Pakistan Shaheens Win Rising Stars Cup After Super Over Thriller

Pakistan Shaheens became the champions of the Men’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 after defeating Bangladesh A in a dramatic Super Over in Doha. Both teams finished their 20 overs with 125 runs each, making the match extremely tense and exciting. The Shaheens kept their unbeaten record in the tournament, continuing their strong performance from earlier matches against Oman, India A, UAE and Sri Lanka A.

The final ended in a tie, sending the match into a Super Over. Bangladesh A batted first but managed only a small score. Ahmed Daniyal bowled brilliantly in the tie-breaker, taking two wickets while giving away only a few runs. Bangladesh could face only three balls before losing two batters. They scored just one run apart from a wide ball.

Pakistan then needed only seven runs to win the trophy. Saad Masood and his partner achieved this target in just four balls. Saad hit a crucial boundary towards deep backward square leg off Ripon Mondol, along with taking singles and a leg-bye. This calm and confident approach helped Pakistan secure the Asia Cup title in style.

Before the Super Over, Bangladesh A struggled during their chase of 125 runs. They initially started well, scoring 22 runs in the first 2.3 overs. However, the Pakistani bowlers shifted the momentum. They reduced Bangladesh to 53-7 in just over ten overs. A late partnership between SM Meherob and Rakibul Hasan added 37 runs for the eighth wicket. Their effort brought some hope, taking the score to 90-8.

After Rakibul fell in the 18th over to Ahmed Daniyal, Bangladesh still needed 30 runs from 16 balls. The last pair, Abdul Gaffar Saqlain and Ripon Mondol, batted bravely and added important runs. They smashed three sixes in the second-last over, bringing the requirement down to seven runs off the final six balls. Bangladesh managed two leg-byes off the final deliveries to tie the match at 125, pushing the contest into a Super Over.

Pakistan’s spin bowlers played a key role in turning the match around. Sufyan Moqim, Arafat Minhas, Maaz Sadaqat and Saad Masood all delivered excellent spells. Sufyan picked up three wickets for just 11 runs, while Arafat took two wickets for only five runs. Maaz supported the attack by removing one more batter and helping Pakistan apply pressure during the middle overs. Daniyal bowled economically with figures of 2 for 11 in four overs. Their combined effort broke Bangladesh A’s batting rhythm and pushed them close to defeat.

Pakistan Shaheens did not start well after being sent in to bat first. They slipped to 25-3 early in the innings. However, player of the tournament Maaz Sadaqat steadied the innings with a 23-run knock that included powerful boundaries. Arafat Minhas then added 25 runs, helping Pakistan move towards a respectable total.

The most important knock came from Saad Masood, who scored a crucial 38 off 26 balls. His innings included three fours and three sixes. Saad also built a 41-run partnership with Shahid Aziz for the seventh wicket, pushing the total closer to a competitive score. Sufyan added a boundary in the final over, taking the team’s total to 125 all out.

The final match had every element of excitement—early wickets, late partnerships, pressure overs and finally a Super Over. Pakistan Shaheens held their nerve in every crucial moment, especially in the tie-breaker. With this victory, they lifted their third trophy in the ACC development tournaments.