ACC U19 Asia Cup Archives

Babar Azam, cricketing fraternity laud Pakistan U19 triumph

Star Pakistan cricketer Babar Azam and former cricketers praised the Pakistan U19 team after their triumph in the ACC Men’s Asia Cup final against India at the ICC Academy on Sunday.

Pakistan defeated India by a hefty margin of 191 runs in the final to lift the title for the second time after 13 long years.

Babar Azam, who is currently in Australia for the Big Bash League (BBL) 15, credited team mentor and manager Sarfaraz Ahmed for bringing the best out of the young players.

“Well done, boys! Lifting the trophy after a stellar campaign and dominating the final. Big credit to Saifi Bhai, whose experience shaped this triumph. Keep the hunger going,” he wrote on his X account.

Azhar Ali, former captain and who previously served as PCB’s Head of Youth Development, also lauded the coaching staff, management, and Sarfaraz Ahmed for helping Pakistan U19 in lifting the trophy.

“Many congratulations to Pakistan U19 team, captain and all the staff lead by Mentor @SarfarazA_54 & Head coach Shahid Anwar,” he posted on X.

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“Special thanks to our coaches who didn’t travel with the team but worked tirelessly with boys in last 4 to 5 months Zohaib khan, Mohtashim Ali and Riffatullah,” Azhar added.

Legendary pacer Wasim Akram also showered praise on the young players, alongside special mention of Sameer Minhas and Ali Raza.

“Champions of Asia! Pakistan U19 lift the DP World Men’s U19 Asia Cup in style.
Ali Raza’s fiery bowling set the tone, and Minhas’ magnificent 150 sealed the deal. Future stars shining bright—well played, boys! @TheRealPCB,” Wasim Akram wrote.

Former Pakistan women’s team captain Sana Mir also took to X to commend the national U19 team’s outstanding performance.

“Congratulations to the U19 team. Coach Shahid Anwar has been one of the most positive people, @SarfarazA_54, master of such contests, the brilliant Sameer Minhas, Ali Raza, Ahmed Hussain , Abdul Subhan, and the entire team. Wonderful performance,” she wrote.

READ: Naqvi praises ‘fearless’ Pakistan U19 team after Asia Cup victory

Bangladesh stun Pakistan to set up U19 Asia Cup final with India

DUBAI: Iqbal Hossain Emon’s four-wicket haul, followed by skipper Azizul Hakim’s unbeaten half-century helped Bangladesh defeat Pakistan in the semi-final of the ACC U19 Asia Cup here at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday.

Bangladesh will face India, who defeated Sri Lanka in the second semi-final, in the U19 Asia Cup final, scheduled on 8 December at the same venue.

Pakistan U19, who were undefeated in the group stage, were bundled for a meagre 116 while batting first, setting a paltry total, which Bangladesh easily chased in 22.1 overs after losing three wickets.

Bangladesh captain Azizul Hakim played a stellar unbeaten knock of 61 runs from 42 balls with the help of seven boundaries and three sixes.

Mohammad Shihab James was another notable contributor with a 26-run knock from 36 balls. For Pakistan, Ali Raza, Abdul Subhan and Naveed Ahmed Khan managed one wicket each.

Earlier, Bangladesh U19 opted to field first and Maruf Mridha proved the decision right as he did not allow Pakistan’s opening batters to open their accounts, removing them in quick succession.

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With Pakistan struggling at 7-2, Muhammad Riazullah and captain Saad Baig stitched a 42-run stand to put up a fight before Iqbal Hossain Emon removed the latter.

Riazullah also fell prey to Emon after scoring a scratchy 28-run knock from 62 balls, which featured only two boundaries.

Farhan Yousaf top-scored with a run-a-ball 32 with the help of one boundary and three sixes. No other batter could pose much threat against Bangladesh as Pakistan bundled for 116 in 37 overs.

Emon led Bangladesh’s attack with the figures of 4-24, while Mridha took two key wickets. Al Fahad and Debasish Deba bagged one wicket each.

