🏏 Pakistan Edge Bangladesh to Set Up Asia Cup 2025 Final Against India
The ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 is reaching its peak, and cricket fans are already buzzing with excitement. In a thrilling Super Four clash at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Pakistan overcame Bangladesh by 11 runs to secure their spot in the much-anticipated final against India.
The low-scoring yet nerve-wracking encounter had everything — fiery spells from Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf, a brave fight from Shamim Hossain, and an electric atmosphere that set the stage for a historic Pakistan vs India final.
In this detailed blog, we’ll break down the entire contest, provide match analysis, highlight key performances, and explore what this result means for the Asia Cup 2025 final.
🌍 Match Overview: Pakistan vs Bangladesh, Super Four
- Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium
- Date: Thursday, September 25, 2025
- Result: Pakistan won by 11 runs
- Pakistan’s Score: 135/8 (20 overs)
- Bangladesh’s Score: 124/9 (20 overs)
- Player of the Match: Shaheen Shah Afridi (19 off 13 & 3/17)
The contest was not a high-scoring slugfest but rather a battle of nerves, tactical bowling changes, and clutch moments.
🔥 Pakistan’s Batting Struggles
Early Collapse 😰
Pakistan’s innings got off to the worst possible start:
- Sahibzada Farhan was dismissed for just 4.
- Saim Ayub departed for a duck.
- Fakhar Zaman, expected to anchor, fell cheaply for 13.
At 33/4 in the eighth over, Pakistan looked in deep trouble.
Middle-Order Resistance 💪
- Captain Salman Ali Agha (19 off 23) tried to stabilize but couldn’t accelerate.
- Shaheen Afridi, promoted to No. 7, added quickfire runs (19 off 13 with 2 sixes).
- The most crucial stand came from Mohammad Haris (31 off 23) and Mohammad Nawaz (25 off 15), who stitched together a 38-run partnership for the 7th wicket.
This late recovery ensured Pakistan crossed 130, which proved just enough.
🎯 Bangladesh’s Bowling Performance
Bangladesh’s bowlers kept Pakistan under pressure throughout the innings:
- Taskin Ahmed: 3/28, struck crucial blows.
- Rishad Hossain: 2/18, kept things tight in the middle overs.
- Mahedi Hasan: 2/28, provided vital breakthroughs.
- Restricting Pakistan to 135 was an excellent effort, but their batting unit failed to chase it down.
💥 Bangladesh’s Run Chase
Shaheen’s Early Strike 🌪️
Bangladesh’s reply was derailed early when Shaheen Afridi dismissed Parvez Hossain Emon for a duck. Soon after, Towhid Hridoy and Saif Hassan followed.
At 29/3 inside 6 overs, Bangladesh were already on the back foot.
Shamim Hossain’s Resistance 🏏
- Shamim Hossain (30 off 25) played bravely, hitting two sixes.
- But his dismissal in the 17th over by Shaheen turned the game.
Collapse Under Pressure 💔
Haris Rauf returned at the death and cleaned up Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Taskin Ahmed, leaving Bangladesh at 101/9.
Though Rishad Hossain (16 off 11) tried a late surge, it wasn’t enough.
🔑 Key Performers of the Match
⭐ Shaheen Shah Afridi – The Hero
- Batting: 19 off 13 (2 sixes)
- Bowling: 3/17 (4 overs)
- Player of the Match
Shaheen contributed with both bat and ball, showing why he remains Pakistan’s most valuable asset.
⚡ Haris Rauf – The Enforcer
- Bowling: 3/33 (4 overs)
- Picked wickets at crucial moments to break Bangladesh’s resistance.
💎 Mohammad Haris – The Anchor
- Batting: 31 off 23, steadying the middle order when Pakistan were in big trouble.
🏟️ Turning Points of the Match
- Pakistan’s early collapse (33/4): Put them on the back foot.
- Shaheen’s cameo: Those 19 runs made a massive difference.
- Shamim’s dismissal: Killed Bangladesh’s chase momentum.
- Haris’s double strike in the 18th over: Ensured Bangladesh couldn’t stage a comeback.
🆚 The Final: India vs Pakistan – A Dream Clash 💥
This result has set up a blockbuster India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 final. For the first time in Asia Cup history, these two giants will face off in the tournament’s grand finale.
