Pakistan A vs Sri Lanka A: Rising Stars semi-final ends in dramatic finish in Doha

When the final ball of the Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 semi-final was bowled at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium in Doha, the scoreboard read 153/9 — not a massive total, but enough to force Sri Lanka A into a high-pressure chase. Pakistan A, also known as the Pakistan Shaheens, had scraped together a defendable score after losing wickets at regular intervals, and the tension in the stands was thick enough to cut with a bat. The match, played on Wednesday, November 21, 2025, wasn’t just another fixture — it was a proving ground for the next generation of Asian cricket stars.

How Pakistan A Built Their Total

It started with fire. Openers Maaz Sadaqat and Mohd Naeem took the first three overs like a sprinter off the blocks, racing to 24/0 with boundaries flying. Sadaqat, the left-handed opener from Lahore, looked in sublime touch — his cover drives were textbook, and he even cleared the ropes with a six off a short ball. Naeem, the quiet anchor from Faisalabad, kept the strike rotating with surgical precision. But then came the collapse. Three wickets fell in the space of 12 balls between overs 7 and 10. The spinners from Sri Lanka A, particularly the off-spinner Tharindu Fernando, found purchase on a pitch that had started to grip. By the 15th over, Pakistan A were 97/6. It looked like they’d fall short of 150.

Here’s the twist: the lower order didn’t panic. Hasan Nawaz, the 20-year-old all-rounder who’s been tipped for a senior call-up next year, smashed 31 off 18 balls — including two sixes and three fours. Abdul Samad, the explosive finisher from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, added 29 in just 14 deliveries. They didn’t just survive — they turned a shaky 110/7 into a competitive 153/9. That’s the kind of resilience the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been banking on since launching its Emerging Players Program in 2022.

Sri Lanka A’s Chase: Patience vs Pressure

The Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) side, led by the calm-headed Chamika Karunaratne, knew one thing: chasing 154 in Doha’s dry air wasn’t about brute force. They needed to navigate the powerplay, then accelerate. But Pakistan’s bowling attack, led by paceman Umair Ali and leg-spinner Shadab Khan (yes, that Shadab — still developing his role in the A team), had other ideas. The first two overs yielded just 12 runs. The third over, bowled by debutant Abdullah Niazi, saw Karunaratne caught at deep midwicket — a crucial breakthrough.

By the 12th over, Sri Lanka A were 72/4. The crowd, mostly Pakistani expats and local cricket fans, roared with every dot ball. But then came the 14th over — bowled by Ali Khan — and Sri Lanka’s Shehan Jayasuriya went nuclear. Three sixes in that over, including one that cleared the boundary by a full 15 meters. Suddenly, the equation changed. 48 needed off 36. The pressure shifted.

Where to Watch and Who’s Broadcasting

For fans in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal, the match was only accessible through official channels. The Sony Sports Network held exclusive broadcast rights across the Indian subcontinent, with live streaming on Sony LIV. FanCode, operated by Dream Sports Media Private Limited, also streamed the match — a rare instance where two platforms carried the same event simultaneously. Both required paid subscriptions, sparking minor backlash on social media from fans in rural areas who couldn’t afford access. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC), headquartered in Dubai, has been criticized for not offering free-to-air options, despite the tournament’s developmental mission.

Why This Tournament Matters More Than You Think

The Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 isn’t just a warm-up. It’s a pipeline. Of the 22 players who featured in the semi-finals, 11 have already been named in their senior national squads for upcoming tours. For Pakistan, players like Hasan Nawaz and Abdul Samad are now on the radar for the 2027 World Cup squad. Sri Lanka’s Jayasuriya, despite his team’s loss, has been called into the senior training camp. The Asian Cricket Council, formed in 1983, runs this tournament to bridge the gap between domestic cricket and international competition — a gap that’s widened as T20 leagues like the PSL and IPL pull talent away from national systems.

The venue itself tells a story. West End Park in Doha, with its 17,000-seat capacity and state-of-the-art drainage, hosted the semi-final. The first semi-final was played at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Oman — a reminder that this isn’t just an India-Pakistan show. It’s a pan-Asian talent hunt, stretching from Afghanistan to the Maldives.

What’s Next: The Final and the Bigger Picture

The winner of this match advanced to face the victor of the first semi-final — Oman A, who had beaten Bangladesh A in Al Amerat. The final, scheduled for November 23, will be held back in Doha. But beyond the trophy, the real prize is selection. The Pakistan Cricket Board has already confirmed that the top three performers from this tournament will be fast-tracked into the national training camp ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup qualifiers. Sri Lanka’s selectors are doing the same. For young players, this isn’t just a tournament. It’s a career-defining week.

Behind the Scenes: The ACC’s Quiet Revolution

What most fans don’t see is how much behind-the-scenes work goes into this. The ACC, with just 12 full-time staff, coordinates matches across six countries, arranges visas for 180 players, and ensures broadcast feeds reach 17 territories. They don’t have the budget of the ICC, but they’ve built something surprisingly sustainable. This year’s tournament drew over 2.3 million live streams — up 40% from 2023. And for the first time, the ACC partnered with a data analytics firm to track player metrics like exit velocity and fielding efficiency — data that’s now being shared with national boards to refine talent development.