Karachi, In a significant fixture of the ACC U19 Asia Cup 2023, the Pakistan U19 team is set to face off against arch-rivals India U19 at the ICC Cricket Academy Ground in Dubai on Sunday. This eagerly awaited match follows Pakistan’s impressive start to their U19 Asia Cup campaign.
According to Pakistan Cricket Board, Pakistan’s U19 team kicked off their campaign with a commanding seven-wicket victory over Nepal U19. The win was marked by exceptional performances, particularly from the team’s bowlers.
Key to Pakistan U19’s success was the young pacer, Zeeshan, who devastated the Nepal batting line-up. The 18-year-old achieved the second-best bowling figures for a Pakistan bowler at this level, taking six wickets for 19 runs. This achievement is second only to Shaheen Shah Afridi’s record of 6-15 against Ireland U19 in 2018.
In their chase of 153, Pakistan U19 faced early setbacks but recovered brilliantly. A crucial partnership of 108 runs off 107 balls between skipper Saad Baig and Azan Awais was instrumental in rebuilding the innings. Zeeshan, already shining with the ball, also contributed significantly with the bat, scoring a rapid 20 runs in just eight balls. Pakistan’s net run rate was boosted to +2.770 as they rolled out Nepal in 47.2 overs and achieved the target in just 26.2 overs.
The last encounter between Pakistan U19 and India U19 was a nail-biter in 2021, where Pakistan won by two wickets. Mohammad Shahzad was the standout player in that match, contributing significantly to chasing down the 238-run target.
On the eve of the upcoming match, Pakistan U19 head coach Mohammad Yousaf expressed confidence in the team’s preparation and performance. He highlighted the effective bowling and solid batting, particularly praising the partnership between Saad Baig and Azan Awais and Zeeshan’s role as a pinch hitter.
Yousaf also spoke highly of Zeeshan’s talent, noting his physical attributes and skill both as a bowler and a batter. He emphasized that Zeeshan’s all-round abilities are a significant asset to the team.
The match against India U19 is seen by the coach and team as a routine game, with a focus on maintaining their disciplined approach and striving for victory as in all their matches.