Indian cricket team loses to Pakistan Shaheens

India A lost to Pakistan Shaheens by eight wickets in their second Group B game of the Rising Stars Asia Cup 2025 at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on Sunday.

Put into bat first, India A were bowled out for 136 in 19 overs despite being 91/2 in the 10th over. The 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi top-scored for the Indian cricket team with a 28-ball 45 while Shahid Aziz starred for Pakistan Shaheens with 3/24.

In reply, Pakistan Shaheens, led by Maaz Sadaqat’s unbeaten 79 off 47 balls, chased down the target in 13.2 overs.

The result lifted Pakistan Shaheens to the top of the Group B standings and confirmed their place in the semi-finals. India A, who led the group courtesy of their superior Net Run Rate heading into the match, are now second.

India A and Oman, who have won their group games against the UAE, will next meet in a must-win encounter on Tuesday. Only the top two teams from each group move into the semi-finals.

Suryavanshi, who scored a 32-ball century against the UAE in the first match, launched India A’s innings with a cracking boundary over backward point.

The 14-year-old opener, along with Naman Dhir, helped the Indian team reach 79/1 in the ninth over before the latter was dismissed after playing a fluent knock of 35 off 20 balls.

Suryavanshi’s wicket in the next over allowed the Pakistani side an opening with two new batters at the crease.

From 93/3 in 10 overs, India A suffered a batting collapse that saw them bowled out for just 136 in 19 overs.

All six bowlers used by the Pakistani captain Irfan Khan - Ubaid Shah (1/24), Shahid Aziz (3/24), Ahmed Daniyal (1/21), Saad Masood (2/31), Sufiyan Muqeem (1/24) and Maaz Sadaqat (2/12) - registered wickets.

Pakistan Shaheens made a brisk start in reply, with Maaz Sadaqat taking on the Indian fast bowlers from the outset as they raced to 57/1 in the powerplay.

Sadaqat brought up his half-century off just 31 balls in the seventh over, keeping the scoring rate above 10. Pakistan Shaheens were 101/2 at the halfway stage, needing 36 to win from the final 10 overs.

Despite needing less than four runs an over, Maaz Sadaqat continued the onslaught to help Pakistan Shaheens complete the chase in 13.2 overs.

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