Guerilla Cricket Live Blog
This page is no longer live, but check back soon for more Live Blogs!
After being blown to smithereens by India in all the Asia Cup 2025 fixtures hitherto, both Pakistan and Bangladesh would fancy an opportunity to settle scores with the Suryakumar Yadav-led side in the grand finale. To get that chance at having the last laugh, India’s neighbours meet tonight at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in an encounter that decides the other protagonist of the title clash.
Rishad Hossain can be very proud of himself, for he has had a couple of excellent games, but Pakistan are going to lock horns with India in the final of this regional tournament. It has been a lopsided rivarly in recent times but buoyed by their journey to the title clash, expect Pakistan to turn up the heat come the blockbuster on Sunday, 28th September.
It is all but over in Dubai as Pakistan have one leg in the final. Bangladesh could never get going in the chase and their Asia Cup campaign seems to be taking its last breaths.
Crafty off-cutter with fingers rolled across the seam and that proves too hot to handle for Tanzim Hasan Sakib. He is early into the agricultural swipe, the ball lands on top of the off-stump and flicks the bail.
Rauf knows these are easy pickings as Pakistan make light work of the Bangladeshi tail. Taskin Ahmed has a big hack at the good-length ball and loses his poles.
Shamim attempts a reverse scoop and can only chip a dolly to backward point off the toe end of the bat. A fine back of the hand slower ball to deceive the well-set batter. He had the wherewithal to take Bangladesh closer to the finish line but Afridi has been outstanding on the big night, claiming his third wicket at the cost of 17 runs. The spearhead bowls out, now Rauf will be keen to mop up the tail as Pakistan smell the sweet fragnance of victory.
Shamim scored an ebullient 42 against Sri Lanka and he is batting on 30 currently. The onus is squarely on the stocky southpaw to drive Bangladesh home. They need 46 runs off 26 ball to fix a meeting with India in the final. Shaheen Afridi will bring the next over while Haris Rauf has two in his kitty.
The umpire’s call on impact saved Shamim Hossain in the previous over by Mohammad Nawaz but Pakistan have been swiftly provided another opportunity to smile as Saim Ayub’s carrom ball draws a tame jab from Nurul Hasan. Safe as houses is Mohammad Nawaz at long-off. The dot-ball pressure got on his nerves, sinking the 19-run partnership.
Shamim receives one in his radar and he doesn’t hold back. The slog sweep has been executed well and the ball settles into the crowd. Abrar Ahmed has a stern look on his face. Can Nurul and Shamim rescue their side from a precarious position?
Loose shot from Mahedi Hasan and Pakistan are all over Bangladesh like a rash. Tossed up on middle and leg, Mahedi steps out to go inside-out, he wanted to go over extra-cover and into the gap, but ends up bunting it straight to the deep cover fielder. Bangladesh are knee deep in trouble in what was supposed to be an achievable pursuit.
Bangladesh have lost an extra wicket but both the teams were disappointing with the bat in the first six overs, struggling to harness the mandatory fielding restrictions. Abrar Ahmed to roll his arm over on the other side as the Hasans, Mahedi and Nurul, endeavour to bail their team out of choppy waters. The latter, who was called up to the T20I side after a very long gap, opened his account with an unconvincing six.
Saim Ayub has been a shrinking violet with the bat of late but oh boy, look at him fielding like a livewire. He created a run-out chance earlier thanks to a snazzy stop at backward point, and has now gobbled up two catches in quick succession, the latter being of Saif Hassan who has hit a dozen sixes in this Asia Cup.
What an effortless shot that was! Saif has truly been a revelation in this season. A short of length delivery on middle and leg, arching in, Saif helps it along the way with utter nonchalance and the ball flies over deep backward square-leg. He backs it up with a flamboyant uppish cut off the express quick.
That’s the early wicket Pakistan needed, and no prizes for guessing it has been orchestrated by Shaheen Shah Afridi. A banged-in delivery on middle, climbing on the ribs, Parvez pulls it high, there’s height but no distance as Nawaz shuffles to his left from deep backward square-leg to complete a sharp catch.
