Pakistan’s win over the UAE, which sealed their place in the tri‑nation series final, came down to individual brilliance once more, with Fakhar Zaman and Abrar Ahmed making the biggest contributions in their area of expertise.
After Fakhar’s superb 77 rescued Pakistan from a precarious position with the bat, Abrar dismantled the UAE’s batting lineup with a career‑best four‑wicket haul for just nine runs. The spinner attributed his game‑changing performance to the hunger built up while sitting on the sidelines earlier in the series.
Speaking to the media after the game, Abrar Ahmed revealed that losing his place to Sufiyan Muqeem helped him rediscover his best form.
“I’ve been performing in the PSL for the last two years. When you sit outside, your hunger increases—you just wait for the moment when you’ll get a chance to perform,” he said. Abrar added that he understands Mike Hesson’s plan to give everyone a shot to stake their claim.
“The coach is giving opportunities to everyone,” he added.
Despite strong PSL and international performances, Abrar Ahmed has yet to cement himself as a regular in Pakistan’s bowling lineup largely due to his up and down form. He played only a single game during the away series against Bangladesh and was on the sidelines for the first three fixtures of the tri‑series before replacing Sufiyan in the XI due to the latter’s struggles.
His time away from the playing XI has reignited Abrar Ahmed’s fire, and Pakistan will hope he brings that magic to the final against Afghanistan and into the upcoming Asia Cup.
If last night was any indication, Pakistan may have found the spin weapon they need as they build a squad capable of challenging for the T20 World Cup next year.