Why This Final Is Special 🏆
- India and Pakistan haven’t played a multi-match bilateral series in over a decade.
- Their clashes in ICC tournaments and Asia Cups are always global spectacles.
- Both teams boast in-form fast bowlers — Shaheen & Haris for Pakistan, Bumrah & Hardik for India.
- Batting duels: Fakhar Zaman vs Abhishek , Gill vs Shaheen, Saim Ayub vs Kuldeep Yadav.
This final is expected to draw record viewership across the cricketing world.
📊 Match Stats and Records
- Pakistan defended their lowest total in Asia Cup history (135).
- Shaheen became the leading wicket-taker of Asia Cup 2025 with 12 wickets.
- Haris Rauf now has 50 T20I wickets at Dubai International Stadium.
- Bangladesh have now lost 5 consecutive Asia Cup matches against Pakistan.
📢 Post-Match Reactions
Pakistan Captain Salman Ali Agha
“Our bowlers were outstanding. Shaheen and Haris showed why they are world-class. The partnership between Haris and Nawaz gave us the belief we could defend this.”
Bangladesh Captain Jaker Ali
“We bowled well, but our batting unit couldn’t handle the pressure. Shamim’s knock gave us hope, but losing quick wickets cost us.”
Fans on Social Media
- Pakistani fans hailed Shaheen as the “Game-Changer”.
- Bangladeshi fans expressed disappointment over repeated batting collapses.
- Indian fans immediately shifted focus to the final: “Bring on the clash of the titans!”
🔍 Tactical Analysis
- Pakistan’s decision to promote Shaheen at No.7 was bold and paid off.
- Bangladesh’s batting order looked shaky, with no one except Shamim adapting.
- Pakistan’s spinners, though wicketless mostly, controlled the middle overs effectively.
- Bangladesh failed to rotate strike, leaving too much for the finish.
📰 Cricketory Insight & Analysis
Pakistan’s win over Bangladesh highlighted their bowling depth and resilience under pressure. Despite a fragile top order, Pakistan’s late recovery and fearless bowling ensured victory. Shaheen Afridi’s double impact (runs + wickets) and Haris Rauf’s death-bowling heroics showed why Pakistan are peaking at the right time. For Bangladesh, the lack of middle-order stability continues to hurt in big games. The result now sets up a historic India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 final that promises record-breaking viewership and drama.
🚀 Key Takeaways
- Pakistan vs Bangladesh Asia Cup 2025 highlights
- Pakistan qualify for Asia Cup final vs India
- Shaheen Shah Afridi Player of the Match Asia Cup
- Haris Rauf wickets vs Bangladesh 2025
- Bangladesh vs Pakistan Asia Cup Super Four scorecard
- Asia Cup 2025 final India vs Pakistan preview
- Dubai International Cricket Stadium Asia Cup match
- Pakistan vs India Asia Cup 2025 final news
- Bangladesh collapse vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025
- Pakistan bowling performance Asia Cup Super Four
🙋 FAQs
Q1: Who won the Pakistan vs Bangladesh Asia Cup 2025 Super Four match?
👉 Pakistan won by 11 runs.Q2: Who was the Player of the Match?
👉 Shaheen Shah Afridi (19 runs & 3 wickets).Q3: What was Pakistan’s total score?
👉 Pakistan scored 135/8 in 20 overs.Q4: What does this win mean for Pakistan?
👉 Pakistan qualified for the Asia Cup 2025 final vs India.Q5: When is the Asia Cup 2025 final between India and Pakistan?
👉 The final is scheduled for Sunday, September 28, 2025 in Dubai.🏆 Final Thoughts
Pakistan’s gritty 11-run win over Bangladesh wasn’t just about defending a small total — it was about resilience, tactical brilliance, and championship mentality.
With Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf leading the bowling attack, Pakistan now look battle-ready to face their biggest rivals, India, in the Asia Cup 2025 final.
This final promises to be one of the biggest cricket matches of the decade, uniting billions of fans in excitement and anticipation.
👉 Stay tuned with Cricketory for live updates, analysis, and exclusive coverage of the Asia Cup 2025 Final: India vs Pakistan.