- By Gurmeet Batra
- Sun, 21 Dec 2025 05:10 PM (IST)
- Source:IANS
IND vs PAK U19 Asia Cup:Pakistan emerged victorious in the U19 Asia Cup, courtesy of Sameer Minhas' match-defining batting performance and Ali Raza's devastating bowling spell, securing a thrilling win over arch-rivals India in the final at the ICC Academy Ground in Dubai on Sunday.
Pakistan claimed their maiden outright U-19 Asia Cup title with a commanding performance, since sharing the trophy with India in 2013.
Their clinical display began with an imposing batting endeavour, assembling 347/8, spearheaded by Sameer Minhas' explosive 172, and was complemented by a ruthless bowling display.
It also meant that India, which had an unbeaten campaign so far, suffered their heaviest defeat in terms of runs in Youth ODIs. Pakistan, meanwhile, has grabbed the U19 Men's Asia Cup trophy for the first time, having shared the 2012 edition title with India, where the final ended in a tie.
Asked to bat first on a pitch that aided great strokeplay, Pakistan were clinical in their approach to post an imposing 347/8, with Minhas, one of the standout batters in the competition, leading the charge in commanding fashion by hitting 17 fours and nine sixes.
He also shared partnerships of 92 and 137 with Usman Khan (35) and Ahmed Hussain (56) as Pakistan ensured the Indian bowling line-up, barring spinner Khilan Patel, had an outing they would not like to remember.
The only solace for India, who looked unsorted in their fielding, was that they managed to pull things back in the last 10 overs to keep Pakistan three runs short of 350.
In the chase of a massive target, India began brightly in reply, racing to 32 runs in the first two overs. But the chase unravelled swiftly after skipper Ayush Mhatre fell cheaply in the third over.
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Once Vaibhav Suryavanshi fell for a 10-ball 26, the rest of the Indian batting line-up never showed any kind of fight. India's batters perished to rash strokes on short balls, leaving them reeling at 68/5 by the end of the power-play.
From there, despite Deepesh Devendran top scoring with 36, India were bowled out for 156 in 26.2 overs, with Pakistan pacer Ali Raza taking 4-42.