On a cool Tuesday evening in Abu Dhabi, Pakistan pulled off a gritty five-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup 2025 Z Cricket Stadium, turning a shaky chase into a statement victory. Chasing 134, Pakistan lost five wickets in the first ten overs — the kind of collapse that usually spells doom — but Husain Talat held firm, stitching together a match-winning partnership with Mohammad Nawaz to guide his side home. It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t smooth. But it was exactly what Pakistan needed.
Chaos at the Top, Calm at the Bottom
Sri Lanka, who had stormed through the group stage unbeaten, crumbled under pressure after a decent start. At 43 for two in the sixth over, they looked set to post a competitive total. Then came the collapse. Three wickets fell for just 37 runs. Fast bowler Haris Rauf was ruthless, picking up three crucial scalps, including that of captain Dhananjaya de Silva for 20. The middle overs became a graveyard for Sri Lankan batsmen, with spinners Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana strangling the scoring rate. By the final over, Sri Lanka were all out for 130 — their lowest total in an Asia Cup Super Four match since 2018.Pakistan’s reply started like a horror movie. Two wickets down inside three overs. Three down by the sixth. Five down by the tenth. The crowd fell silent. The pitch had turned into a minefield. But then, Husain Talat walked in — not with fireworks, but with focus. He didn’t look at the scoreboard. He looked at the next ball. And the next. And the next.
Talat’s Quiet Heroics
Talat’s 47 not out wasn’t a century. It wasn’t even a half-century by traditional standards. But in context? It was everything. He batted for 72 balls. He faced 11 dot balls in a row at one point. He didn’t hit a single six. But he kept the scoreboard ticking, kept the pressure off, and kept the tailers calm. When he partnered with Mohammad Haris for 38 runs after the early collapse, he stabilized the innings. Then, with Mohammad Nawaz at the other end, he added 46 more — the kind of partnership that doesn’t make highlight reels but wins tournaments.“It wasn’t about hitting boundaries,” Talat said post-match, wiping sweat from his brow. “It was about staying there. The wicket was telling you to be patient. So we listened.”
Sri Lanka’s Dreams Dashed
For Sri Lanka, this was more than a loss. It was a collapse of momentum. They’d entered the Super Four as the only unbeaten team. Now, with two straight defeats, their path to the final is all but blocked. Even if they beat Bangladesh, they’d still need Bangladesh to lose both remaining matches — against India and Pakistan — to have any mathematical chance. And even then, net run rate would likely kill them. As one Sri Lankan analyst put it: “We didn’t just lose today. We lost control of our destiny.”Meanwhile, Pakistan’s win — their first in the Super Four stage — gives them breathing room. They now sit at two points, tied with India and Bangladesh. Their remaining fixtures — against India on September 28 and Bangladesh on October 1 — are must-wins. A win over India would all but seal their place in the final. A loss? It opens the door for Bangladesh, who still have a game in hand.
A Rare Moment of Unity
The most unexpected moment of the night didn’t come on the field. It came in the press room. Mohsin Naqvi, Pakistan’s current PCB chairman, sat alongside his two predecessors — Ramiz Raja and Najam Sethi. For four years, these three men had been locked in public feuds, trading barbs over selection policies, corruption allegations, and leadership failures. Yet here they were, shoulder to shoulder, smiling, clapping, and speaking as one.“We’ve had our differences,” Naqvi said, glancing at Raja and Sethi. “But today, we’re all just Pakistanis. And we’re proud of this team.” The Indian Express called it “a quiet revolution in Pakistani cricket politics.” No grand statements. No press releases. Just three men, united by a shared love for a team that refused to quit.
What’s Next?
Pakistan’s next challenge is India — the tournament favorites — on September 28. The match will be played under lights, on a pitch that’s expected to favor spin. If Pakistan can win, they’ll be in the final. If they lose? The pressure mounts. But they’ve already shown they can win ugly. That’s a dangerous trait.Sri Lanka, meanwhile, heads into their final match against Bangladesh with nothing to lose — and everything to prove. Their campaign is over in all but name. But cricket, as we know, loves a comeback story. Even if the odds are stacked against them.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Husain Talat’s performance compare to other match-winners in Asia Cup history?
Talat’s 47 not out under pressure ranks among the most crucial lower-order knocks in recent Asia Cup history. Unlike explosive finishers like Shahid Afridi or MS Dhoni, Talat’s win came through patience — facing 72 balls with just four boundaries. Only two players in the last 15 years have scored a match-winning 45+ in a chase under 135 with five wickets down in the first ten overs: Talat and India’s Yuvraj Singh in 2016. His strike rate of 65.2 was the lowest of any match-winner in a chase under 140 since 2010.
Why did Sri Lanka collapse so badly after a strong start?
Sri Lanka’s collapse was a perfect storm: Pakistan’s disciplined line-and-length bowling, especially Haris Rauf’s aggressive short-pitched spells, combined with a slow, grippy pitch that punished loose shots. After Kusal Perera’s dismissal, Sri Lanka’s middle order — typically their strength — failed to adapt. The top four scored 82 runs; the next four managed just 48. Their inability to rotate strike under pressure, particularly against spin, exposed a chronic weakness in their T20 approach.
What does this result mean for Pakistan’s chances in the final?
Pakistan now controls their destiny. A win against India on September 28 puts them in the final regardless of other results. Even if they lose to India, a win over Bangladesh on October 1 still keeps them alive — but they’d need Bangladesh to lose to India first. Their net run rate is currently +0.25, just behind India’s +1.12. If they win both, they’ll likely finish second and face India in the final. If they lose one, they’re out.
Why were three PCB chairmen sitting together — and why is that significant?
For the first time since 2021, Mohsin Naqvi, Ramiz Raja, and Najam Sethi — three men who publicly clashed over corruption, selection bias, and leadership — appeared united. Their rivalry had fractured Pakistan cricket’s public image. Seeing them applaud together, speaking as one team, signals a rare moment of institutional healing. It’s not policy change — but it’s psychological change. Fans noticed. Players noticed. The message: cricket comes before politics.
Can Sri Lanka still qualify for the final?
Technically, yes — but realistically, no. Sri Lanka can only reach two points, same as Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh. To qualify, they’d need Bangladesh to lose both remaining matches — against India and Pakistan — and then beat Sri Lanka by a massive margin in their head-to-head. Even then, Sri Lanka’s net run rate of -0.84 is far behind the others. Their only hope is a mathematical anomaly, not a sporting one.
What’s the significance of the Z Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi for this tournament?
The Z Cricket Stadium has become Asia Cup’s de facto home since 2022, hosting every Super Four match. Its slow, low pitch favors spinners and rewards patience — a test of temperament over power. Teams that adapt — like Pakistan today — thrive. Those that don’t — like Sri Lanka — crumble. It’s not glamorous, but it’s fair. And in a tournament full of pressure, fairness matters.