Pakistan U19 Playing XI: Usman Khan, Shahzaib Khan, Muhammad Riazullah, Saad Baig (c)(wk), Naveed Ahmed Khan, Haroon Arshad, Farhan Yousaf, Faham-ul-Haq, Umar Zaib, Abdul Subhan, Ali Raza

Bangladesh U19 Playing XI: Zawad Abrar, Azizul Hakim (c), Kalam Siddiki,
Rizan Hossan, Mohammad Shihab James, Farid Hasan (wk), Debasish Deba, Samiun Basir, Al Fahad, Iqbal Hossain Emon, Maruf Mridha

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Pakistan thump Japan to stay perfect in U19 Asia Cup

DUBAI: A combined team effort saw Pakistan crush Japan by a massive 180-run margin in their last group match in the ACC U19 Asia Cup here at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

Pakistan won the toss and posted a total of 243 runs for the loss of six wickets. However, they had a shaky start to their innings as they lost quick wickets and soon found themselves struggling at 57-3.

Opener Faham ul Haq emerged as a stabilizing force, anchoring the innings with a determined 34 runs off 49 balls. He struck two sixes and a boundary, showcasing resilience until he was ultimately dismissed by Nihar Parmar in the 20th over.

Tayyab Arif joined forces with Shahzaib Khan, and together, they began to construct a crucial partnership. However, the partnership faltered when Arif was dismissed for 20 runs by Parmar in the 24.4 over, leaving Pakistan at 97-4.

Khan then formed another partnership with Riazullah, adding 82 runs for the sixth wicket before Timothy Moore removed the former. Khan departed after scoring 45 runs off 69 balls.

Riazullah, in exceptional form, found invaluable support from Ahmed Hussain. Together, they piled on an unbeaten 61-run stand for the seventh wicket.

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Riazullah scored 66* off 78 balls, while Hussain contributed with an unbeaten 30-run knock from 23 balls, helping Pakistan close their innings at a total of 243-6.

However, Japan U19, while chasing 244, were bundled for a meagre 63 in 21.3 overs, thanks to Mohammad Huzaifa, who returned with bowling figures of 5-8.

Moreover, Mohammad Ahmed and Ahmed Hussain took two wickets each for Pakistan U19, while Faham-ul-Haq managed one.

In Japan’s match, Nihar Parmar was the only batter to reach double digits, scoring 25 runs off 60 deliveries.

Pakistan U19 had already qualified for the semi-finals of the ACC U19 Asia Cup, having won their previous two games.

They will now face Bangladesh in the first semifinal match on 6 December 6 at the same venue.

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Shahzaib, Riazullah star as Pakistan sink UAE to qualify for U19 Asia Cup semi-final

DUBAI: Shahzaib Khan continued his purple patch with the bat, recording his second successive century to guide Pakistan to victory over the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the ACC U19 Asia Cup here at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Monday.

Pakistan with this 69-run victory qualified for the semi-finals of the U19 Asia Cup, having previously defeated arch-rivals India in their opening match.

The UAE were also punished by No.3 batter Muhammad Riazullah, as Pakistan U19 amassed 314 for three in the allotted 50 overs after being sent into bat.

Later in the afternoon, fast bowler Abdul Subhan delivered a player-of-the-match performance, decimating the middle order with exceptional figures of 10-0-57-6. His spell saw the home side collapse from 170 for three to finish at 245 for eight.

Shahzaib Khan, who had scored 159 against India on Saturday, smashed 11 fours and six sixes in a 136-ball 132. Riazullah was equally impressive, hitting nine fours and three sixes in a well-crafted 91-ball 106.

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Shahzaib and Riazullah put on 183 runs for the second wicket in just over 27 overs. Their partnership followed a strong 94-run opening stand between Shahzaib and Usman Khan (41).

After Shahzaib was dismissed on the final delivery of the 46th over, Riazullah added 37 runs in the last four overs with Faham-ul-Haq (20 not out).

