Last Updated on 25 seconds by Charbel Coorey

The 5th match of the 2025 Asia Cup Super Four stage is a virtual semi-final. Like the 2022 T20 World Cup, Bangladesh and Pakistan will go head-to-head for a shot at progressing to the next stage, this time the Asia Cup Final.

Bangladesh have to pick themselves up quickly after defeat to India yesterday. The Tigers fought hard to restrict Suryakumar Yadav’s team after yet another Abhishek Sharma onslaught. However, they couldn’t quite get going with the bat despite Saif Hassan’s second-straight half-century. How quickly they can respond in the Dubai heat will be key.

For Pakistan, they have already been involved in a do-or-die match this tournament. Their crucial win over Sri Lanka has put them in this position, with their bowlers, namely Shaheen Shah Afridi and Abrar Ahmed, producing the goods. However, the middle overs’ batting must improve, especially against a Bangladesh team who have the bowlers to trouble this inconsistent Pakistani batting lineup.

Asia Cup 2025 Super Four 5th Match: BAN vs PAK Probable Playing XIs

Hussain Talat proved to be an excellent addition with both bat and ball. Mohammad Nawaz also produced a vital innings.

Pakistan: 1. Sahibzada Farhan, 2. Fakhar Zaman, 3. Saim Ayub, 4. Salman Agha (c), 5. Hussain Talat, 6. Mohammad Haris (wk), 7. Mohammad Nawaz, 8. Faheem Ashraf, 9. Shaheen Shah Afridi, 10. Haris Rauf, 11. Abrar Ahmed

According to ESPNcricinfo, Litton Das and Taskin Ahmed are expected to return for Bangladesh.

Bangladesh: 1. Tanzid Hasan, 2. Saif Hassan, 3. Litton Das (c & wk), 4. Towhid Hridoy, 5. Shamim Hossain, 6. Jaker Ali, 7. Rishad Hossain, 8. Tanzim Hasan Sakib, 9. Nasum Ahmed, 10. Taskin Ahmed, 11. Mustafizur Rahman

Dubai International Stadium Pitch Report and Weather

Batting in the middle overs has been tricky for teams in this tournament. A good start with the bat in the powerplay is important in getting a total around 170 at least.

The average first innings score at Dubai in this Asia Cup is 143.25 (155.57 if you exclude UAE’s 57 against India). The chasing team has won five of the eight matches, with Pakistan (vs UAE and Oman) and India (vs Bangladesh) the only teams to win batting first.

Fantasy Cricket Tips for PAK vs BAN: Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Top wicket-keeper picks:

• Litton Das is expected to return in this game. The skipper has 227 runs at an average of 20.63 and strike rate of 125.41, which he will be aiming to improve on.
• Sahibzada Farhan is Pakistan’s leading run-scorer in this Asia Cup (156). He has four 20+ scores in his past five T20Is. SPODA AI data gives a probability of 37.04% that he will cross 20 again in this match.

Key batter picks:

• Fakhar Zaman looks the best option out of the batters for Dream11. He has been selected in 71.04% of teams. Zaman has 144 runs in five T20Is against Bangladesh (avg. 36.00), but will be looking to improve on his strike rate of 108.27.

Top all-rounder picks:

• Rishad Hossain bowled nicely against India (two wickets) and will be a key bowler in the middle overs against a shaky Pakistan middle order.
• Saim Ayub has struggled with the bat in this tournament, but is Pakistan’s equal-leading wicket-taker (6). He is worth a pick in Dream11 given his all-round potential, but c/vc is a risk.
• Saif Hassan is coming off two consecutive half-centuries. He also bowled nicely against India (0/7 off two overs) and Bangladesh could look to use him against Pakistan’s left-handers.

Key bowler picks:

• Mustafizur Rahman has the third-most wickets in this Asia Cup (8) and nine wickets in as many T20Is against Pakistan (avg. 24.11). His matchup with Sahibzada Farhan will be key as the Pakistan opener averages 22.6 with a strike rate of 124.1 against left-arm seam in T20s. SPODA AI data gives a 31.76% probability that Mustafizur will dismiss Sahibzada.
• Shaheen Shah Afridi has taken eight wickets in four T20Is against Bangladesh.
• Taskin Ahmed has the most wickets in PAK-BAN T20Is (14) at an average of 20.50 and economy of 6.88. He has figures of 1/13 off nine balls against Saim Ayub in T20Is.
• Abrar Ahmed has been bowling magnificently. He took 1/6 off four overs against Sri Lanka. Expect him to test Bangladesh’s shaky play against spin in the middle overs.

Other Players to Consider for your Dream11 Fantasy Cricket Teams

• Mohammad Haris has largely found the going tough in the middle. However, he is worth considering in this match. He has 219 runs in seven T20Is against Bangladesh at an average of 36.50 and strike rate of 175.20.
• Mohammad Nawaz has not bowled in the last two games. However, Bangladesh have a number of right-handers in their lineup, including Towhid Hridoy who strikes at 117.1 against spin in all T20s.
• Tanzim Hasan Sakib has looked lively with the new ball in this Asia Cup. He has picked up seven wickets in five matches against Pakistan in T20Is (avg. 19.57, SR 14.57).

Other Stats, Facts and Important Matchups

• Head-to-head in T20Is: Matches 25, Pakistan 20, Bangladesh 5.
• Bangladesh beat Pakistan 2-1 in Bangladesh in July 2025. Pakistan won 3-0 at home against the Tigers in May and June.
• Shaheen Shah Afridi has enjoyed success against Saif Hassan. Shaheen dismissed the Bangladesh opener off the only ball in T20Is, as well as three times in 24 balls in Tests.
• Mustafizur Rahman vs Mohammad Haris in all T20s: 11 balls, 17 runs, two wickets.
• Taskin Ahmed vs Fakhar Zaman in T20Is: 27 balls, 41 runs, one wicket.
• Tanzim Hasan Sakib vs Mohammad Haris in T20Is: 19 balls, 31 runs, two wickets.
• SPODA AI data gives a 31.06% probability that Rishad Hossain will dismiss Sahibzada Farhan. Farhan averages 20.2 with a strike rate of 112.2 against legspin in all T20s.

Asia Cup 2025 Super Four 5th Match: PAK vs BAN Dream11 Prediction

Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article, as well as your own instincts, to create your teams. 

Option 1:

Option 2:

Asia Cup 2025 Super Four 5th Match: PAK vs BAN Match Prediction – Who will win?

The chasing team will likely go on to win this match. If there is a team who can win batting first, Pakistan might just have the edge.

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