Pakistan have shown the stomach for a fight to put up a fighting total after being down in the dumps around the halfway stage but it might still be a touch under-par in this crucial affair. For Bangladesh, Taskin Ahmed led the way with three wickets, while Rishad and Mahedi Hasan scalped two each. The bowlers did their job, and now the Asian Tigers will back themselves to chase this manageable target down. There’ll be high hopes from the on-song Saif Hassan.
Nawaz belted a short ball to kick off Taskin Ahmed’s final over but the experienced quick has had the last laugh. On a length outside off, Nawaz wants a piece of it but miscues it high up in the air. Parvez Emon back-pedals, keeps his eyes on the ball and snaffles a well-judged reverse cup catch that makes amends for his earlier error. Never easy to catch the swirling ball over your shoulder, but full credit to the diminutive fielder on this occasion.
Nawaz was handed a life on the last ball of the 14th over and it might just cost Bangladesh dearly if the six he slams off Mahedi Hasan is anything to go by. Although the off-spinner has caught the well-set Mohammad Harris off his own bowling a ball later to fight redemption. It is important to note that for the first time, Pakistan’s run rate has breached the 6-run mark.
Mohammad Haris is playing a pivotal knock! Short of a length around middle, he shifts into position quickly and scoops Mustafizur over fine leg to gain six. Made optimal use of the pace and sent it sailing over the fence.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh should’ve ideally waved off Mohammad Nawaz but the fielder at sweeper cover dropped a regulation take. The bug is contagious and Bangladesh need to pull up their socks in the field if they wish to restrict Pakistan to an extremely gettable total.
Alas, it was merely an entertaining cameo and nothing more from Shaheen Afridi as a full toss spells his doom. Perhaps wasn’t expecting it as he tried whipping it away at his own peril. Excellent catch from Jaker Ali given the ball went miles up in the air. Always a prudent idea to let the glovesman settle underneath skiers.
He was dropped twice in an over against the man of the moment Rishad Hossain, and Bangladesh are paying the price as Shaheen Afridi cuts loose. Picks the bones out of two short deliveries and sends them soaring over deep mid-wicket. This guy is no slouch with the bat. Can he spare Pakistan the blushes, just like he did against India with the willow?
He seemed to be holding the innings together but a successful review by Bangladesh sends Salman Agha packing. His T20I strike rate is nothing to write home about and he did little to improve it in this instance.
Short of a length ball around off and the skipper got cramped for room. A thick inside edge is pouched by the keeper. Pakistan have lost half their side and they are yet to attain the 50-run mark.
Drinks are on the field now. Pakistan will have to find a way to reach a respectable score after losing the bulk of their batting resources in the first half of the innings. Mustafizur Rahman to operate after the break.
Rishad can do no wrong at the moment as even his half-tracker produces a moment of celebration for Bangladesh. Hussain Talat cuts it towards backward point and the fielder stationed there grabs a good low catch.
Lowest scores in PowerPlay this Asia Cup:
23 – HK vs AFG, Abu Dhabi
27 – AFG vs BAN, ABu Dhabi
27 – PAK vs BAN, Dubai*
30 – BAN vs SL, Abu Dhabi
Rishad Hossain was on fire against favourites India and he has made an instant impact tonight as well. Was involved in a couple of catches earlier and has now seen the back of Fakhar Zaman, whose ungainly knock ends on 13 off 20 balls.
He takes on the leg-spinner, eyes the aerial route, but fails to get enough elevation behind his lofted drive. Sakib at wide long-off takes a well-judged catch. Pakistan in pressing need of a partnership as their top-order is gone without making a noteworthy contribution.
Salman Agha is fetching the occasional boundaries. This was on the shorter side by Mustafizur and the captain put his dancing shoes on before lofting it over the man at cover. Nonetheless, this PowerPlay has well and truly belonged to Bangladesh as they have not only managed to keep a lid on the scoring rate but also picked up two wickets.
Fakhar Zaman and Salman Agha are helping Pakistan stabilize themselves after a dreadful beginning. Bangladesh were excellent in the field the other night against India and will have to keep the squeeze on as they play a do-or-die game.
Pakistan have stuck with the young all-rounder but he is yet to show up with the bat in this edition. He wants to clear the infield but Mahedi Hasan keeps it flat and disallows him the flight to be able to get underneath the ball. Chipped straight to mid-on. Bangladesh are off to a wonderful start as both openers are back in the hut.
