Asia Cup Rising Stars Archives

Shaheens Beat Bangladesh A in super over to win Asia Cup Rising Stars

DOHA: Pakistan Shaheens defeated Bangladesh A in a thrilling super over to lift the Asia Cup Rising Stars here at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Chasing a stiff 126, Bangladesh crumbled under pressure and ended on a tie with 125-9 at the end of their innings.

Habibur Rahman Sohan and Jishan Alam added 22 for the opening wicket in 2.3 overs. Alam was trapped lbw for six off Arafat Minhas’ bowling, who sparked a collapse with his spin bowling.

Habibur Rahman (26 off 17 balls) was the second to go in the fourth over, followed by Mahidul Islam Ankon, who could not open his account.

Consequently, Bangladesh were reduced 36-3 in 4.2 overs.

Pakistan spinner continued to mount pressure with wickets at regular intervals as the Tigers slumped to 53-7 at the halfway stage of the innings.

However, it was Ripon Mondol’s and SM Meherob’s 37-run stand that took the score near the 100-run mark. Meherob departed after scoring 19 from 21 balls.

With this, the Tigers’ hopes falter not until Abdul Gaffar Saqlain, 16 from 12 balls. The right-hander tonked Shahid Aziz to three sixes to bring down the equation to seven from six balls.

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Yet, the match went into the super over with Bangladesh setting Pakistan a seven-run target, which they chased on the fourth ball, courtesy of Saad Massod’s boundary.

A gritty partnership between Rakibul Hasan and SM Meherob revived Bangladesh’s hopes. The pair added 37 valuable runs, taking the score to 88-7 by the 15-over mark.

Earlier, Bangladesh right-arm pacer Ripon Mondol took a three-wicket haul to bundle out Pakistan Shaheens’ innings for a mere total.

Put into bat first, Bangladesh skittled Pakistan for 125 in 20 overs.

Pakistan’s innings started on a poor note as opener Yasir Khan was sent back for a golden duck.

The Green Shirts were pegged back with another wicket in the next over as Mohammad Faiq was cleaned for a second-ball duck, leaving the side reeling at 2-2 in just 1.1 overs.

Following the early hiccups, Ghazi Ghori and Maaz Sadaqat tried to stabilize the innings with a brief 23-run stand, but Ghori’s sluggish nine-run knock ended when he was dismissed by Rakibul Hasan.

The slide continued as Bangladesh tore through the middle-order and reduced them to 49-4 at the end of the seventh over.

Arafat Minhas and Captain Irfan Niazi tried to arrest the slide but could not, and hence lost their wickets. As a result, Pakistan were 75-6 in 14.2 overs. However, Saad Masood played a vital innings that lifted them to a fighting total.

Masood struck three sixes and three fours on his way to 38 from 26 balls.

For Bangladesh, Ripon Mondol picked up three wickets, whereas Rakibul Hasan bagged two.

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Bangladesh A win toss against Pakistan Shaheens in Asia Cup Rising Stars final

DOHA: Bangladesh A have won the toss and decided to bowl first against Pakistan Shaheens in the final of the Asia Cup Rising Stars here at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Playing XIs

Bangladesh A: 1 Jishan Alam, 2 Habibur Rahman, 3 Yasir Ali, 4 Akbar Ali (capt & wk), 5 Rakibul Hasan, 6 Mahidul Islam, 7 Meherob Hossain, 8 Mahfuzur Rahman, 9 Mrittunjoy Chowdhary, 10 Ripon Mondol, 11 Abdul Gaffar

Pakistan Shaheens: 1 Maaz Sadaqat, 2 Yasir Khan, 3 Mohammad Faiq, 4 Irfan Khan (capt), 5 Ghazi Ghori (wk), 6 Saad Masood, 7 Arafat Minhas, 8 Shahid Aziz, 9 Ahmed Daniyal, 10 Ubaid Shah, 11 Sufiyan Muqeem

Pakistan Shaheens are so far unbeaten in the tournament. They started their campaign with a 40-run victory over Oman, followed by an easy win.

They also defeated arch-rivals India A by eight wickets and then ended the group stage with another big win against UAE.

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Pakistan Shaheens reached the pinnacle clash after defeating Sri Lanka A in the semi-final.

On the contrary, Bangladesh A also remained impressive throughout the tournament, losing only one encounter against Sri Lanka A.

However, they kept their cool head in the semi-final against India A and clinched victory in the super over.

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Pakistan Shaheens edge past Sri Lanka A in Asia Cup Rising Stars semi-final

DOHA: Pakistan Shaheens marched into the final of the ACC Asia Cup Rising Stars Championship after grinding out a tense five-run win over Sri Lanka A in the second semi-final at West End Park International Cricket Stadium on Friday.

