🏏 Pakistan Crush Oman by 40 Runs in Asia Cup Rising Stars Opener
⭐ Pakistan Begin Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 With a Dominant Statement
Pakistan made the perfect start to their ACC Men’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 campaign as they crushed Oman by 40 runs in the tournament opener at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium in Doha. The match showcased everything Pakistan’s new generation is capable of: explosive batting, composed partnerships, clever bowling, and moments of brilliance in the field.
Oman, despite the heavy defeat, showed resilience in the second half of their chase with a record lower-order partnership. But Pakistan, powered by Maaz Sadaqat’s stunning 96* and Ubaid Shah’s three crucial wickets, proved too strong and too composed in key phases.
This blog gives you:
✔️ A ball-by-ball style breakdown
✔️ Detailed innings analysis of both teams
✔️ Tactical insights
✔️ Player performance deep dive
✔️ Turning points summary
✔️ Impact on the rest of the Asia Cup Rising Stars
✔️ What this match means before the big Pakistan vs India clash
This is the complete match review, based ONLY on the information you provided.
⭐ Pakistan’s Innings: A Strong Start, Explosive Finish, and a Near-Century Masterclass
Pakistan were put in to bat after Oman won the toss. The pitch looked fresh with good bounce, and Pakistan knew they had to take advantage.
2.1 Early Loss: Naeem Falls, Oman Gain Momentum
Mohammad Naeem, an aggressive but inexperienced opener, tried to take on the Omani pacer Shafiq Jan early. After hitting a boundary, he fell for 6 off 5 balls.
Score: 19/1 (2.1 overs)
Oman celebrated — but their relief didn’t last long.
⭐ Stabilization Through Yasir & Sadaqat: Pakistan Reset the Innings
Maaz Sadaqat, who would later steal the entire show, absorbed pressure and rebuilt the innings with Yasir Khan.
✔️ 44-run partnership
✔️ Rotated strike intelligently
✔️ Punished loose balls
Yasir scored a run-a-ball 26 with three classy boundaries and one six before he fell to Wasim Ali.
Score: 63/2 (7.6 overs)
At this point, Pakistan had a solid base, but needed acceleration.
⭐ Middle Overs Surge: Faiq’s Cameo Sets Up the Launchpad
Mohammad Faiq arrived with clear intent. His 19 off 9 balls (SR 211.11) changed the tempo instantly.
Key features of Faiq’s cameo:
🔥 1 four
🔥 2 sixes
🔥 Fearless hitting over cover and long-on
He fell at 101/3 (11.4 overs) — but Pakistan had entered acceleration mode.
⭐ The Partnership That Broke Oman: Sadaqat & Niazi Smash 82 Runs
This was the match-defining stand.
5.1 Maaz Sadaqat — The Architect of Pakistan’s 220
Maaz Sadaqat’s knock was one of the finest in Rising Stars history:
- 96 off 54 balls*
- 5 fours
- 9 massive sixes
- SR 177.78
- Unbeaten till the end
He paced his innings perfectly:
✔ Early overs: rotated strike
✔ Middle overs: punished spinners
✔ Final overs: unleashed power hitting
He missed a century by just 4 runs, but it remains one of the most memorable T20 knocks by a Pakistan emerging player.
5.2 Irfan Niazi — Captain’s Knock Under Pressure
Skipper Irfan Khan Niazi produced a brilliant 44 off 21 balls:
🔥 5 sixes
🔥 SR over 209
🔥 Took charge against Oman’s medium pacers
Their 82-run partnership destroyed Oman’s bowling rhythm.
Score: 183/4 (18.1 overs)
⭐ Final Flourish: Saad Masood’s Mini-Storm
Saad Masood joined Sadaqat and immediately launched:
- 19 off 6 balls
- SR 316.67
- 1 four
- 2 sixes
Pakistan smashed 18 runs in the last over.
Final Total: 220/4 (20 overs)
Run Rate: 11 RPO
Pakistan’s batting blueprint was nearly perfect.
⭐ Oman’s Chase: Early Collapse and Lost Momentum
Chasing 221, Oman needed a strong, fearless start.
Pakistan didn’t allow it.
7.1 Ubaid Shah Strikes Early
Ubaid Shah dismissed Sufyan Yousaf (3 off 3) with a sharp delivery.
Score: 7/1 (1.3 overs)
This early wicket put Oman on the defensive.
