By Syeda Rubab 
Fakhar, Nawaz rescue Pakistan after early collapse
Pakistan booked their place in the UAE Tri-Series final with a 31-run victory over the hosts in Sharjah. Fakhar Zaman’s blistering 77 off 44 balls and Mohammad Nawaz’s calculated 37 off 27 helped the Men in Green recover from a shaky 80 for 5 to post 171/5.
Early on, Pakistan looked vulnerable as Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub and skipper Salman Ali Agha fell cheaply. The innings wobbled until Fakhar and Nawaz capitalized on UAE’s sloppy fielding—two sitters dropped in Haider Ali’s final over—to turn the contest on its head.
Pakistan finish with a flourish
What followed was pure carnage. Between overs 16 and 20, Pakistan plundered 74 runs, with Fakhar lashing boundaries at will and Nawaz launching two sixes in the penultimate over. Junaid Siddique and Muhammad Jawadullah bore the brunt as Pakistan racked up 42 runs in the last two overs, transforming a middling score into a daunting one.
UAE undone by Abrar’s magic
Chasing 172, UAE’s hopes rested on skipper Muhammad Waseem, but leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed had other ideas. Playing his first game of the series, Abrar bowled with guile and courage, scalping 4 for 9 in a spell that ripped through the top and middle order.
He removed Waseem, Asif Khan, Rahul Chopra and Harshit Kaushik with a mix of flight and sharp turn, returning career-best figures in T20Is. Shaheen Afridi supported with a fiery new-ball spell that accounted for Alishan Sharafu at the death after a fine resistance.
Sharafu shines, but too late
Sharafu was the lone bright spark for the UAE. His 68 off 51 balls injected late momentum with crisp boundaries and four towering sixes, but by the time he fell in the 17th over, the contest was done. UAE eventually finished on 140/7, bowing out of the tournament.
Pakistan vs Afghanistan final confirmed
The victory ensures Pakistan and Afghanistan will meet in the Tri-Series final, while UAE, despite flashes of promise, exit the competition winless. Fakhar’s return to form, Nawaz’s all-round resurgence, and Abrar’s impact offer Pakistan plenty of confidence ahead of the title clash.
Brief Scores
Pakistan 171/5 (20 overs): Fakhar Zaman 77* (44), Mohammad Nawaz 37* (27), Haider Ali 2/17, Muhammad Rohid 1/21
UAE 140/7 (20 overs): Alishan Sharafu 68 (51), Muhammad Waseem 19 (19), Abrar Ahmed 4/9, Shaheen Afridi 1/23
Result: Pakistan won by 31 runs
Player of the Match: Abrar Ahmed (4/9)