A high-stakes Group A clash at the Dubai International Stadium saw Pakistan reel under pressure early on against the United Arab Emirates, as two openers – Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan – departed cheaply in a pivotal must-win match. What promised to be a momentum builder for Pakistan instead turned into one of those nervy starts you hope to avoid.

Drama Before Play

The match was delayed by one hour — not by the weather or pitch prep, but because Pakistan initially refused to leave their hotel. The root cause: the PCB had lodged a formal complaint over the conduct of match referee Andy Pycroft following the contentious no-handshake incident with India. Dual demands were in the air: remove Pycroft or no match.

Eventually, Pycroft apologised to skipper Salman Ali Agha and manager Naveed Akram Cheema, attributing the earlier move to a “miscommunication.” With that, Pakistan’s side agreed to take the field. The ICC promised an inquiry into the code of conduct violation.

The Toss and Setup

After the delay, things finally got rolling. UAE won the toss and chose to bowl first. A smart call, considering Pakistan’s recent vulnerabilities up top and the importance of early wickets in a must-win game.

Pakistan’s playing XI featured: Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan as openers; Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Fakhar Zaman, Salman Ali Agha (captain), Khushdil Shah, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed.

For UAE: Alishan Sharafu, Muhammad Waseem (captain), Asif Khan, Muhammad Zohaib, Harshit Kaushik, Rahul Chopra (wk), Dhruv Parashar, Haider Ali, Muhammad Rohid Khan, Simranjeet Singh, and the man of the moment, Junaid Siddique.

Early Collapse: Saim & Farhan Gone

Pakistan’s nightmare start began almost immediately. Within the first over, Junaid Siddique launched the collapse by sending Saim Ayub back for a duck. Ayub’s stay at the crease lasted just a couple deliveries before Rohid Khan held the catch.

Then, in the third over, Siddique struck again. Sahibzada Farhan tried to scoop a delivery aimed at his body. The shot was miscued, the ball top-edged, and Pakistan suddenly found themselves two down. 9/2 after 2.4 overs. Momentum swung sharply in UAE’s favour.

Battling Back: Fakhar & Agha Attempt Rescue

With early wickets tumbling, Fakhar Zaman and captain Salman Ali Agha stepped in to shore up the innings. Fakhar, in particular, showed flashes of life. Amid tight bowling and testing early movement, he smashed a couple of huge sixes—one launched out to nearly 90 metres—pushing Pakistan back into something like respectability.

Salman Ali Agha, meanwhile, played more cautiously, trying to anchor while Fakhar’s aggression created the chance to score more freely. But it was far from smooth—every run felt hard-earned. UAE’s bowling attack, buoyed by the early strikes, kept the pressure on.

Bigger Picture: Stakes, Tension & What’s at Risk

Pakistan came into this match knowing they must win to reach the Super Four stage. Their campaign so far: a win over Oman, a loss to India. UAE, meanwhile, with a win here, could threaten that status. One slip and Pakistan’s tournament could end early.

On top of the cricket pressure, though, was off-field tension. The dispute over sportsmanship and the role of match referee Pycroft added a layer of distraction. The fact that the team delayed appearing for the match shows how much this had gotten under Pakistan’s skin. It’s unusual, even in high-pressure tournaments, for things to go this far.

Key Moments That Shifted Momentum

• Junaid Siddique’s early double: Took both openers in quick succession; put Pakistan immediately on the back foot.
• UAE’s disciplined bowling: Rohid Khan and the others capitalized on early movement and pressure. Pakistan’s run rate sagged.
• Fakhar’s counter-attack: While not enough to erase the damage completely, it kept Pakistan from going completely under.
• Captaincy & composure: Agha’s approach mattered—he tried stitching partnerships, navigating through a tough start.

What Pakistan Must Do From Here (What I Think)

Just my take, not gospel:

1. Steady partnership: After two fast wickets, a solid 50+ run stand is crucial. Someone has to take a stabilizing role (could be Fakhar or Agha).
2. Rotate strike, pick boundaries smartly: No easy flicks; smart risk-reward.
3. Use bowling wisely later: UAE will try accelerating. Pakistan’s bowlers need to deny them momentum up top and keep the middle overs tight.
4. Mindset reset: The pre-match controversy might be behind them now, but pressure carries momentum. Focus only on cricket now.