⭐ Oman Rebuild Briefly: Mirza & Sonavale Fight Back
Skipper Hammad Mirza and Karan Sonavale added 57 runs for the second wicket.
Sonavale’s 26 off 18
Mirza’s 34 off 27
Both played at a healthy strike rate and tried to keep Oman alive.
But once the partnership broke, Oman fell apart.
⭐ Middle Overs Collapse: Pakistan Strike in Clusters
From 64/2, Oman slipped to 79/7 — losing 5 wickets for just 15 runs.
Key dismissals:
✔ Sonavale (caught Ubaid, bowled Maaz Sadaqat)
✔ Mirza (run out)
✔ Narayan (run out)
✔ Aryan Bisht (c Irfan, b Sadaqat)
✔ Jay Odedra (bowled Saad Masood)
Pakistan's ground fielding was excellent — two run-outs in pressure moments turned the game.
⭐ Oman Fightback: Islam & Raza Add Incredible 88 Runs
Just when Oman seemed down and out, Zikria Islam and Muzahir Raza produced a stunning counterattack.
Zikria Islam — Heroic Counterpunch
Runs: 57 off 28
Fours: 4
Sixes: 5
SR: 203.57
Islam attacked every bowler and brought Oman back into the game.
Muzahir Raza — Calm & Calculated
Runs: 46 off 24*
Fours: 4
Sixes: 4
SR: 191.67
Together, they stitched 88 runs — the highest 8th-wicket partnership in Rising Stars history.
But the target was too big.
⭐ Pakistan Wrap Up the Win: Ubaid Shah Finishes the Job
Ubaid Shah removed Zikria Islam and Shafiq Jan in consecutive deliveries.
Final Score: 180/9 (20 overs)
Pakistan Win By: 40 Runs
This margin is strong in T20 standards, especially in a tournament opener.
⭐ Full Match Summary
🔥 Pakistan Batting Highlights
- Maaz Sadaqat — 96* (54)
- Irfan Niazi — 44 (21)
- Saad Masood — 19* (6)
- Faiq — 19 (9)
🔥 Oman Batting Highlights
- Zikria Islam — 57 (28)
- Muzahir Raza — 46* (24)
- Hammad Mirza — 34 (27)
🔥 Pakistan Bowling
- Ubaid Shah — 3/29
- Maaz Sadaqat — 2/14
- Saad Masood — 2/27
⭐ Turning Points of the Match
1. Early wicket of Naeem — Oman on top
2. Sadaqat–Niazi partnership — Pakistan regain full control
3. Pakistan’s death overs surge — adding 100+ in last 10 overs
4. Oman’s middle-order collapse — 5 wickets in 15 runs
5. Ubaid Shah removing Zikria Islam — Oman’s last hope gone
⭐ Player of the Match: Maaz Sadaqat
No doubts.
No debate.
He dominated with bat and ball.
Batting: 96 off 54*
Bowling: 2/14 in 3 overs
One of the most complete all-round performances in Rising Stars cricket.
⭐ Pakistan’s Victory: What It Means for Their Tournament Campaign
This win gives Pakistan:
✔ Momentum
✔ Confidence
✔ Better NRR
✔ Clear team combinations
✔ Strong morale before playing India
The top order clicked, middle order fired, bowling unit looked sharp, and fielding intensity was high.
This is exactly what Pakistan needed ahead of the high-voltage clash vs India on Sunday.
⭐ Oman’s Positives Despite Defeat
Despite losing by 40 runs, Oman take away:
✔ Islam–Raza partnership (88 runs)
✔ Positive intent from Sonavale and Mirza
✔ A fighting lower-order spirit
✔ Important learnings for future games
Oman’s challenge is consistency, not talent.
⭐ Deep Tactical Breakdown
Why Pakistan succeeded:
- Better powerplay control
- Strong partnerships
- Big overs in the death
- Multi-discipline impact players
- Spin + medium-pace variety combination
Where Oman lost the match:
- Leaking 220 runs
- No middle overs control
- Two costly run-outs
- No wicket pressure
- Collapsing from 64/2 to 79/7
⭐ Statistical Highlights
✔ Pakistan hit 17 sixes
✔ Pakistan scored 100+ runs in last 10 overs
✔ Oman’s 8th-wicket partnership = 88 runs
✔ Sadaqat hit 9 sixes, the highest in the match
✔ Pakistan bowlers took 7 wickets + 2 run-outs
📌 Cricketory Insights & Expert Tactical Analysis
1. Pakistan’s New Template: Aggressive but Smart T20 Cricket
Pakistan finally showed a modern T20 approach:
- Anchor-free power hitting
- Partnerships built on strike rate, not survival
- Late overs domination (100+ in last 10 overs)
This is the exact brand of cricket top T20 sides play in 2025.
