Asa Tribe’s 64 Powers England Lions Past Pakistan Shaheens in 1st Unofficial T20

Asa Tribe, who has been dreaming of an England Career, has powered England Lions to a four-wicket victory, with an unbeaten 64 off 48 balls, over Pakistan Shaheens in the opening match of a three-game unofficial T20 series at Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Friday.

Chasing a target of 153, England Lions reached 153 for six in 19.1 overs — with five balls to spare, in a chase that required a calm, measured rescue act from Asa Tribe after the top order had wobbled dramatically.

Tribe, who previously represented Jersey before breaking into county cricket, was named Player of the Match for his match-winning knock. 

Match Overview

Series Context

The match was part of the England Lions’ 2026 tour of the United Arab Emirates. The series consists of three unofficial T20 matches followed by a five-match one-day series, with all fixtures scheduled to be played at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The second T20 was scheduled for Sunday, February 22, 2026.

Pakistan Shaheens Build on a Steady Foundation

Openers Captain Shamyl Hussain and Maaz Sadaqat put together a 55-run stand that gave the innings direction through the powerplay, with Hussain doing the bulk of the scoring and setting a tone of controlled aggression from the start. Hussain reached his half-century inside the powerplay from just 33 deliveries.

After the opening stand was broken, Saad Baig (21 off 20) and Abdul Samad (21 off 12, with two sixes) added momentum in the middle overs to keep the scoreboard moving. Arafat Minhas, coming in at number seven, finished strongly with an unbeaten 13 off nine balls — including two fours- to help Shaheens cross the 150-run mark.

For the England Lions, James Coles was the standout bowler. He took 2 for 20 from his four overs. Saqib Mahmood was equally effective, returning 2 for 29. Spinners Dan Mousley and Nathan Sowter, working in tandem with Coles, restricted the Shaheens’ scoring in the crucial middle phase of the innings. Hussain’s dismissal came when Sowter tempted him into a cutting shot outside off stump and bowled him through the gate.

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England Lions’ Chase: McKinney Blazes, Then Tribe Takes Over

England’s reply began at pace. Durham opener Ben McKinney launched an aggressive start, scoring 24 off just 13 balls with three sixes inside the opening four overs, two of which came from forceful back-foot drives straight down the ground.

Pakistan Shaheens hit back quickly through Akif Javed, who struck twice in the powerplay — removing Will Smeed and Lions captain Jordan Cox — leaving the chase in a precarious state at 38 for 3. Ahmed Daniyal, Saad Masood, and Sufiyan Muqeem each picked up a wicket during the middle overs to keep Shaheens in the contest.

However, Tribe, batting at number four, held the innings together. The 22-year-old — who has previously represented Jersey in international cricket — brought up his half-century off 42 balls and eventually finished unbeaten on 64, hitting six fours and one six across his 48-ball knock. Dan Mousley chipped in with 16 off 14 balls to provide support. England reached 153 for 6 in 19.1 overs, sealing a four-wicket win.

Akif Javed was the pick of Pakistan Shaheens’ attack with 2 for 22 in three overs.

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What Comes Next

England Lions now lead the three-match series 1-0. The second T20 is scheduled for Sunday, February 22, at the same Abu Dhabi venue, with play beginning at 2:00 PM local time (10:00 AM GMT). The third T20 is scheduled for February 24. After the T20 series concludes, both teams will contest a five-match unofficial one-day series in Abu Dhabi, running through to early March. In Pakistan, Ten Sports is broadcasting the series on television, with Myco handling streaming. UK viewers can watch via PCB’s OTT platform, PCB Live, while T Sports is covering the series in Bangladesh.

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