Riding high on a wave of confidence after a dominant Asia Cup victory, Pakistan's Under-19 cricket squad is set to kick off their competitive tour of Zimbabwe. The young Shaheens will face Afghanistan today, Saturday, at the Harare Sports Club, marking the start of an important tri-nation series that also includes the host nation.
Asia Cup Glory Fuels World Cup Preparations
The team arrives in Zimbabwe brimming with confidence after clinching the ACC Men’s U-19 Asia Cup in Dubai. Their campaign culminated in a stunning performance where they defeated arch-rivals India by a massive margin of 191 runs in the final held on December 21. This emphatic triumph has set a positive tone for the challenges ahead.
The tri-series is a critical part of the team's final preparations for the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup, scheduled from January 15 to February 6 in Namibia and Zimbabwe. It guarantees Pakistan a minimum of four 50-over matches against competitive sides, providing invaluable match practice and an opportunity to test team combinations.
Tri-Series Fixtures and World Cup Pathway
Pakistan's schedule for the tri-series is packed with action. After the opener against Afghanistan, they will take on Zimbabwe on December 29 at the Prince Edward School Ground. The team will then meet Afghanistan for a second time on January 2 at the Sunrise Sports Club, before concluding the league stage against Zimbabwe again on January 4 at the Old Hararians Sports Club.
The top two teams from the league matches will progress to the final, which is scheduled for January 6. This competitive structure is designed to simulate high-pressure scenarios similar to those expected in the World Cup.
In the global tournament, Pakistan finds itself in Group C and will play all its group-stage matches in Harare between January 16 and 22. This arrangement allows the young players to gain valuable exposure to the local conditions. The World Cup's Super Six stage runs from January 25 to February 1, with the semifinals on February 3 and 4. The grand final of the 16-team event will be held at the Harare Sports Club on February 6.
Team Confidence and Captain's Outlook
The squad, led by captain Farhan Yousaf, held its first training session in Zimbabwe on Friday, focusing on acclimatization and fine-tuning. Speaking to PCB Digital, Captain Yousaf expressed great optimism about the team's prospects.
"The Asia Cup was a great achievement for us and the players showed excellent morale and intensity," Farhan stated. "The squad is confident and excited going into the tri-series. These matches are very important for finding the right combinations and understanding the conditions, which are quite similar to those we will face during the World Cup."
He acknowledged the strength of their opponents, stating that both Afghanistan and Zimbabwe are competitive sides that deserve respect, and promised a closely fought series.
The 15-member squad participating in the series includes:
- Farhan Yousaf (captain)
- Usman Khan (vice-captain)
- Abdul Subhan, Ahmed Hussain, Ali Hasan Baloch, Ali Raza
- Daniyal Ali Khan, Hamza Zahoor (wk), Huzaifa Ahsan
- Momin Qamar, M Sayyam, M Shayan (wk), Niqab Shafiq, Sameer Minhas, Umar Zaib
The non-traveling reserves are Abdul Qadir, Farhanullah, Hassan Khan, Ibtisam Azhar, and M Huzaifa.
This tri-series represents the final competitive hurdle for Pakistan's junior cricketers before they embark on their quest for World Cup glory, aiming to translate their Asian dominance into global success.
