Tri-nation series: Pakistan give UAE 172-run target

SHARJAH: Pakistan set hosts United Arab Emirates (UAE) a target of 172 runs in the fifth match of the tri-nation series.

Pakistan chose to bat first against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, hoping to maintain their winning run ahead of the Asia Cup. Pakistan scored 171 for five in the allotted 20 overs.

Top-order batter Fakhar Zaman played a responsible unbeaten knock of 77 off 44 balls, hitting 10 fours and two sixes.

He was well supported by Mohammad Nawaz, who remained not out on 37, helping lift Pakistan’s total after the side had lost half its wickets for just 80 runs. The pair put on a record 91-run stand for the sixth wicket.

Earlier, Sahibzada Farhan scored 16, Mohammad Haris 14, Saim Ayub 11, captain Salman Ali Agha 7 and Hasan Nawaz 4. For UAE, Haider Ali claimed two wickets.

In this key fixture, Pakistan made two changes: pacer Salman Mirza replaced Haris Rauf, while Abrar Ahmed came in for Sufiyan Muqeem.

Pakistan Squad

Salman Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem.

Pakistan began the series with a 39-run win over Afghanistan and a 31-run victory against UAE, before losing their third match to Afghanistan by 18 runs.

UAE Squad

Muhammad Waseem (c), Asif Khan, Rahul Chopra, Ethan D’Souza, Haider Ali, Junaid Siddique, Harshit Kaushik, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Rohid, Muhammad Zohaib, Dhruv Parashar, Saghir Khan, Alishan Sharafu, Aryansh Sharma