In a commanding display of skill and determination, Pakistan Shaheens secured a decisive 74-run victory over Oman in the seventh match of the ACC Men’s T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup at the Oman Cricket Academy Ground in Muscat on Monday. This triumph marked the Shaheens’ first win of the tournament, showcasing their potential to be serious contenders.
After electing to bat, the Shaheens posted an imposing total, driven by stellar performances from Qasim Akram (48), Rohail Nazir (41*), and Arafat Minhas (31*). Despite an early setback when Oman’s Muzahir Raza dismissed both Mohammad Haris and Yasir Khan for meager scores of three each, leaving Pakistan reeling at 13-2 in 2.4 overs, Qasim Akram steadied the ship. His crucial 72-run partnership with Omair Bin Yousuf (25 off 21) revived the innings, bringing the score to 79-2 by the halfway mark. Omair’s departure in the following over left a void, but Qasim’s powerful knock, which included three towering sixes and two boundaries, propelled Pakistan forward. He narrowly missed out on a half-century, falling to Samay Shrivastava with the scoreboard reading 106-4 in 13.3 overs.
Abdul Samad contributed a brisk 20 from just 12 deliveries, further accelerating the innings. However, it was the unbeaten 69-run stand between Rohail Nazir and Arafat Minhas that truly ignited Pakistan’s innings. Playing his first match of the tournament, Rohail smashed 41 runs off just 20 balls, laced with three boundaries and two maximums, while Arafat blazed his way to 31 off 15 balls. Their late onslaught saw the Shaheens amass 38 runs in the final two overs, taking their total to a formidable 185-5—the highest of the tournament so far.
In response, Oman faltered, managing only 34-1 during the powerplay. Qasim Akram struck early, dismissing Aamir Kaleem for 11. Oman’s middle-order woes continued as Karan Sonavale and skipper Jatinder Singh (24 off 29) fell cheaply, leaving the team struggling to keep pace with the required run rate. Wasim Ali’s 28 off 31 deliveries was the only notable contribution, but with Oman scoring just 57 runs in their final 10 overs, they ended their innings at a modest 111-7.
Zaman Khan led the bowling attack with figures of 2-17, while Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran, Qasim Akram, Shahnawaz Dahani, and Sufiyan Moqim chipped in with one wicket each, strangling Oman’s chase. Pakistan Shaheens will now turn their focus to their next match against the UAE, scheduled for Wednesday, October 23.