Asia Cup Rising Stars: Who are the new kids on the block?

Pakistan Shaheens lifted the Asia Cup Rising Stars title after they overcame Bangladesh ‘A’ in a hard-fought finale that stretched down to the Super-Over as Saad Masood smashed the winning runs at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium in Doha.

Throughout the 20-over tournament, the green shirts played a brilliant brand of cricket and also managed to hold their nerves in a low-scoring final.

Not only did they manage to overpower their arch-rivals, India, comprehensively in the Group A game on November 16, but some exciting youngsters have also been unearthed from the continental tournament.

However, we will shed light on the three players that we believe are the ‘new kids on the block for Pakistan cricket.’

Maaz Sadaqat

The 20-year-old all-rounder had a monumental outing both with the bat and the ball in the recently concluded eight-team competition.

The Peshawar-born talented lad was the leading run-scorer with 258 runs in five innings, at an average of 129 and an impressive strike rate of 177.93. As a left-arm spinner, he took seven wickets in four innings at an amazing average of 7.42.

It wasn’t just about the runs; it was the way he let his bat do the talking, displaying knocks that were laced not only with genuine stroke play but also with hard-hitting, brute force, and the will to take the risk.

Meanwhile, it was Maaz’s 79-run not-out inning off 47 balls against India that made the headlines, so much so that he is even being considered as an option for the upcoming T20 World Cup in India.

So, it’s fair to say that Maaz’s all-round performance showcases that he can be a great asset for Pakistan in the long run — if he is trained and groomed systematically.

Saad Masood

After Abrar Ahmed, it looks like yet another exciting leg-break (mystery) spinner is knocking at the door of Pakistan’s white-ball team for the future.

It’s the 20-year-old Saad Masood from Rawalpindi, who ended the event with eight wickets in four innings at an average of 13.62. His best bowling came against Sri Lanka in the semi-final, where he took three wickets for 18 runs and helped Pakistan defend 154 by five runs in a cliff-hanger.

In the final as well, he picked up a key wicket of the well-set Bangladeshi opener Habibur Sohan for 26, ending with figures of 1-33 in three overs.

He shone brightly with the bat as well, scoring a crucial 26-ball 38 in the final to help Pakistan reach 125 after they were reduced to 75-6. During that inning, he smashed three fours and three sixes.

Mohammad Naeem

Although the 26-year-old opener Mohammad Naeem didn’t match the level of expectations in the tournament, managing scores of 6, 14, 6 and 16.

However, his inclusion in the squad at least brings him into the limelight, given how splendidly he performed in his debut HBL PSL season this year.

The FATA-born right-hander looked class apart during the PSL 2025, finishing the season with 314 runs at an average of 26.16 and a strike rate of 162.69, including three half-centuries in 12 matches.

In the final, he scored 46 off 27 balls with six sixes and a four that proved clinical in helping Lahore Qalandars chase down a massive 202-run target against the Quetta Gladiators.

Known for his aggressive batting and fearless approach, Naeem is surely one of Pakistan’s most promising young talents in white-ball cricket.