. Dubai, a slow deck, two high-end spin units, and quicks who hit the seam—strap in.
Brief Scores
Pakistan 135/8 (Mohammad Haris 31, Mohammad Nawaz 25, Shaheen Shah Afridi 19; Taskin Ahmed 3/28, Rishad Hossain 2/18, Mahedi Hasan 2/28)
Bangladesh 124/9 (Shamim Hossain 30, Saif Hassan 18; Shaheen Shah Afridi 3/17, Haris Rauf 3/33, Saim Ayub 2/16)
Result: Pakistan won by 11 runs. Player of the Match: Shaheen Shah Afridi
Zainab Shafiq