Maaz Sadaqat Shines as Pakistan Outclass Oman in Tournament Opener
DOHA: Pakistan kicked off their ACC Men’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 campaign in style, securing a 40-run win over Oman in the opening clash at West End Park International Cricket Stadium on Friday.
Put into bat, Pakistan compiled a strong total of 220/4 in their allotted 20 overs. Their start, however, was shaky as opener Mohammad Naeem departed for six in the second over, undone by Shafiq Jan with the score at 19/1.
Maaz Sadaqat and Yasir Khan then steadied the ship with a valuable 44-run stand. Yasir looked promising with a run-a-ball 26—striking three boundaries and a six—before Wasim Ali broke the partnership in the eighth over, leaving Pakistan at 63/2.
Mohammad Faiq brought some quick fireworks, hammering 19 off just nine balls, but his stay was short-lived as Jay Odedra removed him at 101/3 in the 12th over.
From there, Sadaqat took complete control of the innings. He brought up a superb half-century and found strong support in captain Irfan Niazi, who played a blistering hand. Their 82-run partnership powered Pakistan into a dominant position, with Niazi smashing five sixes in a rapid 44 off 21 balls before falling in the 19th over at 183/4.
Saad Masood delivered a late surge, cracking consecutive sixes and helping Pakistan breach the 200-run barrier. The final over yielded 18 runs, taking Pakistan to an imposing 220/4.
Sadaqat finished unbeaten on a magnificent 96 off 54 balls—striking five fours and nine sixes—while Masood chipped in with an explosive 19 off six.
Oman’s chase of 221 faltered early as Ubaid Shah struck in his first spell, removing Sufyan Yusuf for three to make it 7/1.
Captain Hammad Mirza and Karan Sonavale tried to steady the innings with a 57-run partnership, but once Sonavale fell to Sadaqat for a brisk 26 off 18 and Mirza was run out for 34, the innings collapsed rapidly. Oman slipped to 73/4 by the 10th over.
The slide continued as Narayan Saishiv was run out immediately, followed by quick blows from Sadaqat and Masood, pushing Oman to a precarious 79/7.
Zikria Islam and Muzahir Raza then mounted a spirited resistance, stitching together a brilliant 88-run stand for the eighth wicket. Islam’s aggressive 57 off 28 balls—featuring four fours and five sixes—kept Oman’s hopes alive, while Raza remained unbeaten on an impressive 46 off 24 balls.
But Ubaid Shah returned to pick up his third wicket, dismissing Shafiq Jan for a duck, which effectively ended Oman’s challenge and sealed Pakistan’s 40-run triumph.
Ubaid Shah finished with the best figures for Pakistan, taking 3/29 in his three overs, while Maaz Sadaqat and Saad Masood grabbed two wickets apiece to cap off a strong all-round performance.