The hard-fought victory sets up a title clash against Bangladesh A at the same venue on Sunday.

Defending a modest 154, Pakistan Shaheens leaned heavily on their spin duo of Sufiyan Muqeem and Saad Masood, who combined to choke Sri Lanka A’s chase and shared six wickets between them.

Despite a late surge from Milan Rathnayake, Sri Lanka A were bundled for 148 on the final ball of their innings.

Sri Lanka A looked dangerous early on, racing to 29 in just two overs as Lasith Croospulle launched a whirlwind assault, smashing 27 off seven balls with three sixes and two fours.

Shahid Aziz dismissed him to stem the momentum, but the visitors maintained a tempo through Vishen Halambage, who scored 29 off 27 before becoming Muqeem’s first victim.

Halambage’s wicket opened the floodgates. Sri Lanka A unravelled in the middle overs, losing wickets in clusters and slipping from a position of control to 99-8 in the 14th over.

With the match seemingly drifting away, Milan Rathnayake engineered a spirited fightback.

He carried the chase deep, lifting his side from the brink and leaving Sri Lanka A needing eight off the final four deliveries.

But the Shaheens’ bowlers held their composure, closing out the final moments to seal a narrow but vital win. Rathnayake finished with a valiant 40 off 32, striking five fours and a six.

For Pakistan, Muqeem and Masood claimed three wickets each, while Ahmed Daniyal, Shahid Aziz and Ubaid Shah contributed one apiece.

Earlier, after being asked to bat, Pakistan Shaheens posted 153-9 in an innings marked by bursts of momentum and an untimely collapse.

Openers Mohammad Naeem (16 off 15) and the in-form Maaz Sadaqat (23 off 11) provided a bright start with a rapid 30-run partnership.

But once the pair fell in quick succession, Pakistan lost their footing, crashing to 62-5 inside eight overs.

A much-needed recovery came through Saad Masood and Ghori, who stitched together 47 runs for the sixth wicket to stabilise the innings.

Masood’s patient 22 off 25 ended in the 16th over, but Daniyal’s explosive cameo, 22 off just eight deliveries, featuring three sixes, gave the Shaheens crucial late runs.

Ghori anchored the innings till the end, remaining unbeaten on 39 off 36 with two fours and a six, guiding the side to a defendable total.

For Sri Lanka A, Madushan starred with the ball, claiming four wickets, while Traveen Mathew picked up three. Rathnayake and Dunith Wellalage added a wicket each.

READ: Bangladesh A edge India in Super Over to reach Asia Cup Rising Stars final

Bangladesh A edge India in Super Over to reach Asia Cup Rising Stars final

DOHA: Bangladesh A held their nerve in the Super Over to knock India out of the ACC Men’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 semi-final at West End Park International Cricket Stadium on Friday, sealing their place in the tournament’s title clash.

With both teams locked at 194-6 after two high-octane innings, the contest headed into a Super Over.

Bangladesh’s Ripon Mondol delivered a sensational burst, removing two Indian batters in consecutive balls without conceding a single run, effectively shutting the door on India’s hopes.

In response, Bangladesh A lost Yasir Ali on the very first ball, but the drama didn’t end there. Suyash Sharma sprayed the next delivery wide, handing Bangladesh a victory and a spot in the final.

They will now await the winner of the second semi-final between Pakistan Shaheens and Sri Lanka A.

Earlier, put into bat, Bangladesh A produced a powerful display with the bat to post 194-6.

Opener Habibur Rahman Sohan anchored the innings with a superb 65 off 46 balls, peppered with five sixes and three boundaries.

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The late fireworks came from SM Meherob, who launched a blistering unbeaten 48 off just 18 deliveries, smashing six sixes and a four to propel his side to a formidable total.

In response, India matched Bangladesh blow for blow. Their openers set a scorching pace as Priyansh Arya hammered 44 off 23, and Vaibhav Suryavanshi blasted 38 off 15 to keep the chase on track.

However, India lost wickets at key moments, which left them needing 16 off the final over.

Rakibul Hasan conceded two singles before Ashutosh Sharma swung momentum back with a six and a four.

With four required off two, Ashutosh was bowled for a brisk 13 off 6, leaving India needing four off the last ball.

They managed only three, tying the scores and pushing the clash into a Super Over that ultimately proved decisive.

Nehal Wadhera remained unbeaten on 32 off 29, but his efforts fell short as Bangladesh A marched into the final after a thriller.

