Ramiz Raja’s Analysis of Pakistan’s Victory Against UAE

Former cricketer and commentator Ramiz Raja provided his insights following Pakistan’s 31-run victory over the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the fifth match of the T20I tri-nation series at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

In his post-match analysis on his online platform, Raja shared a detailed evaluation of Pakistan’s performance.

“Pakistan secured the win, but the overall quality was lacking. If opportunities to dismiss Nawaz and Fakhar had been seized, given our top order’s difficulties, Pakistan might have struggled to reach 130. Consequently, the UAE could have remained competitive, potentially even winning,” Raja observed.

He noted that the dropped catches offered a reprieve to Pakistan’s batsmen.

“Those missed opportunities allowed Nawaz and Fakhar to settle in. Afterward, the UAE’s bowling became erratic, featuring deliveries that were either full tosses on the legs or wide outside off. Their field placements were inconsistent with their bowling, making them appear disorganized,” he elaborated.

The former cricketer critiqued the UAE’s fielding and late-overs bowling, asserting that these deficiencies enabled Pakistan to achieve a more substantial score.

“In general, their performance in the field, with the ball, and especially in the final overs was substandard. This contributed to Pakistan reaching 170, a total too challenging for the UAE to pursue,” he stated.

Raja praised Pakistan’s bowling unit for their efforts and acknowledged Abrar Ahmed’s influential bowling spell.

“Pakistan’s bowling is undoubtedly strong. The disparity between the two sides was apparent against the UAE. This recovery is vital for Pakistan, especially if they face Afghanistan in the final, as it would serve as preparation for future challenges,” he commented.

Raja emphasized the significance of Pakistan’s squad depth and lauded the emergence of new impactful players, highlighting Abrar Ahmed’s standout performance.

He pointed out that Abrar not only achieved career-best figures but also demonstrated composure during critical moments.

“Abrar’s bowling was outstanding, resulting in his best career figures. I commend his ability to step in from the bench, perform under pressure, and deliver effectively for Pakistan.”

The former PCB chairman also voiced concerns regarding Pakistan’s overarching strategy, noting a perceived inconsistency in team selections.

He suggested that while the batting lineup enjoys consistent support despite struggles, there seems to be a greater inclination towards experimenting with the bowling attack, specifically the spinners.

“The crucial question is whether Abrar and Muqeeb can play together effectively. Against a team like the UAE—still developing, inexperienced, instinctive in their approach, struggling with physical fitness, weak in fielding, and technically limited in batting—you could easily dominate them with two mystery spinners,” he explained.

“However, only one was utilized while the other rested. It appears that there is more experimentation with the bowling department compared to the batting,” he added.

Raja also recounted a conversation with Salman Ali Agha.

“I inquired with Salman Ali Agha about this, and he mentioned that the batting lineup is well-defined and stable, so changes are unnecessary. However, I believe the top order should exert more effort,” he conveyed.

In his concluding remarks, Raja stressed that the batting unit cannot afford to be complacent, especially with major tournaments approaching.

He highlighted that while the team secured a victory, vulnerabilities in technique and approach were noticeable and require immediate attention if Pakistan aims to compete against stronger adversaries.

“Losing wickets to spinners on this pitch is unacceptable. Pakistan struggled against both pace, revealing technical weaknesses, and spin,” he noted.

“This is an area requiring immediate improvement as the Asia Cup is imminent, allowing minimal room for mistakes. The top order must improve and perform better against both spin and pace,” he concluded.