Pakistan vs UAE T20I Final Highlights: Babar Azam’s Century Secures Tri-Series Victory & What Comes Next for Team Pakistan

Babar Azam’s scintillating century powered Pakistan to a commanding Tri-Series victory against UAE, cementing their status as T20 contenders ahead of crucial upcoming tournaments.

The skipper’s unbeaten 103 off 58 balls anchored Pakistan’s 7-wicket triumph in Sharjah, outclassing UAE’s competitive 182/5 with 10 balls to spare. This emphatic win provides vital momentum as Pakistan shifts focus to ODI preparations for the Champions Trophy.

While UAE briefly stunned Pakistan earlier in the series, Babar’s men delivered when it mattered most – showcasing both batting firepower and strategic squad rotations ahead of broader 2025 campaigns.

Pakistan vs UAE T20I Final: Babar Azam’s Century Seals Tri-Series Victory

Pakistan emerged victorious in the T20I Tri-Series final against UAE with a commanding 7-wicket win in Sharjah. Captain Babar Azam delivered a masterclass innings, scoring an unbeaten 103 off just 58 balls to chase down UAE’s competitive total of 182/5 with 10 balls to spare. This performance not only secured the series trophy but also reinforced Pakistan’s dominance in T20 cricket.

The match showcased Pakistan’s balanced approach, with contributions from both batsmen and bowlers. Muhammad Waseem’s spirited 67 for UAE went in vain as Pakistan’s batting lineup proved too strong. The victory marks an important milestone for the team as they prepare for upcoming international tournaments.

Mr. Owl: Babar’s century was a timely reminder of why he’s ranked No.1 in T20Is. His ability to pace an innings while maintaining a high strike rate makes him Pakistan’s most valuable player. The way he dismantled UAE’s bowling in the 18th over (three consecutive sixes!) showed complete domination.

Key Factors in Pakistan’s Victory

• Babar Azam’s 103* (58 balls) – his 4th T20I century
• 112-run partnership with Fakhar Zaman (45 off 28)
• Disciplined bowling restricting UAE to 182 despite good batting conditions
• Aggressive powerplay (56 runs in 6 overs) setting platform for chase

UAE’s Tournament Performance: From Underdogs to Serious Contenders

The UAE cricket team, though ultimately falling short in the final, demonstrated significant progress throughout the tournament. Their shock victory over Pakistan in Match 3, where they defended 149 runs, announced their arrival as a serious T20 competitor. Left-arm spinner Aayan Afzal Khan was particularly impressive with figures of 3/19 in that match.

This tournament performance suggests UAE could challenge for automatic qualification to the 2026 T20 World Cup if they maintain their current trajectory. Their schedule includes important upcoming matches:

• April: Hosting Nepal in a Tri-Series
• June: Participating in Asia Cup Qualifiers
• August: Potential bilateral series against Oman

Mr. Owl: Don’t underestimate UAE’s progress. Their young players like Muhammad Waseem and Aayan Afzal Khan are showing they can compete with full member nations. In 2-3 years, they might become the next Afghanistan in terms of rapid development.

Pakistan’s Strategic Decisions: Resting Stars and Testing Bench Strength

Pakistan’s management made several interesting selection calls during the series, most notably resting pace spearhead Shaheen Afridi for the final after securing early qualification. This allowed them to test bench strength with Salman Mirza and Abrar Ahmed getting opportunities.

The strategy raised some eyebrows, particularly given UAE’s strong batting form, but ultimately paid off as Pakistan’s depth proved sufficient to secure victory. These decisions suggest the team is thinking long-term about player workload and squad rotation.

Player Performances That Stood Out

Mr. Owl: Resting Shaheen was a smart move despite criticism. Pakistan needs him fresh for bigger challenges ahead. Abrar Ahmed’s emergence as a wicket-taking option is the real story here – he might solve Pakistan’s longstanding middle-over bowling concerns.

Impact on ICC Rankings and World Cup Preparation

The series victory earned Pakistan 4 valuable ICC ranking points, consolidating their position as the world’s third-ranked T20I team. While this won’t affect their T20 World Cup 2025 seeding (the draw is already made), it provides psychological momentum.

More importantly, the tournament served as valuable preparation for Pakistan’s busy schedule ahead, which includes:

• February: Champions Trophy warm-up matches
• March: Potential series against South Africa
• May: T20 World Cup preparation camp

The team’s ability to handle pressure in knockout situations, as demonstrated in this final, will be crucial for their World Cup campaign. With several players finding form and the bench showing depth, Pakistan appears well-positioned for the challenges ahead.

Fan Reactions and Captaincy Debate

The tournament sparked passionate discussions among cricket fans, particularly regarding Babar Azam’s captaincy. While his batting was unquestionably brilliant, some critics pointed to conservative field placements during UAE’s innings as evidence of tactical limitations.

Social media reactions were polarized:

• “Babar’s the best batsman-captain since Miandad!” – @PakCricketFan
• “Great hundred, but why so defensive with fields against UAE?” – @CricketAnalyst
• “This team can win the World Cup if they play like today” – @GreenArmy

Mr. Owl: The captaincy debate misses the point. Babar scored a match-winning hundred while captaining – that’s leadership by example. Pakistan wins 80% of T20Is when he scores fifty-plus. Keep him as captain until at least the 2025 World Cup.

What’s Next for Both Teams?

Pakistan immediately transitions to ODI preparations with crucial warm-up matches ahead of the Champions Trophy:

For UAE, the focus shifts to maintaining their improved ranking position and continuing to develop young talent. Their upcoming fixtures represent opportunities to prove their tournament performance wasn’t a fluke and to stake their claim for automatic World Cup qualification.

This Tri-Series may have been a relatively small event in cricket’s global calendar, but it provided valuable insights into both teams’ development and future prospects. For Pakistan, it was confirmation of their T20 strength; for UAE, evidence of their rapid progress in the format.

Mr. Owl: The real winner here is Associate cricket. Matches like these show the gap between full members and top associates is shrinking. ICC should organize more such series to grow the game globally.