Pakistan Shaheens showcased their strength in the semi-final of the ACC Men’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup, emerging victorious with a 60-run win against Sri Lanka A. The match, held at the P Saravanamuttu Stadium in Colombo on July 21, witnessed a standout performance from Arshad Iqbal, who took five wickets, earning him the title of hero of the match.
Facing early challenges after losing opener Sahibzada Farhan, Pakistan Shaheens found stability through a crucial partnership of 37 runs between Saim Ayub and Omair Bin Yousuf. Omair was the top scorer with an impressive 88 runs off 79 balls, contributing 10 boundaries and a powerful six. With valuable input from Tayyab Tahir and skipper Mohammad Haris, Pakistan Shaheens set a competitive total of 322 runs.
In response, Sri Lanka A displayed determination, notably with a significant 128-run partnership between Avishka Fernando and Sahan Arachchige. However, Arshad Iqbal’s exceptional bowling turned the game in favor of Pakistan Shaheens, as he claimed five wickets for just 37 runs, restricting Sri Lanka A to 262 runs.
With this dominant victory, Pakistan Shaheens secured their spot in the final. They will compete against the winner of the second semi-final between Bangladesh A and India A in the title clash scheduled for July 23.