2. Maaz Sadaqat — Pakistan’s Future Middle-Order Star
His innings was:
- Technically compact
- Power-driven
- Match-changing
- Smartly paced
He didn’t slog — he targeted matchups:
- Pacers in the last 5 overs
- Spinners in gaps
- Medium pacers straight and square
This is elite-level T20 maturity.
3. Ubaid Shah’s Control Is Rare for a Young Pacer
Ubaid is evolving into Pakistan’s next big white-ball fast bowling prospect.
Strengths shown:
- Hard lengths
- Off-stump line
- Late swing
- Calm under pressure
His strike to dismiss Zikria Islam ended Oman’s comeback.
4. Oman’s Collapse Was Not Random — It Was Tactical Pressure
Pakistan attacked in clusters:
- Two run-outs
- Dot-ball pressure
- Fielders inside the circle cutting singles
Oman panicked because Pakistan forced them into aggressive mistakes.
5. Oman’s Lower-Order Fightback Was a Warning for Pakistan
Pakistan’s death bowling still has issues:
- Missed yorkers
- Length errors
- Over-reliance on pace
India will punish those mistakes far harder.
This is the biggest takeaway before the Pakistan–India match.
6. Pakistan’s Middle Order Looks Solid
With:
- Maaz Sadaqat
- Irfan Khan Niazi
- Saad Masood
Pakistan finally have hitters who can:
✔ Rotate strike
✔ Perform under pressure
✔ Attack spinners
✔ Clear the boundary consistently
This was missing in 2023–2024.
7. Fielding Improvements Stand Out
Pakistan produced:
- 2 crucial run-outs
- A diving catch
- Better ground fielding
This adds 10–15 runs advantage in T20s.
⭐ Conclusion: Pakistan Announce Themselves as Title Contenders
This victory wasn’t just a win — it was a statement.
Pakistan look powerful, balanced, aggressive, and confident. Their batting depth, bowling variety, and fearless approach make them one of the most dangerous teams in the Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025.
With India up next, this win builds momentum at the perfect time.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Who was the Player of the Match in Pakistan vs Oman Rising Stars 2025?
A: Maaz Sadaqat was the Player of the Match for his unbeaten 96 and 2 wickets — a complete all-round performance.
Q2. What was Pakistan’s total score in the match?
A: Pakistan scored 220/4 in 20 overs, their highest total in the Asia Cup Rising Stars tournament.
Q3. How much did Pakistan win by?
A: Pakistan defeated Oman by 40 runs, a convincing margin in T20 cricket.
Q4. What was the turning point of the match?
A: The 82-run partnership between Maaz Sadaqat and Irfan Khan Niazi changed the game completely, shifting momentum fully to Pakistan.
Q5. What went wrong for Oman?
A: Oman’s key problems were:
- No middle overs control
- Losing 5 wickets for 15 runs
- Two untimely run-outs
- Poor death bowling
These elements made the chase almost impossible.
Q6. Who were Oman’s standout performers?
A: Zikria Islam (57 off 28) and Muzahir Raza (46* off 24) led a brilliant 88-run partnership for the 8th wicket.
Q7. What does this win mean for Pakistan in the tournament?
A: This win gives Pakistan:
- A strong NRR boost
- Momentum before the India clash
- Confidence in their new batting order
- Tactical clarity
They look like strong title contenders.
Q8. How did Pakistan’s bowlers perform overall?
A: Pakistan’s bowlers were sharp early and in the middle overs, but inconsistent at the death. Ubaid Shah was the pick with 3 wickets.
Q9. Did Oman ever have a chance to win?
A: Yes — during the 88-run 8th wicket partnership, Oman briefly returned into the match. But Ubaid Shah’s double strike ended the threat.
Q10. What’s next for Pakistan?
A: Pakistan will face India in a high-pressure, high-stakes match — and this win gives them the perfect momentum.
