Pakistan vs United Arab Emirates, Preview | Pakistan Will Look to Dominate After Big Win in Last Game
Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) face each other in the 10th match of Group A at the Asia Cup 2025.
Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) face each other in the 10th match of Group A at the Asia Cup 2025. The game takes place at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, one of the key grounds in the region.
Pakistan came into this clash with strong form. Their batters score quickly, and the bowlers use pace and spin well. Shaheen Afridi leads the attack, while Fakhar Zaman gives fast starts. The team looks balanced and confident.
UAE enters as underdogs but sees this as a chance to test themselves against top opposition. Captain Muhammad Waseem is the main hope in batting. The bowlers Junaid Siddique and Jawadullah must control runs to keep pressure.
The match also carries local interest. Many fans in Dubai support Pakistan, creating a loud and festive crowd. For the UAE, this is a chance to gain respect and experience. Pakistan remains the favourite, but the UAE will try to fight hard in short phases and avoid a one-sided result.
Match Details
Date: Wednesday, September 17, 2025Time: 5:30 PM IST (2:30 PM GMT)Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
Form Guide
Both teams enter this match with very different forms. Pakistan enjoys a series of strong wins, while the UAE faces mixed results and struggles against stronger opposition. Recent games show Pakistan’s balance in all areas, while the UAE looks to improve.
Pakistan: L W W W LUnited Arab Emirates: L L L L W
Pakistan’s batters have been in fine touch, with Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub giving fast starts. Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf take wickets in the first overs, and spinners like Abrar Ahmed provide control in the middle.
UAE depends heavily on Muhammad Waseem. If he scores big, they compete; if he falls early, the middle order often collapses. The bowling group struggles at the death overs, where runs leak quickly.
Pakistan vs United Arab Emirates Head-to-Head in the Asia Cup
Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates have met only once in the Asia Cup so far. That match took place in 2016 during the T20 edition. Pakistan won with ease as their bowlers controlled the innings and the batters chased the target without problems. UAE could not handle the pace attack and fell short of a competitive total.
The record is clear: Pakistan 1 – 0 United Arab Emirates in Asia Cup history.
This shows Pakistan’s strength and the UAE’s need to improve when facing top opposition. The upcoming game gives the UAE another chance to test their skills against a far stronger side.
Pitch and Weather
The Dubai International Cricket Stadium is known for flat pitches that help batting. Early overs may give swing to fast bowlers under lights, but once the ball softens, run scoring gets easier. Batters who play straight shots and rotate strikes find success here. Spinners can come into the game later, especially with the large square boundaries.
Short straight boundaries allow big sixes. Pakistan’s hitters like Fakhar Zaman and Khushdil Shah will target these areas. For the UAE, building pressure with dot balls is key, or Pakistan can run away with the scoring rate.
Evening weather in Dubai during September is hot but bearable under lights. Temperatures can stay around 32–34°C at the start, dropping slightly later. Humidity rises in the evening and can create dew. If the dew is heavy, chasing becomes easier as the ball comes onto the bat and bowlers struggle for grip. Captains will watch conditions closely before deciding to bat or bowl first.
Team News
Both teams come in with settled groups, but the focus remains on the balance between bat and ball. Pakistan wants to continue with their in-form XI, while the UAE may look for changes to handle Pakistan’s pace and spin. Below are the expected squads.
Pakistan
Pakistan carries depth in every area. Their top order can score quickly, the middle has all-rounders, and the bowling unit has pace and spin options. Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf will lead the pace attack, while Abrar Ahmed and Mohammad Nawaz provide spin.
Squad: Salman Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Salman Mirza.
United Arab Emirates
UAE relies heavily on captain Muhammad Waseem for runs. The middle order of Alishan Sharafu, Asif Khan, and Aryansh Sharma must support him. In bowling, Junaid Siddique and Jawadullah are key pacers, while spinners like Matiullah Khan and Simranjeet Singh can help in the middle overs.
Squad: Muhammad Waseem, Alishan Sharafu, Aryansh Sharma, Asif Khan, Dhruv Parashar, Ethan DSouza, Haider Ali, Junaid Siddique, Matiullah Khan, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Rahul Chopra, Simranjeet Singh, Muhammad Rohid Khan, Harshit Kaushik, Muhammad Zohaib, Saghir Khan.
Key Players To Watch
Some players can change the game with one performance. Pakistan’s stars have already made big marks, while UAE look to their captain and bowlers to step up.
- Fakhar Zaman — explosive opener with power hitting.
- Shaheen Afridi — strikes early with pace and swing.
- Haris Rauf — pace bowler for middle and death overs.
- Mohammad Haris — a quick scorer in the middle order.
- Abrar Ahmed — mystery spin option in the middle overs.
- Muhammad Waseem — UAE’s top scorer and captain.
- Asif Khan — steady middle-order batter for UAE.
- Junaid Siddique — experienced pacer with new-ball skills.
Broadcasting Platforms
Fans can watch this match live on major TV channels and online streaming services. Broadcasters bring live action, highlights, and analysis to cover every moment.
- TV (India): Star Sports 1/HD, Star Sports Hindi/HD, regional Star Sports.
- Digital (India): Disney+ Hotstar app and web.
- Free-to-air (India, if listed): DD Sports for select games.
Confirm channel numbers with your DTH or cable provider. A good internet plan ensures smooth streaming. Fans across India will be able to follow every ball.
What To Expect
Pakistan should control the game with their superior pace and batting. The UAE will try to stay competitive by building partnerships and bowling tight overs. If Muhammad Waseem scores big, UAE can push Pakistan to work harder. But Pakistan’s attack, led by Shaheen and Rauf can break through early.
Fans in Dubai will add to the drama. With a large Pakistani community in the stands, expect loud support and energy. UAE players will use this stage to show skills against one of the top sides. Expect a match with fast scoring from Pakistan, sharp bowling from their pacers, and small fightbacks from UAE.
Conclusion
Pakistan started this game as clear favourites. Their batting power, pace attack, and experience give them full control. The UAE will treat this as a chance to test their skills and gain respect on a big stage. If Muhammad Waseem or Asif Khan score big, the UAE can compete for short phases, but over 40 overs the gap in quality is clear. Pakistan will look to finish strong and confirm their place in the next stage, while the UAE will focus on small wins inside the game, like key wickets or tight overs. Fans can expect Pakistan to dominate, but the UAE’s spirit and energy may still add drama to the contest.
Want to test your Asia Cup knowledge? 🏆 Take our quiz now — only 5% of fans scored 100! 💯How much can you get? 👉 START
0
0
0
0
0
0
Comments
Sign up or log in to your account to leave comments and reactions
0 Comments