Pakistan Shaheens beat Bangladesh in Super Over to win Asia Cup Rising Stars title

Published: 09:22 PM, 23 Nov, 2025
Sports, Cricket
Pakistan Shaheens beat Bangladesh in Super Over to win Asia Cup Rising Stars title

Pakistan Shaheens defeated Bangladesh A in a Super Over to lift the Asia Cup Rising Stars cup in Doha, Qatar, on Sunday. 

The thrilling final went right down to the wire as the momentum of the match changed hands till the last ball was bowled. 

This triumph marks Pakistan’s third title in the tournament’s history, having previously won in 2019 and 2023 when the event was known as the Asia Cup Emerging Teams Tournament.

The Shaheens remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, defeating Oman, India A, and the UAE in the group stage before overcoming Sri Lanka A in the semifinal.

Bangladesh A won the toss and opted to field first, restricting Pakistan Shaheens to 125 all out in 20 overs.

Opener Yasir Khan was run out for a duck on the very first ball of the innings by Abdul Ghaffar Saqlain, triggering panic in the top order.

The situation worsened in the next over when Mohammad Faiq was bowled for a second-ball duck, leaving the Shaheens struggling at 2-2.

Wicketkeeper-batter Ghazi Ghori and Maaz Sadaqat attempted to rebuild with a brief 23-run stand, but Ghori’s run-a-ball nine ended after he was dismissed by Rakibul Hasan.

The pressure mounted further when Maaz Sadaqat, the tournament’s leading run-scorer, was removed by Jishan Alam after a promising 23 off 18 balls, featuring two fours and a six.

His dismissal reduced Pakistan to 49-4 in the seventh over.

A short recovery followed through Arafat Minhas and captain Irfan Niazi, helping Pakistan cross the 50-run mark.

But the momentum was short-lived. 

Ghaffar Saqlain struck again, dismissing Arafat Minhas for a valuable 25 off 23 balls, laced with four boundaries.

His wicket left the Shaheens at 64-5 in 10.4 overs, deepening their batting crisis.

Rakibul struck again soon after, sending Irfan back for a hard-fought nine off 22 deliveries.

Saad Masood offered resistance with an impressive 38 off 26 balls, hitting three fours and three sixes as he guided the side past the 100-run milestone in the 17th over.

Masood and Shahid Aziz contributed a steady partnership before Aziz was trapped LBW by Ripon Mondol for nine, leaving Pakistan at 116-7 in 18.2 overs.

Mondol continued his exceptional spell, dismissing Masood shortly after and then removing Ubaid Shah for a duck to claim his third wicket.

The innings concluded on the final ball when Daniyal was run out for two by Akbar Ali, leaving Sufiyan unbeaten on four from five balls as Pakistan Shaheens were bowled out for 125.

Saad Masood top-scored with a lively 38, smashing three fours and three sixes, while Arafat Minhas contributed 25 with four boundaries.

Tournament top-scorer Maaz Sadaqat added 23 off two fours and a six, taking his overall tally to 258 runs.
Captain Irfan Khan and Ghazi Ghori both managed 9 runs, whereas Yasir Khan and Mohammad Faiq were dismissed without scoring.

For Bangladesh A, Ripon Mondol picked up 3 wickets, with Rakibul Hasan adding 2 to tighten the screws on Pakistan’s lineup.

In response, Bangladesh A also finished at 125, losing 9 wickets in their 20 overs.

Habib Rahman top-scored with 26, followed by Rakibul Hasan with 24, SM Meherob with 19, and valuable lower-order contributions from Abdul Ghaffar Saqlain (16) and *Ripon Mondol (11)**.

Tailenders Abdul Gaffar Saqlain and Ripon Mondol produced a late surge, smashing three sixes off Shahid Aziz in the penultimate over to take Bangladesh past 100 and leaving just seven runs needed in the final over with one wicket in hand. 

However, Bangladesh managed only six runs in the last over, scoring a single off the final ball when two were required, resulting in a dramatic tie and forcing a Super Over.

The credit goes to Ahmed Daniyal, who saved Pakistan in the last over when Tigers needed seven runs.

Sufiyan Muqeem starred with figures of 3 for 11, while Arafat Minhas took 2 for 5.

Ahmed Daniyal took 2 for 11, and Maaz Sadaqat and Saad Masood chipped in with a wicket each.

Ahmed remained an exceptional bowler during the regular match. He also bowled a superb Super Over, claiming both Bangladesh wickets in the space of three balls.

The only mishap was a five-run wide he gave, but it did not prove costly.  

 

In the Super Over, Bangladesh A managed 6 runs but lost both wickets, setting Pakistan Shaheens a target of 7.

Saad Masood struck 5 runs, while Maaz Sadaqat remained not out on 1, guiding the Shaheens to victory in just four deliveries, securing Pakistan’s third Asia Cup Rising Stars title memorably.

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