Thu, September 17, 2026
Dubai (Web Desk): Pakistan Under-19 produced a memorable all-round display to overwhelm India Under-19 by 191 runs in the final of the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup at the ICC Cricket Academy Ground in Dubai on Sunday, with Sameer Minhas and Ali Raza playing central roles in the historic triumph.
The emphatic win delivered Pakistan their first clear-cut U19 Asia Cup title, ending the tournament outright champions for the first time after sharing the trophy in 2012.
After being asked to bat, Pakistan piled on the runs to post an imposing 347 for eight from their full quota of 50 overs. Sameer Minhas stood tall at the heart of the innings, crafting a superb 172 off 113 balls.
His innings, decorated with 17 fours and nine sixes, was a blend of maturity and controlled aggression as he built the platform before accelerating decisively. He was involved in key partnerships during the middle phase, first with Usman Khan, who scored 35 from 45 balls, and then with Ahmed Hussain, whose brisk 56 off 45 deliveries kept the scoreboard ticking and firmly tilted the contest in Pakistan’s favour.
Ahmed Hussain’s fluent knock added momentum to the innings, while captain Farhan Yousaf provided a quick cameo of 19 from 18 balls. Valuable late runs came from Niqab Shafiq, who remained not out on 12, and Mohammad Sayyam, who smashed an unbeaten 13 from just eight balls, allowing Pakistan to finish with a daunting total.
India’s reply never gained traction as Pakistan’s bowlers delivered a sharp and disciplined performance, bowling the opposition out for 156 in 26.2 overs.
Fast bowler Ali Raza led the attack with a four-wicket haul, striking early and repeatedly to dismantle India’s chase. Mohammad Sayyam and Abdul Subhan chipped in with two wickets each, while spinner Huzaifa Ahsan also claimed two scalps as Pakistan maintained relentless pressure throughout the innings.
Sameer Minhas was rewarded for his outstanding performances with both the Player of the Match and Player of the Tournament awards. He ended the competition with an extraordinary tally of 471 runs from five matches at a remarkable average of 157.
Pakistan Under-19 will now head to Zimbabwe to take part in a tri-nation series alongside Afghanistan and the host nation, which gets underway on Thursday, December 25. The ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup is scheduled to follow, to be held in Zimbabwe and Namibia from January 15 to February 6, 2026
In the brief scores, Pakistan made 347 for eight in 50 overs, led by Sameer Minhas’s 172, Ahmed Hussain’s 56 and Usman Khan’s 35, while Deepesh Devendran picked up three wickets for 83 runs.
India were dismissed for 156 in 26.2 overs, with Deepesh Devendran top-scoring with 36 and Vaibhav Suryavanshi adding 26, as Ali Raza took four for 42 and Huzaifa Ahsan, Abdul Subhan and Mohammad Sayyam claimed two wickets each.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also extended his congratulations to the young cricketers and the nation on the landmark achievement.
In his message, he praised the team’s exceptional display, describing the victory over India in the final as a historic moment that filled the country with pride.
He expressed confidence that the Under-19 side would continue to raise Pakistan’s profile on the international stage and also acknowledged the efforts of Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and the team management.
The victorious squad received an enthusiastic and unprecedented welcome upon their arrival at Islamabad airport, where supporters showered the players with flowers and applauded their impressive performances, particularly their dominant showing against India in the Dubai-based tournament.
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