AL AMERAT: The Pakistan Shaheens have made a resounding statement in the ACC Men's T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2024, storming their way into the semi-finals with a dominant 114-run victory over the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the picturesque venue here on Wednesday.
The foundation of this thumping win was laid by a blistering 71-run knock from Mohammad Haris, whose aggressive batting sent the UAE bowlers on a leather hunt. Haris' blazing innings, which came off a mere 37 deliveries, was a mix of power and finesse, leaving the opposition reeling under the onslaught.
Haris' masterclass was followed by a spellbinding display of bowling by Shahnawaz Dahani, who clinched five wickets to send the UAE batting lineup into a tailspin. Dahani's impressive figures of 5-14 off his four overs were a testament to his skill and composure, as he dismantled the UAE batting resistance with his clinical variations.
The UAE, which had started their chase on a reasonable note, soon found themselves on the backfoot as Dahani's accuracy and guile led to a string of dismissals that rocked their batting core. From a tantalizing position, the UAE innings began to implode, and the likes of Haris and Dahani took advantage of the situation to drive Pakistan Shaheens towards a commanding victory.
This crushing win has propelled the Shaheens into the semi-finals of the Emerging Asia Cup 2024, and they will look to ride the momentum as they take on their next opponents in the competition. In a related development, former Pakistan coach Jason Gillespie expressed his skepticism about being left out of the selection committee for the Emerging Asia Cup.