Karachi: The Pakistan Under-19 cricket team has departed from Karachi to participate in the ACC U19 Asia Cup, set to take place in Dubai from December 12 to December 21. The tournament will feature eight teams, with Pakistan placed in Group ‘A’ alongside Malaysia, India, and the UAE. Their opening match is scheduled against Malaysia on December 12 at the Sevens Stadium.

The team’s second encounter will be a high-stakes match against India at the ICC Academy Ground on December 14, followed by a match against the UAE on December 16 at the same venue. Group ‘B’ comprises Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals on December 19, with the final slated for December 21 at the ICC Academy Ground. All matches will be played in the 50-over format, commencing at 9 a.m. local time.

In preparation for the tournament, the Pakistan U19 squad underwent a week-long training camp at the Hanif Mohammad High Performance Centre in Karachi. The camp included practice matches and training sessions to hone the players’ skills.

Sarfaraz Ahmed, the team manager and mentor, expressed confidence in the squad before their departure. He emphasized the hard work and intensive training the players underwent, aiming for consistent performances throughout the tournament. Sarfaraz reinforced the notion that to succeed, the team must perform well in all three group matches.

The 15-member squad is led by captain Farhan Yousaf and includes vice-captain Usman Khan among other promising young talents. Non-traveling reserve players and a dedicated support staff, including coaches and medical personnel, are part of the team’s comprehensive setup for the tournament.