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| Pakistan wins Junior Asia Cup / Photo File (@TheRealPCB) |
Pakistan clinched the Asia Cup Rising Star title after a nail-biting finish against Bangladesh, winning the final through a Super Over thriller in Doha on Sunday.
Bangladesh won the toss and opted to field first, sending Pakistan in to bat. The Pakistan Shaheens struggled throughout their innings, losing wickets at regular intervals and managing only 125 runs in 20 overs before being bowled out. Saad Masood top-scored with 38, followed by Arafat Minhas with 25 and Moaz Sadaqat with 23.
Pakistan’s innings began disastrously, with Yasir Khan run out on the very first ball. The team failed to recover as early wickets kept falling, preventing any solid partnerships from forming.
In reply, Bangladesh A also faced difficulty building momentum. Despite contributions from Habibur Rahman (26), Rakibul Hasan (24) and SM Mehrob (19), the chase slowed down, and the match ultimately ended in a dramatic tie at the close of 20 overs.
The final was then decided through a Super Over. Bangladesh were restricted to 6 runs for 2 wickets, courtesy of disciplined bowling from Pakistan. Chasing a target of 7, Pakistan sent Shan Masood and Moaz Sadaqat to bat, and the pair comfortably secured the win to lift the Rising Star title.
For Bangladesh, Repon Mondol took 3 wickets, while Rakibul Hasan claimed 2, and SM Mehrob, Abdul Ghaffar Saqlain and Jeshan Alam picked up one wicket each.
The victory capped off a thrilling finale, showcasing the depth and fighting spirit of Pakistan’s emerging talent.
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