Pakistan Shaheens clinched the Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 title after defeating Bangladesh A in a dramatic Super Over at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium in Doha on Sunday.
Pakistan Condemns Indian Defence Minister’s Remarks on Sindh as “Delusional and Dangerous”
The final went down to the wire as both teams finished their 20 overs on 125 runs, forcing a tense one-over decider.
Bangladesh batted first in the Super Over but suffered an early blow when Ahmed Daniyal sent Abdul Gaffar Saqlain back for a first-ball duck. A wide that raced to the boundary briefly shifted momentum, but Daniyal recovered sharply, conceding only six runs in three legal deliveries.
Set a target of seven, Pakistan began with a leg bye before Maaz Sadaqat added a single, bringing Saad Masood on strike. Masood struck a boundary off the third ball, leaving the Shaheens needing just one run from three deliveries. He inside-edged the final ball to secure the winning run and seal the trophy.
Earlier, in the main match, Bangladesh narrowly missed the target of 126, finishing at 125-9 in their 20 overs. Openers Habibur Rahman Sohan and Jishan Alam gave their side a promising start, but Pakistan hit back quickly.
Arafat Minhas removed Jishan for six, while Saad Masood dismissed Habibur Rahman for a brisk 26 off 13 balls, putting Pakistan on top. Arafat continued to apply pressure, trapping Mahidul Islam Ankon for a duck to leave Bangladesh at 36-3.
Sufiyan Muqeem then removed captain Akbar Ali for two, and Maaz Sadaqat struck to dismiss Yasir Ali for eight. After the drinks break, Sufiyan delivered a double strike, sending Mahfuzur Rahman Rabby and Mrittunjoy Chowdhury back in the same over as Bangladesh slumped to 53-7.
A fighting 37-run partnership between Rakibul Hasan and SM Meherob lifted Bangladesh to 88-7 by the 15th over. Daniyal later broke the stand, removing Meherob for 19 and Rakibul for 24, leaving Bangladesh at 96-9.
A stunning late charge from tailenders Abdul Gaffar Saqlain and Ripon Mondol — including three sixes off Shahid Aziz — pushed Bangladesh past 100 and left just seven needed from the final over. But with one wicket in hand, Bangladesh could muster only six, tying the match and triggering the Super Over.
Pakistan’s innings earlier had started poorly, losing Yasir Khan to a run out for a duck and Mohammad Faiq for zero, slumping to 2-2. A brief partnership between Ghazi Ghori and Maaz Sadaqat added 23 before both departed.
Arafat Minhas and captain Irfan Niazi attempted to steady the innings, but wickets continued to fall. Saad Masood’s crucial 38 off 26, featuring three fours and three sixes, propelled Pakistan past 100. However, late strikes by Bangladesh restricted the Shaheens to 125-9.
Daniyal was run out on the final ball, with Sufiyan Muqeem remaining unbeaten on four — enough to push the match into a thrilling Super Over that ultimately delivered Pakistan the title.
