DHAKA, Sept 25, 2025 (BSS)—Bangladesh’s hope to play the Asia Cup final was ruined after tasting a 11-run defeat to Pakistan in a ‘do or die’ contest at Dubai International Cricket Stadium today.

Pakistan managed to post a moderate 135-8 but defended it by restricting Bangladesh to 124-9, thanks to a superlative bowling performance of pace bowling duo Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rouf.

The duo shared six wickets, claiming three wickets each in a measly bowling to help the side set up final against archrivals India on Sunday.

The two old foes had already met twice in group phase and Super Fours with India winning those two matches with incredible ease.

Bangladesh appeared to be clear favourite midway through the game when they held back Pakistan to a meager total.

But Afridi put the side in the contest right from the start, dismissing Bangladesh opener Parvez Hossain Emon for duck in the second ball of the chase.

He then followed it up with the wicket of Towhid Hridoy (5) as Bangladesh found them in wanting with scoreboard reading 23-2 in fifth over.

Afridi’s tight bowling was complemented by the spinners with Mohammad Nawaz and Saim Ayub strangling Bangladesh.

Ayub took 2-16 in four overs while Nawaz grabbed 1-14 in three overs, keeping Bangladesh at bay.

Shamim Patwari who top-scored for Bangladesh with 30 gave Bangladesh a slim hope but it was shattered by Afridi who came back in his second spell to grab his wicket and finished with 3-17 in four overs.

Haris Rauf (3-33) then struck twice in three balls, giving Pakistan a stranglehold on the game.

However, Rishad Hossain made 16 not out to reduce the margin.

Bangladesh bowlers bowled impeccably to raise the hope of a victory earlier in the first part of the match.

Taskin Ahmed, who was rested during India clash yesterday, spearheaded the attack with 3-28.

Two spinners—Mahedi Hasan and Rishad Hossain—played a perfect foil to him with two wickets apiece while Mustafizur Rahman finished with 1-33.

Mohammad Haris made team-best 31 and Mohammad Nawaz added 25.

Most of the Pakistan batters got good start but Bangladesh bowlers’ intelligent bowling denied them any significant partnership.

Bangladesh won the crucial toss and opted to bowl first, a move justified well by Taskin who struck in the fourth ball of the innings, having claimed the wicket of Sahibzada Farhan for 4.

Mahedi Hasan got the better of Saim Ayub for duck in the second over, leaving Pakistan two down for five runs.

Bangladesh bowler stifled Pakistan in the first powerplay, allowing them to take only 29 runs. That set up the whole things indeed.

Rishad Hossain got into act with the wicket of Fakhar Zaman who made 13 and Mustafizur Rahman dismissed Pakistan captain Salman Agha for 19, to wreck Pakistan further.

Rishad and Mahedi denied Pakistan playing freely in the middle overs but Pakistan looked to hit back through Mohammad Haris.

Shaheen Shah Afridi in the meantime played a cameo but before he made more carnage, Taskin removed him for 13 ball-19.

Haris and Mohammad Nawaz shared 38 runs for the seventh wicket as Pakistan looked to head toward 150.

Mahedi broke the dangerous partnership by removing Haris with a return  catch before Taskin picked up the wicket of Nawaz.

Fahim Ashraf made nine ball-14 not out to help Pakistan go past 130.