Pakistan set up India match with win over UAE

Group A, Dubai, Asia Cup

Pakistan 146-9 (20 overs): Fakhar 50 (36), Siddique 4-18

UAE 105 (17.4 overs): Chopra 35 (35), Abrar 2-13

By 41 runs, Pakistan won.

With a 41-run victory over the United Arab Emirates at the Asia Cup, Pakistan opened a new series matchup with India.

Due to the ongoing repercussions from Sunday’s game against India, which ended an hour late, the story will continue. Pakistan’s victory in the Super Four ensures that the story will continue.

The pair will play again on Sunday in Dubai with India already qualified.

The Pakistani innings quickly fell to 9-2 after the pre-match uncertainty, with UAE seamer Junaid Siddique (4-18) eliminating both openers, including Saim Ayub, for a third duck in five innings.

Fakhar Zaman scored 50 from 36 balls to put the innings back on track, but Pakistan quickly found themselves in trouble, falling to 93-6.

It took a late comeo from Shaheen Afridi, who hit three sixes in his 29 from 14, to make them 146-9, just as it did with India.

Afridi then took the first of three wickets in the UAE’s 37-3 powerplay, making his mark with the ball.

After the first game between the two nations since the military conflict earlier this year, Pakistan claimed match referee Andy Pycroft told their captain Salman Agha not to shake hands with his Indian counterpart at the toss.

After that, Pakistan requested that Pycroft, who was still serving as the UAE’s match referee, be made officiant.

At 15:30 BST, the game was scheduled to begin.

The team hotel was where the talks continued, but Pakistan’s players did leave about 30 minutes before the scheduled toss.

Shortly before their departure, Mohsin Naqvi, the chair of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), spoke with Najam Sethi and Ramiz Raja.

Soon after, organizers announced the start of the match at 16:30 BST, and a subsequent PCB statement stated that Pycroft had apologized to “the Pakistan cricket team’s manager and captain.”

Cricket has recently experienced an impact on relations between India and Pakistan.

After refusing to travel to host Pakistan, they have already decided not to play each other outside of global competitions, and India’s Champions Trophy matches were moved to Dubai earlier this year.

The Women’s World Cup will be held in Sri Lanka for Pakistan, but they will not be going to India for the next edition.