By Staff Reporter
DUBAI: Pakistan produced a dominant all-round performance to thrash arch-rivals India by 191 runs in the U-19 Asia Cup final at the ICC Academy Ground on Sunday, claiming the prestigious title in emphatic fashion.
Opener Sameer Minhas lit up the match with a record-breaking 172 — the highest individual score in a U-19 Asia Cup final — propelling Pakistan to a formidable 347 for eight after being asked to bat first. In reply, India’s much-vaunted batting line-up crumbled spectacularly, folding for a paltry 156 in just 26.2 overs as pacer Ali Raza ripped through the order with figures of four for 42.
The victory marked sweet redemption for Pakistan, who had suffered a heavy defeat to the same opponents in the group stage and had entered the final as underdogs against an unbeaten Indian side. Instead, it was Pakistan who delivered a clinical display, overwhelming India in every department to lift the trophy amid jubilant celebrations.
India captain Ayush Mhatre won the toss and elected to bowl, perhaps hoping to restrict Pakistan on a surface expected to assist the seamers early on. But the decision backfired as Sameer launched a brutal assault from the outset. After Hamza Zahoor fell early for 18, Sameer combined with Usman Khan (35) and Ahmed Hussain (56) in substantial partnerships — 92 for the second wicket and 137 for the third — to put Pakistan in complete command.
The right-hander brought up his century off 71 balls and raced to 172 off 113 deliveries, studded with 17 fours and nine sixes, before falling to a slower ball from Deepesh Devendran in the 43rd over. A late flurry of wickets — five falling for 45 runs in the final overs — prevented Pakistan from reaching 400, but their total remained the highest ever posted in a U-19 Asia Cup final. Khilan Patel was the pick of India’s bowlers with two for 44, while Devendran claimed three for 83.
Chasing 348, India started explosively, racing to 21 in the first over off Ali Raza, with Vaibhav Suryavanshi smashing a six and four in an over that also included a no-ball and extras. Suryavanshi continued the onslaught, striking three sixes and a four in his blistering 26 off 10 balls. But the introduction of spin and disciplined pace turned the tide irreversibly.
Captain Mhatre (2) holed out to mid-off, Aaron George (16 off 9) miscued a pull, and Suryavanshi nicked behind — all falling to Raza and Mohammad Sayyam as India slipped to 49 for three in the fifth over. The collapse deepened. Vihaan Malhotra (7) was bowled attempting a rash pull off Abdul Subhan, Vedant Trivedi (9) found short midwicket, and Abhigyan Kundu (13) upper-cut to deep third .Kanishk Chouhan (9) and Khilan Patel (19) offered brief resistance, but regular strikes kept India on the back foot. Lower down, Deepesh Devendran provided late entertainment with a quickfire 36 off 16 balls, including six fours and two sixes, but his dismissal — skying one to point off Raza — ended any lingering hopes.
Subhan (2-29) and off-spinner Huzaifa Ahsan (2-12) chipped in effectively, while Sayyam supported with two for 38. The margin of victory was the largest in a U-19 Asia Cup final, completing a comprehensive rout. Man of the Match Sameer was hoisted onto his team-mates’ shoulders as Pakistan celebrated wildly, while India, unbeaten until the final, were left to rue a day when nothing went right.
Pakistan Under-19 captain Farhan Yousaf has set his sights on World Cup success after leading his side to victory. “Our next aim is simple,” Yousaf said in an interview with a private news channel after the victory. “We want to be world champions.” Yousaf said the team remained composed despite losing the toss, adding that being asked to bat first proved decisive on a pitch that favoured batting. “We were disappointed to lose the toss, but once we were put in to bat, we were happy because the wicket looked good,” he said. “We stuck to the plan we had discussed and executed it well.”
The formidable total allowed the captain to demand an aggressive approach from his bowlers. “After we got that total, I told the bowlers to think as if they were defending 250 and to attack from the start,” he said. “They kept that mindset, took wickets and applied pressure.”
The final was played in front of a packed crowd that included both Pakistani and Indian supporters, adding to the intensity of the occasion. “Playing such an important match with fans from both countries in the stadium made it even more enjoyable,” Yousaf said.
The emphatic triumph not only underlined Pakistan’s rising dominance at the junior level but also announced the arrival of a new batting sensation in Sameer Minhas. Awarded both Man of the Final and Man of the Tournament, Sameer batted with artistic ease, peppering the field with exquisite drives and audacious lofted strokes that left the Indian bowlers and fielders chasing shadows. His timing, placement and shot selection reflected maturity well beyond his age, while his ability to shift gears effortlessly kept the scoreboard ticking at a relentless pace. “I just wanted to play my normal game to start with. Once I got settled, I decided to be aggressive and maintain the scoring tempo,” Sameer said after the match.
Sameer was also named player of the tournament after amassing 471 runs from five matches at an average of 157.
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