Pakistan A team became back-to-back champions after they defeated India A in the final of the ACC Emerging Team’s Asia Cup 2023 tournament which was played at the R Premadasa stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka on July 23, 2023.
Yash Dhull, the India A captain won the toss and chose to bowl first. In response, Pakistan A openers Saim Ayub (59) and Sahibzada Farhan (65) gave their team a solid start by adding 121 runs in just 17.2 overs. Sahibzada Farhan was run out and Saim Ayub was dismissed by Manav Suthar.
Then Riyan Parag jolted Pakistan A with two wickets in two balls as Omair Yousuf (35) and Qasim Akram (0) fell. Then Nishant Sindhu got rid of Pakistan A captain Mohammad Haris for 2 runs and Pakistan A slid to 187/5 in 29 overs.
After this, 29-year-old Tayyab Tahir took the attack to Indian bowlers and with some support from Mubashir Khan (35), added 126 runs for the sixth wicket. Tahir was dismissed for a 71-ball 108 with 12 fours and 4 sixes as Pakistan registered a massive 352/8 in 50 overs.
Rajvardhan Hangargekar and Riyan Parag picked two wickets each for India A.
India A’s response was very good as Sai Sudharsan (29) and Abhishek Sharma (61) added 64 runs in 8.3 overs for the first wicket. But after that, the wickets just kept falling and only captain Yash Dhull with 39 runs was the other significant contributor.
The Pakistan bowlers, aided by the huge total to back them, kept relentless pressure on the opposition. Left-arm wrist spinner Sufiyan Muqeem picked 3/66, while Arshad Iqbal, Mehran Mumtaz, and Mohammad Wasim picked two wickets each as well.
India A was routed for 224 in 40 overs as Pakistan A won the final by 128 runs and were crowned champions for the second year in a row.
Tayyab Tahir was named the Player of the Final for his century, while India’s Nishant Sindhu was awarded the Player of the Tournament.
The Pakistan cricket fraternity was over the moon as their Shaheens won an important tournament and that too by defeating rivals India. The Pakistan A team received wholehearted praise from them.
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