Chasing a stiff target, the UAE stumbled to 57 for three before Ethan D’Souza and Muhammad Rayan stitched together a 113-run partnership for the fourth wicket. However, Rayan’s departure at 170 marked the end of UAE’s resistance, as they eventually finished at 245 for eight.

D’Souza, the seventh batter to be dismissed, scored a 102-ball 84 with 11 fours, while Rayan contributed 50 off 66 balls, including three sixes and one four.

The victory places Pakistan atop Group A, followed by the UAE, India and Japan. In Group B, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have won two matches each, while Afghanistan and Nepal remain winless. The top two sides from each group will progress to the semifinals.

Pakistan will face Japan in their final league match on Wednesday at the Dubai International Sports Stadium.

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Shahzaib Khan stars as Pakistan edge past India in U19 Asia Cup

DUBAI: Shahzaib Khan played a stellar knock of 159 runs, followed by a strong bowling performance as Pakistan secured a 44-run victory over arch-rivals India in the ACC U19 Asia Cup here at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

The India U19 team were bundled for 237 runs while chasing a target of 282, thanks to a collective effort from the Pakistan bowlers.

Ali Raza led Pakistan’s attack with three wickets, while Abdul Subhan and Faham-ul-Haq bagged two wickets each. Naveed Ahmed Khan and Usman Khan also chipped in with a wicket each.

India had a shaky start to the run-chase as they lost opening batters Ayush Mhatre (20) and Vaibhav Suryavanshi (1) in the span of three balls with only 28 runs on the board.

They were soon reduced to 81-4 before Nikhil Kumar and Kiran Chormale (20) joined hands to stitch a 53-run partnership. However, Faham-ul-Haq castled Chormale to halt India’s momentum.

Nikhil Kumar top-scored with 67 runs from 77 balls, which featured six boundaries and three sixes before he fell prey to Naveed Ahmed Khan leaving his team reeling at 174-6.

Ali Raza removed Harvansh Pangalia (26) and Samarth Nagaraj (0) on back-to-back deliveries while Hardik Raj was dismissed by Abdul Subhan to keep Pakistan in touching distance of the victory.

However, Mohamed Enaan played a quick cameo of 30 runs from 22 balls, adding 48 runs for the last wicket, to give India a glimmering hope before he got run out.

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Earlier, Pakistan U19 captain Saad Baig opted to bat first when the coin flipped in his favour and the opening batters proved the decision right.

Shahzaib Khan and Usman Khan constructed a solid 130-run opening partnership to the frustration of Indian bowlers.

Usman played a 60-run knock from 94 balls with the help of six boundaries he fell prey to Ayush Mhatre. New batter Haroon Arshad (3) was also dismissed by Mhatre in the next over.

Shahzaib then stitched a 71-run stand for the third wicket with Muhammad Riazullah (27) to take Pakistan’s total to 241 in the 44th over before Samarth Nagaraj removed the latter.

India did not allow new batters to settle as Pakistan U19 lost wickets at an alarming rate and slipped to 274-7.

Shahzaib was the last wicket to fall after waging a lone war with a 159-run knock from 147 balls, which featured five boundaries and ten sixes.

Umar Zaib (2) and Naveed Ahmed Khan (5) remained unbeaten as Pakistan managed 281-7 in their allocated 50 overs.

For India U19, Samarth Nagaraj took three wickets, while Ayush Mhatre bagged two. Yudhajit Guha and Kiran Chormale managed one wicket each.

Pakistan will face the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in their second match of the ACC U19 Asia Cup on 2 December, meanwhile, India will face Japan on the same day.

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Ashiqur Rahman Shibli ton powers Bangladesh to win U19 Asia Cup 2023

DUBAI: Ashiqur Rahman Shibli’s 129 followed by the combined bowling efforts by Bangladesh bowlers helped them thump the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by 195 runs and win the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup 2023 for the first time.

After being invited to bat, Bangladesh U19 lost their first wicket in five overs with only 14 runs on the board.

