Pakistan defeated India by 191 runs to clinch the Under-19 Asia Cup on Sunday in a dominant final performance.
Put into bat by India after losing the toss, Pakistan scored 347 runs for 8 wickets in their allotted 50 overs. Sameer Minhas played a remarkable innings, hitting 172 runs off 71 balls, including 17 fours and nine sixes. Ahmed Hussain contributed 56 runs, Usman Khan scored 35, and captain Farhan Yousuf added 19 runs. Hamza Zahoor made 18, while Muhammad Sayyam and Niqab Shafiq remained not out with 13 and 12 runs respectively.
Chasing a challenging target of 348, India was bowled out for 156 runs. Dipesh Devendran took three wickets, while Khelan Patel and Hanil Patel claimed two wickets each. Pakistan’s bowlers, led by Abdul Sabhan and Muhammad Sayyam, played a crucial role, capturing 11 and eight wickets respectively throughout the tournament.
Captain Farhan Yousuf said before the match, “The team’s morale is high, and the players are determined to perform well in the final.” His statement proved true as Pakistan dominated both batting and bowling to secure a memorable win.
In the semi-finals, Pakistan had defeated Bangladesh by eight wickets, while India had beaten Sri Lanka to reach the final. The two teams had previously met in the group stage, where India had emerged victorious.
Sameer Minhas was the standout performer for Pakistan in the tournament, scoring 299 runs in four matches, including a century and a half-century. His consistency, along with strong bowling support, helped Pakistan lift the trophy.
Although Pakistan have won the ICC Under-19 World Cup twice, this victory marks their first outright Under-19 Asia Cup title. They had previously been joint champions with India in 2012.
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The win highlights the depth of young talent in Pakistan cricket and promises a bright future for the national team.
