Shaheens seize Rising Stars glory in super over

Pakistan Shaheens clinched the Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 title after edging out Bangladesh A in a tense super over finish at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium in Doha on Sunday, sealing their third championship in dramatic fashion.

Both sides had finished on 125 in their 20 overs, pushing the final into a one-over shootout where Pakistan-A required seven runs to lift the trophy after Bangladesh-A managed only six, losing two wickets in the space of four deliveries.

Bangladesh's super over unravelled quickly when Ahmed Daniyal removed Abdul Gaffar Saqlain for a first-ball duck, followed by another dismissal two balls later, restricting Bangladesh to a modest total despite a wide that sped to the boundary.

Pakistan's chase began with a leg-bye that put Maaz Sadaqat on strike, but it was Saad Masood who dominated the moment, striking a boundary before inside-edging the final delivery to complete the chase without losing a wicket.

Earlier, Pakistan's innings had stuttered on a two-paced surface as they were bowled out for 125, losing opener Yasir Khan to a run-out on the first ball and collapsing to 25 for three inside the powerplay after further quick dismissals.

Maaz Sadaqat attempted a brief counterattack with a 23 off 23 balls, while Arafat Minhas added 25, but Saad Masood's fighting 38 from 26 deliveries remained the only substantial resistance as Bangladesh's spinners kept runs tight in the middle overs.

Bangladesh's Ripon Mondol delivered a decisive blow in the 19th over of the main match, taking three wickets for two runs with pinpoint yorkers that destroyed Pakistan's lower order and set up a tense finish to the innings.

Chasing 126, Bangladesh started strongly with Habibur Rahman Sohan and Jishan Alam scoring freely, but Pakistan struck back when Arafat Minhas removed both Jishan and Mahidul Islam Ankon in successive overs, derailing the early momentum.

Saad Masood then dismissed Sohan with a short delivery, and Sufiyan Muqeem ripped through the middle order with a superb spell of three for 11, including two googlies that bowled out batters who struggled against his turn.

Bangladesh collapsed to 53 for seven, but Rakibul Hasan and SM Meherob steadied the chase with a 43-run eighth-wicket stand that revived hope before Saqlain's explosive three sixes in the 19th over pushed the contest towards a thrilling conclusion.

Requiring seven runs from the final over, Bangladesh were held back by Daniyal's disciplined bowling, which allowed only three runs and two byes before a leg-bye off the last delivery forced the tie and took the final into the super over.