UAE coach Lalchand Rajput said his side will not be overawed by Pakistan as they prepare for a decisive Asia Cup 2025 group match on Wednesday, September 17 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
The hosts head into the encounter buoyed by their emphatic 42-run victory over Oman, built on an explosive 88-run opening stand between Muhammad Waseem and Alishan Sharafu, with Junaid Siddique leading the charge in the bowling department.
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Although UAE struggled in their opening game against India, dismissed for their lowest T20I score, Rajput views that setback as a lesson that has toughened the team. Their confidence is also bolstered by the recent tri-series in Sharjah, where they went toe-to-toe with Pakistan and saw Asif Khan blaze a quickfire 35-ball 77.
‘Got to carry this momentum’
With Suryakumar Yadav’s India already through, this fixture effectively acts as a knockout for the Super Four. Rajput stressed that a single inspired display could script a landmark moment in UAE cricket.
“Yeah, a win is always good. We’ve got to carry this momentum forward. The best thing is that we’ve already played Pakistan in the tri-series, so we know where we stand. It just takes one good performance, and on that particular day, we can definitely make it as a team to the Super Four,” Rajput told the reporters in the pre-match press conference.
“We played very good cricket today, and we’ll try to make sure we bring our best again tomorrow because that’s a do-or-die game for us. It would be huge if we qualify for the last four,” Rajput added.
As for Pakistan, they started their campaign with a comfortable win over Jatinder Singh’s Oman but faltered badly against India, exposing concerns over their middle order. Off the field, their preparations have also been overshadowed by the much-talked-about handshake controversy involving Suryakumar and the Indian team.
The episode not only strained relations within the camp but also led to threats of withdrawal from the tournament, before the PCB eventually agreed to continue. The distraction has left a dent in Pakistan’s confidence heading into this do-or-die clash, making the contest against the UAE even more intriguing.