Post by : Maya Rahman

In an exhilarating showdown, Pakistan Shaheens emerged victorious in the Men’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025, defeating Bangladesh A in a gripping Super Over in Doha. With both teams tied at 125 runs at the end of 20 overs, the atmosphere was electric. The Shaheens maintained their unbeaten streak, following victories against Oman, India A, UAE, and Sri Lanka A earlier in the tournament.

The match concluded with a tie, paving the way for a Super Over. Batting first, Bangladesh A struggled to score, thanks in part to Ahmed Daniyal's exceptional bowling, where he bagged two wickets for minimal runs. Bangladesh only managed a single run and a wide in their three balls, leaving their Super Over total paltry.

With just seven runs needed for victory, Saad Masood and his partner achieved this with ease, wrapping up the game in just four balls. Saad showcased his ability with a crucial boundary off Ripon Mondol and tactical singles, sealing the Asia Cup title with their poised performance.

Prior to the Super Over, Bangladesh A struggled significantly in their pursuit of 125 runs. After a promising start, they quickly found themselves in dire straits at 53-7 within ten overs. A late effort from SM Meherob and Rakibul Hasan, who put together a partnership of 37 runs for the eighth wicket, raised some hopes, pushing the score to 90-8 before further collapses.

After losing Rakibul in the 18th over via Ahmed Daniyal's bowling, the last pair formed a brave stance, managing to hit three sixes in the penultimate over. They scratched together runs, managing to tie the game at 125 with a couple of leg byes, leading to the Super Over.

Pakistan’s spinners were instrumental in shifting the match dynamics. Sufyan Moqim, Arafat Minhas, Maaz Sadaqat, and Saad Masood each delivered stellar spells. Sufyan captured three wickets for a mere 11 runs, while Arafat claimed two wickets, conceding only five runs. Maaz showcased his prowess with another wicket as Daniyal maintained tight bowling with figures of 2 for 11. Their combined efforts dismantled Bangladesh A’s batting order.

The Shaheens faced an initial hiccup, finding themselves at 25-3 early in the innings when they batted first. Player of the tournament Maaz Sadaqat made a pivotal 23-run contribution, supported by Arafat Minhas with 25 runs, leading to a respectable total.

Crucially, Saad Masood’s solid innings of 38 off 26 balls, which included three fours and three sixes, was instrumental in rebuilding the innings, especially his partnership of 41 runs with Shahid Aziz for the seventh wicket, bringing the total to 125 all out.

This final had every ingredient of suspense—early wickets, significant partnerships, tense overs, and ultimately, a thrilling Super Over. The Pakistan Shaheens showcased their composure in pivotal moments, especially during the tie-break, which secured them their third trophy in the ACC development tournaments.

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