Asif Khan Reflects on UAE’s Fighting Performance Against Pakistan in Sharjah

SHARJAH: UAE’s explosive middle-order batter Asif Khan, a former first-class cricketer for Lahore, lauded his team’s fighting spirit despite a 31-run loss to Pakistan in the ongoing T20I tri-nation series at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

Khan, who smashed a blazing 77 off 35 balls, kept UAE in contention during their chase of Pakistan’s formidable 208-run target. The hosts eventually fell short, finishing at 176-8, but not without leaving a strong impression.

“As a relatively inexperienced side, we lost due to small mistakes; otherwise, we could have pulled it off,” said Asif in the post-match press conference.

Born in Pakistan in 1990, Asif Khan has been a key figure in UAE’s recent rise in T20 cricket. He praised UAE captain Muhammad Waseem for his aggressive start to the innings but noted that Waseem’s run-out shifted the momentum.

“Our plan was to save wickets and go for power-hitting in the last overs. It worked to an extent, but Pakistan’s bowling held us back.”

Despite the loss, Khan emphasized the positives, calling Sharjah UAE’s “home ground advantage” and pointing out that recent training and match experience have boosted the team’s confidence ahead of the upcoming Asia Cup.

“We gave the big teams a wake-up call. This tournament is preparation for the Asia Cup, and the performance against Pakistan gave us belief.”

He also discussed playing conditions, citing dew as a factor that eased second-innings batting and stating that UAE’s strength lies in disciplined bowling.

“If we can restrict opponents to 170-180, we have a real chance.”

The match marked Pakistan’s second consecutive win in the tri-series, which features UAE, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Despite the result, UAE’s spirited display, particularly Khan’s heroics, has earned them respect on the international stage.

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