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Dominant Pakistan crush UAE in Asia Cup Rising Stars

DOHA: Pakistan Shaheen’s Maaz Sadaqat continued his brilliant run in the tournament, leading his side to a comprehensive victory over UAE in the ninth match of the Asia Cup Rising Stars here at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

With only 60 required to chase in 20 overs, Pakistan eased past the opponents in only 5.1 overs, losing just one wicket in the process.

Mohammad Naeem was the solitary wicket to fall for Shaheens after managing to score just six from five deliveries.

However, Maaz and Ghazi Gori added a 54-run partnership for the second wicket to take their team home.

Maaz Sadaqat showcased his batting prowess again and hit 37* from just 15 balls. The left-handers’ knock featured four boundaries and three sixes. Ghazi, who was promoted to the order, made 16 from 12 with the help of three fours.

For UAE, fast bowler Muhammad Rohid picked up one wicket.

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Earlier, UAE could not capitalize on the decision to bat first as their innings folded for just 59 in 18 overs.

Shaheens remained dominant from the start and picked up four wickets in the powerplay, which reduced UAE to 24-4.

It was an abysmal performance from UAE batters as Syed Haider remained the top-scored with 20 from 19 balls.

For Pakistan, Sufiyan Muqeem stood out among the bowlers, scalping three wickets in his quota of four overs. Maaz Sadaqat and Ahmed Daniyal picked up two apiece, while Arafat Minhas, Shahid Aziz, and Muhammad Shahzad also took one each.

With this win, semi-final-bound Pakistan Shaheens maintained their unbeaten run in the tournament.

The first semi-final of the tournament will be played on Friday, 21 November.

READ: Pakistan suffer injury blow ahead of T20I tri-series opener

Asia Cup Rising Stars final likely to be marred by trophy controversy: sources

The ongoing ACC Men’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 tournament is likely to witness the trophy controversy that marred the final of the senior men’s tournament in September, according to sources.

The Rising Stars tournament, formerly known as the Emerging Asia Cup, is underway at the West End International Cricket Stadium in Doha, featuring eight teams.

The teams are split into two groups, with Group A featuring Pakistan Shaheens, India A, the UAE, and Oman, while Sri Lanka A, Bangladesh A, Afghanistan A, and Hong Kong are placed in Group B.

The final is set for November 23, with ACC President and PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi expected to attend as the chief guest.

Given the strength of the squads and their early performances, a Pakistan Shaheens vs India A final remains a realistic and intriguing possibility.

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But with that comes the baggage of what unfolded in September, when India refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy directly from Naqvi and did not attend the closing ceremony.

The trophy still sits with the ACC, awaiting an official handover should India agree to receive it at a separate event.

Notably, India’s refusal to engage in handshakes with Pakistani teams, a pattern that began during the senior Asia Cup, has now become a recurring feature across formats.

The ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 saw the same behaviour, and the latest chapter came on Sunday in Doha, when India A captain Jitesh Sharma and Pakistan Shaheens skipper Irfan Niazi skipped the customary handshake at the toss.

On the field, however, Pakistan Shaheens delivered a statement performance, defeating India A by eight wickets to top Group B and secure a place in the semifinals.

READ: Mohsin Naqvi hails Pakistan’s clinical sweep over Sri Lanka

Pakistan Shaheens win toss, bowl first against India A

DOHA: Pakistan Shaheens have won the toss and decided to bowl first against India A in the sixth fixture of the Asia Cup Rising Stars here at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Both sides have showcased dominant performances in their opening games, with India A demolishing UAE by a hefty margin of 149 runs, whereas Pakistan Shaheens outplayed Oman by 40 runs.

Playing XIs

India A: Priyansh Arya, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Nehal Wadhera, Naman Dhir, Jitesh Sharma (capt, wk), Ramandeep Singh, Harsh Dubey, Ashutosh Sharma, Yash Thakur, Gurjapneet Singh, Suyash Sharma

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Pakistan Shaheen: Yasir Khan, Muhammad Naeem, Muhammad Faiq, Maaz Sadaqat, Muhammad Ghori, Muhammad Khan, Chadhry Masood, Shahid Aziz, Sufyan Muqeem, Ubaid Shah, Ahmad Latif

The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals, which will be held on 21 November. The final of the tournament will take place on Sunday, 23 November.

All matches will be staged at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium in Doha.

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Asia Cup Rising Stars: 14-year-old Suryavanshi blasts record-breaking ton

DOHA: India A opener Vaibhav Suryavanshi tumbled multiple records with a whirlwind 144 from 42 balls in the second fixture of the Asia Cup Rising Stars against UAE here at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium on Friday.

The 14-year-old prodigy scored a 32-ball century, becoming the youngest to hit a century for a men’s representative side. Notably, his strike rate of 324.85 was the fourth highest for any men’s T20 hundred.

