Asian Cricket Council President Mohsin Naqvi and Qatar Cricket Association President Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Saoud Al Thani present the trophy to the Pakistan Shaheens captain Irfan Khan Niazi.
Doha, Qatar: Pakistan Shaheens clinched the Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 title after edging Bangladesh A in a super over thriller at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium in Doha yesterday.
Both teams scored 125 runs each by the end of their 20 overs, but the Shaheens held their nerves to cap a memorable campaign in Qatar in the one-over contest.
Bangladesh batted first in the decider and managed to score only six runs, with just one coming off the bat. Pakistan picked up the wickets of Abdul Gaffar Saqlain and Jishan Alam, but conceded five wides under pressure.
Chasing seven, the Shaheens completed the task with one ball to spare. Saad Masood struck the winning run to seal the glittering trophy.
Earlier, sent in to bat, Pakistan endured a shaky start. Yasir Khan was run out off the first ball, and Mohammad Faiq departed soon, with scores reading 2 for 2. Maaz Sadaqat steadied the innings with 23 off 18, while Ghazi Ghori added 9, but Bangladesh kept striking at regular intervals. Arafat Minhas scored 25 off 23, while Saad Masood added 38 off 26 with three fours and three sixes. Pakistan crawled to 125, with Ripon Mondol (3 for 25) and Rakibul Hasan (2 for 16) leading Bangladesh A's attack.
Bangladesh’s chase looked stable at the beginning, but soon crumbled from 36 for 1 to 48 for 5. Arafat Minhas (2 for 5), Sufiyan Muqeem (3 for 11), and Ahmed Daniyal (2 for 11) led the Shaheens’ attack as Bangladesh middle order failed to keep up with the pressure.
Habibur Rahman scored 26 off 17 before Rakibul Hasan (24 off 21) and Abdul Gaffar Saqlain (16 not out off 12) added 29 to revive the chase. Mondol’s unbeaten 11 in the closing overs tied the scores at 125 for 9, forcing a super over.
