🌍 Pakistan Marches into Super Four
Pakistan cricket fans finally breathed a sigh of relief as their team sealed Super Four qualification in the Asia Cup 2025 after a much-needed victory against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Dubai. The 41-run win came after days of fluctuating performances, uncertainty, and rising questions about the team’s form.
While the qualification brought joy, captain Salman Ali Agha’s post-match statement drew even more attention. His bold words, “We’ll be good against any side,” signaled not just confidence but also a rallying cry ahead of the tougher Super Four clashes against Asia’s best teams.
Yet, in his honesty, Agha admitted to Pakistan’s biggest weakness: batting collapses in the middle overs.
🏏 Pakistan vs UAE – The Match That Sealed Super Four Spot
The Dubai International Cricket Stadium witnessed a dramatic encounter where Pakistan’s batting frailties were once again on display.
- Fakhar Zaman anchored the innings with a vital half-century, giving Pakistan a solid start.
- But after his dismissal, the Green Shirts lost quick wickets, slumping to 110/7 in the 17th over.
- Just when it seemed Pakistan might fold under pressure, Shaheen Shah Afridi produced a breathtaking cameo. His 29 off 14 balls (3 fours, 2 sixes) lifted Pakistan to 146/9.
In reply, Pakistan’s bowlers, led by Shaheen himself, kept UAE under control. The 41-run victory wasn’t flashy, but it was enough to push Pakistan into the Super Four stage.
💬 Agha’s Post-Match Remarks – Confidence with Caution
🔑 Key Quotes from Salman Ali Agha:
- “We got the job done but we still need to improve our batting in the middle order.”
- “We haven’t batted at our best yet… if we bat well in the middle overs, we can push it to 170 no matter the opposition.”
- “Shaheen’s batting has improved a lot. Saim is someone who’s been bringing us back into games.”
- “We’re ready for any challenge and if we keep playing the way we have over the last four months, we’ll be good against any side.”
This mix of confidence and criticism showed Agha’s maturity as captain. He acknowledged weaknesses but also projected self-belief – a crucial trait ahead of high-pressure clashes.
🔎 Pakistan’s Batting – Strengths and Weaknesses
✅ Strengths:
- Explosive openers like Fakhar Zaman can give flying starts.
- Lower-order hitters (Shaheen Afridi, Shadab Khan) have shown they can rescue innings.
- Babar Azam’s experience provides stability when he finds form.
❌ Weaknesses:
- Middle-order collapses remain Pakistan’s biggest headache.
- Over-reliance on top-order runs makes the batting fragile.
- Inability to rotate strike in middle overs, leading to pressure and rash shots.
This pattern isn’t new. In fact, it mirrors Pakistan’s struggles in past ICC events where promising starts were undone by poor middle-order execution.
📊 Pakistan’s Middle-Over Problem in Numbers
- In the last three Asia Cup 2025 matches, Pakistan has scored at an average of just 6.2 runs per over between overs 7–15.
- During this period, they have lost 12 wickets – the most among Super Four teams.
- Without late cameos, their average total would have been under 130 runs.
This statistical weakness is what Agha referred to in his post-match talk.
⚡ The Role of Shaheen Afridi – More Than Just a Bowler
One of the biggest positives has been Shaheen Afridi’s rise as a handy lower-order batter. His 29 off 14 against UAE showed intent, power, and calmness under pressure.
- Shaheen now averages 17.5 in T20Is since 2024, a massive improvement from his earlier numbers.
- His ability to clear boundaries has given Pakistan a new “Plan B” when the middle-order fails.
Agha openly praised Shaheen’s growth, saying it adds balance to the side and ensures Pakistan doesn’t rely solely on its top three.
🌟 Saim Ayub – Bowling Surprise, Batting Struggles
Interestingly, Agha also highlighted Saim Ayub’s contribution with the ball. While the young opener has struggled with runs, his part-time bowling has helped Pakistan in pressure moments.
This dual role may keep him in the playing XI despite his batting slump. However, fans are still waiting for Saim’s big batting innings in Asia Cup 2025.
🏆 The Super Four Challenge – What Lies Ahead
Pakistan’s path doesn’t get easier from here. The Super Four stage brings clashes with heavyweights:
- India 🇮🇳 – Pakistan’s biggest rivals and Asia’s most consistent batting unit.
- Sri Lanka 🇱🇰 – Defending Asia Cup champions with quality spinners.
- Bangladesh 🇧🇩 – A rising side with a fearless approach in T20Is.
For Pakistan to succeed, they must:
- Fix batting collapses – scoring 160–170 should be the minimum target.
- Utilize all-rounders smartly – Shadab, Nawaz, and Shaheen’s dual roles are crucial.
- Back bowlers to defend totals – their bowling attack remains world-class.
📣 Cricketory Insights & Analysis
At Cricketory, we see two sides of Pakistan’s Asia Cup story:
The Optimistic Side
- A strong bowling unit capable of winning matches single-handedly.
- A captain (Agha) who speaks openly about issues instead of hiding them.
- Match-winners like Fakhar, Shaheen, and Shadab who can change games quickly.
The Concerning Side
- Batting collapses that mirror Pakistan’s old weaknesses.
- Heavy dependence on cameos instead of structured partnerships.
- A lack of middle-order stability, something India and Sri Lanka will exploit.
👉 If Pakistan can fix their batting rhythm, they have the firepower to beat any team. But if the same collapse pattern continues, their Asia Cup 2025 journey might end before the final.