**T20 Asia Cup 2025: Pakistan’s Campaign So Far**
The T20 Asia Cup 2025 cricket tournament is currently underway in the UAE, and Pakistan has entered the competition riding high on confidence. This boost comes primarily from their recent victory in the T20 Tri-Nation Series, where they displayed some impressive cricketing skills. The final triumph against Afghanistan, in particular, was a huge morale-booster for the team.
—
### Strong Start Against Oman
Pakistan kicked off their Asia Cup campaign against Oman with a comfortable win. Batting first, Pakistan posted a competitive total of 160/7. Wicket-keeper batsman Muhammad Haris, returning at number 3, played an outstanding innings of 66 runs off just 43 balls, striking at an impressive rate of 153.48, with 3 sixes and 7 boundaries.
Pakistan’s bowling line-up, especially their spin quartet, performed exceptionally well. The spin trio of Muhammad Nawaz, Sufyan Muqeem, and Abrar, along with the experienced Saim Ayub, effectively dismantled Oman’s batting lineup, bowling them out for a mere 67 runs in just 16.4 overs.
—
### Setback Against Arch-Rivals India
Pakistan’s next match was a high-profile clash against arch-rivals India, which unfortunately ended in a heavy defeat. Opting to bat first, Pakistan managed a below-par total of 127/9. However, Shaheen Afridi was a shining light with the bat, scoring a quickfire 33 not out from 16 balls, including 4 maximums while batting at number 9.
India chased down the target comfortably in 15.5 overs, with skipper Suryakumar Yadav top-scoring with a fluent 47* off 37 balls. Interestingly, Shaheen Afridi showed that Indian bowlers like Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, and Hardik Pandya could be attacked, as he launched some powerful shots against them.
This raises questions about the performance of the other eight Pakistani batsmen. If Pakistan’s number 9 can dominate these bowlers, then what is holding back the rest of the batting lineup? The team must reconsider their approach.
—
### Need for a Balanced Batting Approach
Pakistan’s batsmen need to abandon the destructive, kamikaze-style batting and adopt a more balanced approach. A blend of flair, stability, strike rotation, and boundary-hitting is essential. Their strategy should be one of calculated aggression combined with anchoring the innings to post a formidable total.
Had Pakistan managed to build a total closer to 170 against India, the chase would have been far more challenging given Pakistan’s dynamic bowling attack, which includes a mix of pace and several spin options.
—
### Bowling Highlights and Line-up Suggestions
Saim Ayub emerged as Pakistan’s most successful bowler against India, taking 3 wickets in 4 overs. However, the batting order requires urgent attention. Saim has struggled with the bat, recording three consecutive ducks in Asia Cup matches so far. A potential solution would be to promote Fakhar Zaman — who is currently in good form — as an opener alongside Muhammad Haris, who is an excellent timer but not a power hitter.
—
### Crucial Win Against UAE to Reach Super 4
In their final match of the initial round, Pakistan faced UAE in a must-win encounter. Despite Saim Ayub once again falling for a duck, Fakhar Zaman played a vital innings, scoring 50 runs off 36 balls. Later, Shaheen Afridi’s brisk 29 off 14 balls helped Pakistan post a total of 146/9.
Pakistan’s in-form bowling attack then bundled UAE out for 105, securing Pakistan’s progression to the Super 4 stage. Captain Salman Agha was the only batsman showing consistent skill against spin, highlighting a critical area for improvement for the team: better reading of spin bowling. Pakistani batsmen should focus not only on reading spin from the hand but also from the pitch.
—
### Recommendations for Batting Order
Pakistan needs to quickly resolve its batting order dilemmas. Muhammad Haris, known for his excellent timing rather than power-hitting, could be effectively utilized as an opener with Fakhar Zaman. Remember Haris’s match-winning knock of 41 runs off just 20 balls with 3 sixes and 4 fours against New Zealand in Auckland, where he struck at a blazing rate of 205.
—
### Upcoming Challenge: India in Super 4
Pakistan’s first Super 4 match is set to be a high-stakes encounter against India on September 21. This promises to be a thrilling contest, with both teams eager to claim dominance in the tournament.
—
### Recap: Tri-Nation Series Final – Pakistan’s Dominance Over Afghanistan
Earlier in September 2025, Pakistan defeated Afghanistan comprehensively in the T20 Tri-Nation Series final at Sharjah Cricket Stadium. The final was expected to be a closely fought contest but turned out to be a one-sided display of Pakistan’s superiority.
Choosing to bat first on a spin-friendly and tricky surface, Pakistan scored a competitive 141/8 in 20 overs. Coach Mike Hesson and skipper Salman Agha assessed the pitch well and were confident that anything above 130 would be challenging for the Afghan batsmen.
In response, Afghanistan was thoroughly dismantled for just 66 runs in 15.5 overs. Pakistan’s specialist spin trio—Nawaz, Abrar, and Muqeem—proved decisive, with Muhammad Nawaz particularly tormenting the Afghan batsmen by claiming 5 wickets including a hat-trick, maintaining an excellent economy rate of 4.75 in his four overs.
Nawaz also contributed valuable runs with the bat, scoring 25 off 21 balls with two sixes. Pakistan effectively gave Afghanistan a taste of their own medicine by building an excellent spin attack, which proved to be the masterstroke of the match.
—
### Conclusion
While Pakistan’s bowling attack, especially their spinners, have been impressive and a key strength in this tournament, their batting still requires significant improvement. Constructive changes to the batting order and approach will be crucial if Pakistan aims to progress further and compete against top teams like India.
With the Super 4 stage underway, all eyes are on Pakistan as they prepare to face strong challenges ahead. Optimizing their batting strategy and backing their talented bowling assets will be essential for their success in the T20 Asia Cup 2025.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1345092-t20-asia-cup-2025-first-stage-and-tri-series-round-up
