June 21, 2025
KARACHI: Pakistan secured a spot in the semifinals of the 2025 Asian Volleyball Nations Cup after a hard-fought victory against Indonesia in the quarterfinals.
After dropping the first set, Pakistan staged a strong comeback, winning three consecutive sets to seal the match 3-1. The final scores were 20-25, 25-21, 25-20, and 25-17.
Despite Indonesia's early dominance in the opening set, Pakistan took control of the match with a resilient performance. Indonesia led in attack points with 56 compared to Pakistan's 50, but Pakistan's defence proved decisive, registering 16 block points against Indonesia's 7.
Statistically, Pakistan's efficiency proved decisive. Despite trailing in total attack points, they committed only 10 attack faults to Indonesia's 21. Pakistan also held an edge in serve points (6-3) and benefited from 23 opponent errors.
The team's ability to minimise mistakes while maximising defensive plays underscored their tactical improvement as the match progressed.
Murad Jahan, Pakistan’s captain, was the top scorer with 20 points, including 17 from attacks, two from blocks, and one from serves. Usman Faryad Ali contributed 16 points, while Fahad Raza and Murad Khan added nine and eight points, respectively. Pakistan’s strong blocking and efficient play at critical moments turned the tide in their favour.
Indonesia’s Rivan and Doni were the standout performers for their team, scoring 22 and 11 points, but their efforts were not enough to overcome Pakistan’s defensive discipline and balanced attack.