Bangladesh A have sent Pakistan A in to bat after winning the toss in the final of the Rising Stars Asia Cup, setting the stage for a rematch of their 2019 Emerging Asia Cup defeat.
Bangladesh lost that 2019 final by 77 runs when both sides fielded under-23 teams, with the Nazmul Hossain Shanto–Afif Hossain side falling short. Six years on, the renamed Rising Stars Asia Cup gives Bangladesh A a chance to settle that old score against the Pakistan Shaheens.
Playing XIs
Bangladesh A
1 Jishan Alam, 2 Habibur Rahman, 3 Yasir Ali, 4 Akbar Ali (capt & wk), 5 Rakibul Hasan, 6 Mahidul Islam, 7 Meherob Hossain, 8 Mahfuzur Rahman, 9 Mrittunjoy Chowdhary, 10 Ripon Mondol, 11 Abdul Gaffar
Pakistan A
1 Maaz Sadaqat, 2 Yasir Khan, 3 Mohammad Faiq, 4 Irfan Khan (capt), 5 Ghazi Ghori (wk), 6 Saad Masood, 7 Arafat Minhas, 8 Shahid Aziz, 9 Ahmed Daniyal, 10 Ubaid Shah, 11 Sufiyan Muqeem
Road to the final
Bangladesh A
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Began with a dominant eight-wicket win over Hong Kong.
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Steamrolled Afghanistan A.
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Narrowly lost to Sri Lanka A by six runs.
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Beat India A in a dramatic semi-final decided by a Super Over, with Ripon Mondol holding his nerve.
Pakistan A
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Unbeaten through the tournament.
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Beat Oman by 40 runs.
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Outplayed India A by eight wickets.
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Swatted aside UAE by nine wickets.
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Edged Sri Lanka A in a tight semi-final by five runs.
