• Source:JND

India U19 vs Pakistan U19 Final, ACC Men's U19 Asia Cup 2025: India witnessed a huge heartbreak as they lost the final of the ACC Men's U19 Asia Cup 2025 against Pakistan at the ICC Academy Ground in Dubai on Sunday. Pakistan registered a dominating performance in all departments to not only clinch the title but also end India's unbeaten run in the tournament.

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the ACC (Asian Cricket Council) chief, not only handed the Under-19 Asia Cup trophy to his compatriot winners, Pakistan, but also celebrated with them. On the other hand, the runners-up India avoided taking the stage and didn't even collect their medals from Mubashshir Usmani, an Associate Member Director at the International Cricket Council (ICC), near the podium.

The instance unfolded a few months after the massive controversy that took place during the senior men's Asia Cup, which saw the same finalists in Dubai. In the Asia Cup 2025 in September, India defeated the arch-rivals Pakistan three times, including in the final, to lift their record ninth title. India avoided receiving the winners' trophy from Naqvi as a protest against his political statement, influenced by geopolitical tensions and Naqvi’s anti-India social media activity during the tournament.

In an interesting turn of events, the trophy presentation ceremony was delayed by over an hour due to the situation before Naqvi, refusing to allow any other official hand it over to the winners, eventually left the ground. He is said to have taken the trophy to the ACC headquarters, which angered the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), who took the controversy up at the ACC and even ICC levels. But India are yet to get the trophy.

Notably, the Asia Cup 2025 was played amid the political tensions between India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam Terror Attack and the Operation Sindoor. While Pakistan's victory was special on Sunday and was always expected to make things smoother, it’s rare to see an organisation’s chairman celebrate with a team behind the ‘Champions’ board.

Talking about the final, Pakistan posted a massive total of 347/8 in their 50 overs on the back of a memorable century from Sameer Minhas (172) after being put into bat first. They bowled India out for 156 in 26.2 overs, with Ali Raza taking four wickets.


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