On Sunday, November 23, 2025, at 14:30 UTC, Pakistan Shaheens clinched the Men's Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 West End Park International Cricket Stadium title in the most nerve-wracking fashion possible — a Super Over that lasted just 27 balls but felt like an eternity. Both teams, Bangladesh A and Pakistan Shaheens, finished their 20-over innings at 125 all out. No winner. No margin. Just pure, unfiltered tension — and then, a single over to decide it all.
The Tied Battle: Two Teams, One Score
It was a match where every run mattered, and every wicket felt like a dagger. Pakistan Shaheens, batting first, lost three early wickets in the Powerplay, struggling to 40 for 3 in six overs. But then came the calm. Paired with precision, Saad Masood (38), Arafat Minhas (25), and Maaz Sadaqat (23) stitched together a gritty, unglamorous innings that kept them alive. They reached 100 in 16.6 overs, then collapsed slightly — but not enough. All out for 125 in exactly 120 balls. No fireworks. Just grit.
Bangladesh A, chasing, looked more aggressive early. They posted 43 for 3 in their Powerplay — slightly better than Pakistan’s. But then came the spin. Sufyan Moqim (3-11), Arafat Minhas (2-5), and Maaz Sadaqat (1-7) turned the game on its head. Bangladesh A’s momentum, which had surged to 22 runs off just 2.3 overs, stalled completely. They reached 100 in 18.1 overs — but couldn’t push past 125. All out. Same score. Same result: a tie.
The Super Over: Three Balls, One Moment
The Super Over was pure theatre. Bangladesh A batted first — and barely made it count. Ahmed Daniyal was out on the first ball. Then came a five-run wide — a cruel, unforced error that nearly cost them the title. Habibur Rahman took a single. Two leg-byes on the final two balls. They finished on 6 for 2 in just 0.3 overs. Six runs. No extras. No margin for error.
Pakistan Shaheens needed seven. Four balls. No wickets lost. Saad Masood stepped up. First ball: single. Second: another. Third: a massive four over deep backward square leg off Ripon Mondol. The crowd roared. The scoreboard flashed: 7. Done. No need for a fourth ball.
The Architects: Spin, Patience, and Pressure
This wasn’t won by power-hitters. It was won by bowlers who held their nerve. Sufyan Moqim — a quiet, unassuming spinner — took 3 for 11 in his four overs, dismantling Bangladesh A’s middle order when they were looking dangerous. Arafat Minhas, who’d scored 25 with the bat, returned to take 2 for 5 — a spell that included a crucial dismissal in the 15th over that broke the back of the chase.
Even the fielding was sharp. The wicketkeeper, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, didn’t drop a single chance — even when the wide went past him in the Super Over. That’s the kind of detail that wins tournaments.
Behind the Scenes: The Developmental Engine
Let’s be clear — this wasn’t Pakistan’s full national team. This was the Pakistan Cricket Board’s developmental squad, officially named Pakistan Shaheens. Same for Bangladesh A — a pipeline of future stars, many still under 23, playing for their country’s future. The Men's Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 isn’t about global glory. It’s about building depth. And on this day, it delivered a performance that could shape careers.
Umpires Hemantha Boteju (Sri Lanka) and Mahmood Kharoti (Afghanistan) kept things tight, with no controversial decisions. Even the DRS review — requested in the sixth ball of Bangladesh A’s innings — was handled cleanly. This was cricket at its purest: talent, pressure, and composure.
What This Means for the Future
Pakistan’s win isn’t just a trophy. It’s a signal. The PCB’s youth system is producing players who can handle pressure — not just in domestic cricket, but on the international stage. Saad Masood, just 21, now has a tournament-winning knock under his belt. Arafat Minhas, the all-rounder, showed he can deliver with bat and ball when it matters most.
Bangladesh A, despite the loss, showed promise. Ripon Mondol (3-25) and Rakibul Hasan (2-16) were outstanding with the ball. Their top order, though outplayed in the death overs, proved they can compete. This tournament isn’t just a warm-up — it’s a testing ground for the next generation of Asian cricket.
The venue, West End Park International Cricket Stadium in Doha, once again proved it’s more than just a neutral ground. It’s a stage — and on November 23, it hosted a final that will be replayed in academies for years.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Pakistan Shaheens manage to win despite losing three wickets early?
Pakistan Shaheens survived a shaky Powerplay by relying on lower-order composure. Saad Masood and Arafat Minhas anchored the innings after 3-40, using smart rotation and aggressive boundaries only when needed. Their 50-run partnership between overs 10 and 17 kept them in the game, and the final 25 runs came from just 24 balls — a testament to their ability to accelerate under pressure without losing wickets.
Why was the Super Over decided so quickly for Pakistan?
Saad Masood’s calmness under pressure was key. He knew he needed a boundary to seal it, and he targeted Ripon Mondol’s full delivery outside off. The four he hit was perfectly placed — deep backward square leg, where no fielder could reach. Combined with two singles and a leg-bye, Pakistan reached seven in just four balls, avoiding the need for a fifth. Bangladesh’s early wicket and wide gave them a psychological edge.
Who were the standout bowlers in the tournament final?
Sufyan Moqim (3-11) was the match-winner with the ball, dismantling Bangladesh A’s middle order with flight and guile. Arafat Minhas (2-5) was equally crucial — his two wickets in the 13th and 17th overs broke two dangerous partnerships. Ripon Mondol (3-25) was Bangladesh’s best, but his final over in the Super Over proved costly. The spin trio combined for 6 wickets for just 23 runs in 12 overs.
What’s next for Pakistan Shaheens after this win?
The Pakistan Cricket Board plans to integrate top performers like Saad Masood and Sufyan Moqim into the national training camp ahead of the 2026 Asia Cup. This tournament serves as a direct pathway — players who excel here often get called up for the Pakistan A side within six months. The win also boosts confidence in PCB’s youth development model, which has faced criticism in recent years.
How does this compare to previous Rising Stars finals?
The 2025 final was the first in the tournament’s history to be decided by a Super Over. Previous finals — including 2023’s India A vs Sri Lanka A match — ended with comfortable margins. The intensity here mirrored senior-level finals, with both teams showing maturity beyond their age. It’s a sign that the Rising Stars format is evolving into a true talent showcase, not just a practice game.
Why was the match held in Doha, and not in Pakistan or Bangladesh?
Doha was chosen as a neutral venue to ensure fairness and avoid logistical or security concerns. The West End Park Stadium has hosted multiple ICC events and is equipped with top-tier facilities. With cricket infrastructure still developing in parts of South Asia, neutral venues help maintain competitive integrity — especially for developmental teams. It also gives the tournament broader regional visibility.