Ashiqur Rahman Shibli was then joined by Chowdhur Md Rizwan and together they knitted a solid 125-run partnership for the second wicket.

Dhruv Parashar dismissed Rizwan (60) to break the partnership at a total of 135.

Shibli was then involved in a partnership with Ariful Islam, scoring 86 runs from 76 balls for the fourth wicket Ayman Ahamed removed the latter.

Ariful Islam departed after scoring 50 off 40, with the help of six boundaries.

Ashiqur Rahman Shibli waged a lone war from his end, while UAE bowlers kept picking wickets at regular intervals from the other end.

Bangladesh skipper Mahfuzur Rahman Rabby was the only notable contributor from the lower order with a cameo of 21 off 11.

Shibli played a brilliant innings of 129 runs from 149 balls, laced with 12 boundaries and one six, which came to an end in the final over bowled by Ahamed.

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Bangladesh U19 finished their innings at 282-8.

Ayman Ahamed topped the bowling charts for UAE with the figures of 4-52, while Omid Rehman picked two wickets.

In response, UAE failed to get the start they wanted to chase a 283-run target as they slipped to 39-4 inside ten overs courtesy of brilliant bowling by Maruf Mridha and Rohanat Doullah Borson.

Dhruv Parashar was the only batter who showed resistance against Bangladesh bowlers, but he could not get support from the other end as the wickets kept tumbling at an alarming rate.

Bangladesh bowlers bowled exceptionally well to bundle the UAE team for a meagre total of 87 inside 25 overs.

Parashar remained unbeaten with the top score of 25 off 40 with the help of two boundaries.

Akshat Rai was the only other UAE batter to cross the double figures with 11 runs from 22 balls.

Mridha and Borson led the destruction by Bangladesh bowlers, picking three wickets each, whereas Iqbal Hossain Emon and Sheikh Paevez Jibon picked two each.

Ashiqur Rahman Shibli was adjudged the man of the match as well as the man of the tournament as he scored the most runs (255) in the tournament.

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PCB unveils Pakistan U19 squad for ACC U19 Asia Cup 2023

LAHORE: Sohail Tanvir, the head of the junior selection committee, has finalised the 15-member Pakistan U19 squad for the upcoming ACC U19 Asia Cup 2023 in Dubai.

Saad Baig will continue to lead the Pakistan U19 team in the eight-team tournament scheduled from 8 to 17 December.

Saad Baig has previously captained the Pakistan U19 team in the home series against Sri Lanka and the tour to Bangladesh earlier this year.

Pakistan U19 are placed in Group A alongside Afghanistan U19, India U19 and Nepal U19.

They will play their first match of the tournament against Nepal on 8 December followed by games against India and Afghanistan on 10 and 12 December respectively.

Prior to the selection of the squad, the Pakistan U19 probables had assembled for a training camp at the Hanif Mohammad High-Performance Centre, Karachi on 24 November.

The 15-member squad will now depart to Dubai on 6 December.

Pakistan U19 squad

Saad Baig (captain and wicket-keeper), Ahmad Hussain, Ali Asfand, Amir Hassan, Arafat Minhas (vice-captain), Azan Awais, Khubaib Khalil, Najab Khan, Naveed Ahmed Khan, Mohammad Riazullah, Mohammad Tayyab Arif, Mohammad Zeeshan, Shahzaib Khan, Shamyl Hussain and Ubaid Shah

Non-Travelling Reserves

Ahmad Hassan, Aimal Khan, Obaid Shahid and Mohammad Zulkifal

Support Staff

Shoaib Muhammad (Team Manager), Muhammad Yousaf (Head Coach), Rehan Riaz (Bowling Coach), Mansoor Amjad (Fielding Coach), Muhammad Masroor (Assistant Batting Coach), Umer Rashid Dar (Assistant Coach) Hafiz Naeem Ul Rasul (Team Physio), Usman Hashmi (Team Analyst), Imran Ullah (Trainer), Muhammad Arslan (Media and Digital Manager)

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