Pakistan Shaheens claimed the Rising Stars Asia Cup title after a tense final in Doha went to a Super Over, where Bangladesh A fell short despite a stirring late surge from their lower order.
Replying to Pakistan’s 125, Bangladesh A appeared done for at 53 for 7 before No. 10 Abdul Gaffar Saqlain and No. 11 Ripon Mondol scripted an extraordinary revival.
Their fearless hitting produced 20 runs in the penultimate over, dragging the match to the brink of an unlikely steal.
Bangladesh needed seven off the final over, then two off the last ball. A scrambled leg-bye levelled the scores, sending the final into a Super Over—just as Bangladesh had done in their semifinal win over India.
But the momentum slipped quickly.
Batting first, Bangladesh managed only six runs. Habibur Rahman took a single off the first ball before two quick wickets fell—Saqlain splicing a catch back to bowler Ahmed Daniyal, and Jishan Alam having his stumps rattled after a wayward delivery down the leg side gifted Bangladesh five wides.
Daniyal, who had dominated the death overs all evening, finished the Super Over with two wickets for one legal ball faced.
Chasing seven, Pakistan showed fewer nerves.
Saad Masood and Maaz Sadaqat walked out calmly, and Mondol—Bangladesh’s hero with both bat and ball in previous matches—found no early breakthrough this time.
A leg-bye and a single set up the winning moment before Masood flicked a low full toss to the square-leg rope. He punched the air as the Shaheens sealed the title, their third in this tournament’s history.
For Bangladesh, the heartbreak was softened only by Mondol’s emergence as the tournament’s standout quick under pressure.
His 3-for in the main innings had earlier kept Bangladesh alive when Pakistan were cruising at 96 for one. Bangladesh had clawed back with a flurry of late wickets, but 125 proved just enough for Pakistan on a wearing surface where run-making was sporadic.
Saqlain’s fearless 16* off 12 balls and Mondol’s 11 off nine nearly flipped the script again, echoing Bangladesh’s dramatic Super Over win in the semifinal.
But in the end, Pakistan held firmer in the decisive moments, with Daniyal’s control in the death overshadowing Bangladesh’s spirited fightback.