The credit for Pakistan Shaheens’ victory over India in the Emerging Asia Cup final goes to coach Mohammad Masroor, who strategically included two players rested during the group stage match against the same opponents.
In the final, Pakistan displayed a dominant performance, securing a commanding 128-run win, with the key contributions of Sufiyan Muqeem and Tayyab Tahir. These two players were described by Masroor as the “surprise package” for India, having a significant impact on the match.
The coach clarified that resting Muqeem and Tahir during the group stage was a deliberate decision since Pakistan had already secured a spot in the semi-finals. This move paid off in the final, as their fresh presence proved to be a game-changer.
During the decisive match, Pakistan faced a challenging situation when they lost five wickets with just 187 runs on the board. However, Tayyab Tahir’s brilliant century turned the tide of the game. He scored an impressive 108 runs off 71 balls, which included 12 fours and 4 sixes, at an outstanding strike rate of 152.11.
Although India started well in the second innings, scoring 64 runs without losing a wicket in the initial 7 overs, the tables turned when Arshad Iqbal crucially dismissed Sudharsan for 29 runs. Additionally, Sufiyan Muqeem delivered an excellent performance with the ball, taking three vital wickets, including those of Abhishek Sharma, Yash Dhull, and Harshit Rana, conceding 66 runs in his 10 overs.
The combined efforts of these two players and the strategic decisions made by the coaching staff played a pivotal role in Pakistan Shaheens’ resounding victory over India, securing them the Emerging Asia Cup title.