Moreover, he also now holds the record for the joint-second-fastest T20 hundred by an Indian.

Fastest T20 hundred by an Indian

28 balls: Urvil Patel – Gujarat vs Tripura (2024)
28 balls: Abhishek Sharma – Punjab vs Meghalaya (2024)
32 balls: Rishabh Pant – Delhi vs Himachal Pradesh (2018)
32 balls: Vaibhav Suryavanshi – India A vs UAE (2025)

Overall, the left-hander hit 15 sixes and 11 fours in his knock, which powered India to a 297-run total in their 20 overs.

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It is worth mentioning that Vaibhav Suryavanshi is also the youngest T20 centurion, at 14 years and 32 days. The southpaw first made headlines during his maiden appearance in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, where he hit a sublime hundred while playing for Rajasthan Royals.

For the uninitiated, the rebranded Risin Stars Asia Cup is taking place from November 14 to 23 at the West End International Cricket Stadium in Doha, Qatar.

The competition consists of eight teams: Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman, and Hong Kong, which will be divided into two groups of four.

The marquee Pakistan vs India clash is slated for November 16, followed by the semi-finals on November 21 and the final on November 23.

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Maaz Sadaqat helps Pakistan Shaheens to beat Oman in Asia Cup Rising Stars

DOHA: Pakistan Shaheens got their ACC Men’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 campaign off to a flying start with a thrilling 40-run victory over Oman at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium on Friday.

The opener was defined by a commanding all-round performance from Maaz Sadaqat, who starred with both bat and ball.

After being asked to bat first, Pakistan stumbled early, losing opener Mohammad Naeem for six in the second over.

Sadaqat, however, anchored the innings alongside Yasir Khan, putting on a 44-run partnership before Yasir fell for 26.

Mohammad Faiq’s quickfire 19 off nine balls helped Pakistan reach 101-3 by the 12th over, setting the stage for Sadaqat to take charge.

Sadaqat’s sublime batting saw him reach an unbeaten 96 off 54 balls, featuring five fours and nine sixes.

Meanwhile, captain Muhammad Irfan Niazi provided a blistering cameo of 44 off just 21 deliveries, smashing five sixes to accelerate the innings.

Saad Masood added late fireworks, scoring 19 off six balls, including two sixes, as Pakistan posted a competitive 220-4 in 20 overs.

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Chasing 221, Oman struggled from the outset. Ubaid Shah struck early to remove opener Sufyan Yusuf for three, leaving Oman 7-1.

A brief 57-run second-wicket stand between Hammad Mirza and Karan Sonavale offered hope, but wickets fell in quick succession. Sonavale was dismissed for 26, and Mirza ran out for 34, reducing Oman to 73-4 in under 10 overs.

Maaz Sadaqat continued to shine with the ball, taking two key wickets as Pakistan tightened the screws.

Despite an 88-run partnership between Zikria Islam, who scored 57, and Muzahir Raza, Oman could not recover.

Ubaid Shah wrapped up the innings by dismissing Shafiq Jan for a duck, sealing a 40-run victory for Pakistan.

Ubaid Shah finished with impressive figures of 3-29 in three overs, while Sadaqat and Masood chipped in with two wickets each, completing a dominant all-round display to give Pakistan a winning start in the tournament.

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Irfan Khan to lead Pakistan Shaheens in Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025

LAHORE: Right-handed batter Muhammad Irfan Khan has been appointed to captain the Pakistan Shaheens squad for the upcoming ACC Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 tournament, as confirmed by the country’s cricket board on Friday.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced a 15-member squad that will compete in the revamped ACC Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025, scheduled to take place in Qatar from November 14 to 23.

Pakistan Shaheens are placed in Group ‘B’ alongside Oman, India ‘A’ and UAE, while Afghanistan ‘A’, Bangladesh ‘A’, Hong Kong and Sri Lanka ‘A’ are placed in Group ‘A’.

Pakistan will play their opening match of the T20 tournament against Oman on Friday, 14 November, before taking on India ‘A’ on Sunday, 16 November.

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Their final group match will be against the UAE on Tuesday, 18 November.

As per the tournament format, the top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals, which will be held on 21 November. The final of the tournament will take place on Sunday, 23 November.

All matches will be staged at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium in Doha.

Before the team’s departure on 12 November, Pakistan Shaheens will undergo a training camp from 8 to 11 November at the Hanif Muhammad High Performance Centre in Karachi.

Pakistan Shaheens squad

Muhammad Irfan Khan (captain), Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Faiq, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Mohammad Naeem, Mohammad Salman, Mohammad Shahzad, Mubasir Khan, Saad Masood, Shahid Aziz, Sufiyan Moqim, Ubaid Shah and Yasir Khan.

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