Pakistan Shaheens secured an eight-wicket victory against India A in the Group B match of the Asia Cup Rising Stars in Doha on Sunday, advancing to the semi-finals. The Jitesh Sharma-led Indian team faced an unexpected batting collapse, leading to their defeat.India, batting first in their second tournament game, made a strong start with opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scoring a quick 45 runs off 28 balls. Naman Dhir contributed with 35 runs from 20 balls before Pakistan’s bowlers turned the game around.
Pakistan’s bowling attack proved effective with Shahid Aziz taking three wickets in three overs. Saad Masood and Maaz Sadaqat each claimed two wickets, as India lost their last eight wickets for just 35 runs in the final 10 overs.India A, who appeared set for a total exceeding 170 runs at the halfway mark, were dismissed for 136 runs in 19 overs. Pakistan successfully chased down the target with 40 balls remaining, handing India their first loss after their initial victory against the UAE.PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi expressed his joy over the victory on social media platform X: “What a proud moment for Pakistan and for the Board today! Our Pakistan Sheheens defeated India A by 8 wickets, chasing down the target in 13.2 runs. A dominant, fearless, and unforgettable performance in the Asia Cup Rising Stars Tournament in Doha. Superb cricket by our young guns, the future of Pakistan is shining bright. Congratulations to the nation!”In a separate development on the same evening, Pakistan’s senior team completed a 3-0 ODI series sweep against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi. They achieved a six-wicket victory with 32 balls remaining in the final match.Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman both scored their second consecutive half-centuries, guiding Pakistan to 215-4 in 44.4 overs. Sri Lanka, who batted first, failed to capitalize on their strong start and were bowled out for 211 in 45.2 overs.During the post-match press conference, Pakistan’s captain Shaheen Afridi acknowledged the Shaheens’ victory: “Pakistan Shaheens won against out neighbours, so that’s a big achievement for us.”
