India A lost unexpectedly to Pakistan Shaheens by 8 wickets in the Asia Cup Rising Stars tournament in Doha on Sunday. Pakistan, after choosing to field, staged a stunning comeback to bowl India A out for a lowly 136 run score, even though India A were going great guns at 91 for three by the 10th over.
Faced with a 137-run target, the Shaheens went after the total without any trouble, finishing the game off in 13.2 overs to register their second win of the tournament. Mohsin Naqvi, PCB chairman, took to X (formerly Twitter) to send his congratulations to the team, recognising their "dominant and fearless" performance against India.
Mohsin Naqvi’s unexpected post and rivalry undercurrents
Naqvi’s exuberant message surprised many observers, given that the victory was an isolated result for Pakistan at an early stage of the competition. It also marked a rare triumph for Pakistan over India in recent times, following three consecutive losses in the senior men’s Asia Cup 2025.
The rivalry’s intensity was evident even before the first ball was bowled, as the captains once again avoided a handshake at the toss—a continuation of the uneasy interactions witnessed during the senior men’s tournament. After the match, rumours surfaced on social media claiming Indian and Pakistani players had exchanged handshakes, but the circulating video merely showed Pakistani players and staff greeting each other.
On the field, Pakistan opener Maaz Sadaqat emerged as the standout performer. He hammered an unbeaten 79 off 47 balls, featuring seven fours and four sixes, and also chipped in with the ball, taking 2/12 to cap off a superb all-round display.
