From Harmless Rashid To Sub-Par Haris: Major Takeaways From UAE Tri-Series Before Asia Cup

Major takeaways before Asia Cup [Source: AFP Photo]

The UAE tri-nation series, featuring the hosts, UAE, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, ended with the Men in Green defeating the Afghan team to clinch the win and the trophy. Pakistan were ruthless in their approach as Mohammad Nawaz picked up a fifer and won the game for his side by a landslide margin of 75 runs.

The entire tournament featured some of the best T20I contests in recent times as all three teams showcased their best game before the Asia Cup 2025 commences on Tuesday. The mini competition before the marquee Asia Cup gave us a hint of what to expect from these three sides.

Here are 3 major takeaways from Pakistan’s finale win and the entire tournament.

1) Pakistan's opening woes continues

The tournament was played on sluggish tracks, and it exposed Pakistan’s new-look opening combination of Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub. Neither of the two was consistent enough, and it put pressure on the middle order to deliver the goods.

(Farhan and Saim Ayub in Tri-series)

• As the data interprets, both the batters had an average tournament, and while Sahibzada Farhan had a strike rate of 150, he only managed to score 63 runs. On the other hand, Ayub scored 111 runs, but had a strike rate of just 132.
• Heading into the Asia Cup, this is a worrying aspect for the Pakistan side, which aims to claim the coveted tournament.

2) Rashid Khan, no more a threat

Afghanistan spinner, Rashid Khan, managed to pick up 9 wickets in the tri-series, but it came at a cost of a higher economy rate. No longer do the opposition batters fear him as Rashid gave away runs at 10.67. Even in the finals, his spell was the turning point for Afghanistan as the skipper gave away 38 runs in four overs, despite picking up 3 crucial wickets.

Afghanistan needs him to deliver the goods in Asia up, but Rashid’s form is a cause of worry for the team.

3) Pakistan all-rounders key for them in Asia Cup

While the Pakistan batters failed in almost all the games, it was their all-rounders who performed exceedingly well and won them the tournament. In the final, Mohammad Nawaz came to the party and scalped a fifer. In the first game of the tournament, captain Agha Salman scored a brisk fifty to seal the win.

Even the likes of Faheem Ashraf chipped in with wickets as Pakistan’s reliance on the all-rounders paid dividends and they managed to win the competition.

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