Pakistan Shaheens Becomes The Champions Of Rising Star Asia Cup 2025
DOHA: Pakistan Shaheens clinched the ACC Men’s Asia Cup Rising Stars crown in dramatic fashion, edging out Bangladesh ‘A’ in a nail-biting Super Over on Sunday at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium.
Bangladesh stepped in to bat first in the tiebreaker but immediately stumbled. Ahmed Daniyal struck on the very first ball, removing Abdul Gaffar Saqlain for a golden duck. A wide from Daniyal rolled away to the boundary, briefly lifting Bangladesh, but the pacer held his nerve and allowed just six runs overall, wrapping up their Super Over at 6/1 in just three legal deliveries.
Pakistan needed seven to seal the title. A leg-bye off the opening delivery handed strike to Maaz Sadaqat, who could manage only a single. With five needed off four balls, Saad Masood stepped up and hammered a boundary on his first ball faced. With the pressure eased and one run required from the remaining deliveries, Masood inside-edged the final delivery to complete the chase and secure the trophy.
Earlier, the regulation match itself had been a thriller. Defending a modest 126, Pakistan looked on course for victory until Bangladesh staged a late fightback, eventually finishing on 125-9 to force the shootout.
Bangladesh began confidently through openers Habibur Rahman Sohan and Jishan Alam, who scored briskly before Pakistan’s bowlers stormed back. Arafat Minhas removed Jishan in the third over, and Habibur fell in the next over to Saad Masood after a lively 26 off 17.
The collapse continued as Minhas trapped Mahidul Islam Ankon for a duck, leaving Bangladesh 36-3. Sufiyan Muqeem then got rid of captain Akbar Ali, while Maaz Sadaqat accounted for Yasir Ali. Post-drinks, Sufiyan delivered a double strike, removing Mahfuzur Rahman Rabby and Mrittunjoy Chowdhury to leave Bangladesh tottering at 53-7.
Rakibul Hasan and SM Meherob stitched a crucial stand of 37 to steady the innings, pushing the score to 88-7 by the 15th over. Daniyal eventually broke through, dismissing Meherob and later Rakibul, reducing Bangladesh to 96-9.
Just when the contest seemed settled, the last-wicket pair of Abdul Gaffar Saqlain and Ripon Mondol launched a shocking counterattack. They hammered three sixes off Shahid Aziz in the 19th over, dragging Bangladesh past 100 and leaving only seven runs needed in the final over. But Pakistan held their nerve, conceding just six, sending the game to a Super Over.
In Pakistan’s own innings earlier, the Shaheens had to scrap hard for their 125-9. The top-order crumbled early with Yasir Khan run out for nought and Mohammad Faiq falling soon after. A brief counterpunch from Ghazi Ghori and Maaz Sadaqat helped push the score along, but wickets continued to fall at regular intervals.
Arafat Minhas and captain Irfan Niazi attempted to consolidate, but both departed before the 11th over. The innings found stability through Saad Masood, whose fighting 38 off 26 — peppered with three fours and as many sixes — lifted Pakistan into triple figures. But the tail couldn’t offer much resistance as Shahid Aziz, Masood, and Ubaid Shah fell in quick succession. Daniyal was run out off the final ball, leaving Sufiyan Muqeem unbeaten on four.
Despite the chaos, Pakistan held firm when it mattered most, sealing a memorable title triumph in the Super Over.
