Pakistan kicked off their Asia Cup 2025 campaign in impressive fashion, securing a commanding 93-run victory over Oman at the Dubai International Stadium on Friday.
Set a modest target of 161 runs, Oman’s batting lineup struggled to withstand the pressure of Pakistan’s disciplined bowling attack, collapsing for just 67 runs in 16.4 overs. This crushing defeat marks a disappointing start for Oman in their debut appearance at the Asia Cup.
Hammad Mirza was the lone fighter for Oman, top-scoring with 27 runs from 23 balls, including three boundaries and a six. However, only Aamir Kaleem (13) and Shakeel Ahmed (10) could join him in double figures as Pakistan’s bowlers dismantled the opposition.
Pakistan’s bowling attack was led by Saim Ayub, Sufiyan Muqeem, and Faheem Ashraf, each claiming two wickets. Shaheen Shah Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, and Mohammad Nawaz also made key contributions, with one wicket apiece.
Pakistan’s Batting Performance:
Earlier in the match, Pakistan’s innings got off to a shaky start. After opting to bat first, Saim Ayub was dismissed for a golden duck on the second ball of the innings, leaving the team at a precarious 4/1. However, a solid recovery followed as Sahibzada Farhan and Haris formed a partnership worth 85 runs for the second wicket.
Farhan’s departure, caught and bowled by Aamir Kaleem for 29 runs off 29 balls, brought the middle order into play. Kaleem continued his fine bowling form by dismissing Salman Ali Agha (0) and Pakistan’s top scorer Haris (66 off 43 balls), who had earlier launched a counterattack with seven fours and three sixes.
The Pakistani batting further faltered with wickets falling in quick succession, but experienced campaigner Fakhar Zaman steadied the ship. Alongside Hasan Nawaz, he contributed to a brief 18-run partnership for the fifth wicket before Nawaz (9 off 15) was dismissed by Faisal.
With Pakistan at 120/5 in the 16th over, Mohammad Nawaz played a blistering cameo, smashing 19 runs from 10 balls to push the total to 148/5 in 18.5 overs. Fakhar remained not out at 23 off 16 balls, ensuring Pakistan reached a competitive total of 160/7 in their allotted 20 overs.
Oman’s Bowling Attack:
In response, Oman’s bowlers, led by Aamir and Faisal, who took three wickets each, tried to keep the run chase under control but were ultimately overwhelmed by Pakistan’s aggressive batting. Muhammad Nadeem added a single wicket to their tally, but the target was too steep for the Omani side to chase down.
Standings and Next Match:
With the victory, Pakistan secured two points and moved to second in the Group B standings, boasting a net run rate of 4.650. The Green Shirts will face off against their arch-rivals India in their next match on Sunday, also at the Dubai International Stadium, where the stakes are sure to be high.
Read more about Asia Cup
“https://pulsepakistan.com.pk/wp-admin/post.php?post=3523&action=edit”
