In an electrifying Asia Cup 2025 T20 clash held yesterday, Pakistan edged out Bangladesh in a high-pressure encounter that tested nerves, depth, and character. The Men in Green pulled off a fighting total and defended it with grit, overcoming a spirited challenge from Bangladesh in what turned out to be a fiercely contested match.
Pakistan Performers
- Mohammad Haris – 31 (23 balls)
- Mohammad Nawaz – 25 (15 balls)
- Shaheen Shah Afridi – 19 (13 balls)
Match Recap
Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first on a wicket that offered bounce and a bit of early swing. The top order found it tough against Bangladesh’s disciplined pace attack, but Mohammad Haris held his ground with a crucial 31 off 23 balls. His strokeplay, especially square of the wicket, kept the scoreboard ticking despite regular wickets falling at the other end.
Mohammad Nawaz added a vital cameo of 25 from just 15 balls, injecting momentum in the middle overs. Towards the end, Shaheen Afridi surprised with the bat, blasting 19 runs from 13 balls to push Pakistan to a competitive 135/8 in their allotted 20 overs.
Bangladesh’s bowling unit was sharp and relentless. Taskin Ahmed led the charge with three wickets, supported brilliantly by Rishad Hossain and Mahedi Hasan, who kept things tight in the middle overs. Their collective effort ensured Pakistan didn’t run away with the total.
Pakistan’s Bowling and Defensive Brilliance
While 135 didn’t seem like a winning total on paper, Pakistan came out with fire in their bowling attack. The bowlers stuck to their lines and lengths, built pressure, and forced mistakes. Shaheen Afridi, as always, was fierce with the new ball, and the spinners choked Bangladesh’s middle order.
Bangladesh’s chase looked steady at points, but wickets kept falling at crucial moments. Despite a few late boundaries, they couldn’t keep up with the required rate and eventually fell short.
Final Thoughts
This T20 win was a testament to Pakistan’s resilience under pressure. It wasn’t a towering total, but their bowlers rose strong and applied pressure from ball one. The fielding was sharp, the team spirit was visible, and the intensity was unmatched.
In a fierce battle where every run counted, Pakistan stood tall, overpowered Bangladesh, and took a massive step forward in their Asia Cup 2025 campaign. With this kind of fighting spirit, they’re shaping up to be serious contenders for the title.