DUBAI: Pakistan set up another politically-charged showdown with arch-rivals India at the Asia Cup after defeating the United Arab Emirates by 41 runs in Dubai on Wednesday.

The match began an hour late as the fallout rumbled on from a handshake row with India.

The Pakistan Cricket Board was considering pulling out from the tournament after their demand to remove Andy Pycroft who oversaw Sunday`s game, after which the Indian team refused to shake hands with their rivals following their seven-wicket victory.

The International Cricket Council refused the change and Pycroft officiated the UAE match after he tendered an apology to the Pakistan team.

Fakhar Zaman scored 50 off 36 balls and Shaheen Shah Afridi added a brisk 29 not out as Pakistan made a modest 146-9 batting first.

Spinner Abrar Ahmed led Pakistan`s bowling charge with 2-13 as the UAE were dismissedfor 105 in 17.4 overs. Shaheen took 2-16 and fellow paceman Haris Rauf 2-19.

The win means Pakistan join India in the Super Four from Group A. They will meet again in Dubai on Sunday.

Rahul Chopra top-scored for the hosts with run-a-ball 35.

`We got the job done but we still need to improve our bat-ting in the middle order ...

That`s been a concern and something we need to work on,` said Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha.

`We haven`t batted at our best yet...we`re still just finding our way to 150. If we bat well in the middle overs, we can push it to 170 no matter the opposition.When asked about the upcoming match against India, he said: `We`re ready for any challenge and if we keep playing the way we have over the last four months, we`ll be good against any side.

Pakistan got off to a shaky start as Saim Ayub fell for a second-ball duck while Sahibzada Farhan made five, both falling to pace bowler Junaid Siddique.

Siddique finished with an impressive 4-18 in his four overs.

Fakhar and Salman added 61 for the third wicket. Salman made 20.

Fakhar hit three sixes and two fours before he fell to leftarm spinner Simranjeet Singh, who took 3-26.

It was left to Shaheen to help Pakistan add 51 in the last five overs.

Sri Lanka meet Afghanistan in Abdu Dhabi to decide who goes through to the next round from Group `B`. Bangladesh are also in the running with two wins in three matches.-AFP