KARACHI: Pakistan Shaheens beat Bangladesh A in the final of the Men’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 in Doha to bag the title for a record third time, beating their opponents in a thriller that went down to a Super Over before the Green Shirts clinched victory.
The tournament kicked off from Nov. 14 with eight teams— five developmental squads or second-tier national teams from full-member countries and three associate sides.
Pakistan, batting first, were not able to perform impressively as they were dismissed for 125 runs. However, the decision of the match was reached in the Super Over after Bangladesh finished at 125-9 from their 20 overs, unable to chase down Pakistan’s target in the allotted 20 overs.
The Shaheens required seven runs to win the Super Over, which they completed off the first four balls as Saad Masood hit the third one for four toward deep backward square leg off Ripon Mondol apart from two singles and one leg-bye.
Bangladesh were only able to make six runs in their Super Over before they lost both wickets.
“Third time champions,” the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) wrote on social media platform X. “Unbeaten throughout the tournament!“
Earlier, Bangladesh faltered in their pursuit of the 126-run target slipping to 53-7 in 10.3 overs before a 37-run eighth-wicket stand between S.M. Meherob, who scored 19 runs and Rakibul Hasan, who scored 24, took them to 90-8.
Pakistani spinners Sufyan Moqim returned figures of 3-11 while Arafat Minhas took 2-5 and Maaz Sadaqat 1-7 to put Bangladeshi batters at bay. Masood finished with 1-33.
Scores in brief: Pakistan Shaheens 125 all out, 20 overs (Saad Masood 38, Arafat Minhas 25, Maaz Sadaqat 23; Ripon Mondol 3-25, Rakibul Hasan 2-16)
Bangladesh A 125-9, 20 overs (Habibur Rahman 26, Rakibul Hasan 24, SM Meherob 19, Abdul Gaffar Saqlain 16 not out, Ripon Mondol 11 not out; Sufyan Moqim 3-11, Arafat Minhas 2-5, Ahmed Daniyal 2-11)
Pakistan’s Ahmed Daniyal was named Player of the Match for his 2-11 bowling figures and for taking both wickets in his Super Over that won Pakistan the match. The Green Shirts’ Maaz Sadaqat was given the Player of the Tournament award for scoring 258 runs, including an unbeaten knock of 96 and taking seven wickets from five matches.
