Fresh from their dominant U19 Asia Cup victory, Pakistan’s Under-19 cricket team is poised to secure another piece of silverware as they face hosts Zimbabwe in a tri-series final, a crucial contest skipper Farhan Yousaf believes will provide vital momentum for their upcoming ICC Under-19 World Cup campaign.
According to a report today, skipper Farhan Yousaf expressed confidence in his squad’s readiness for the major tournament, highlighting the tri-series as beneficial preparation. ‘Our batting unit has shown positive intent, while the bowlers have delivered at key moments,’ he stated, adding that confronting the host nation in a final presents a good challenge for the team.
‘The players are ready, and we want to finish the tournament on a positive note and carry momentum into the World Cup,’ Yousaf affirmed.
The young team enters the World Cup, scheduled to start on January 15, on the back of an impressive run. Under Yousaf”s leadership, they clinched the Under-19 Asia Cup title last month with a commanding 191-run victory over arch-rivals India in the final.
A key figure in Pakistan’s recent success has been batsman Sameer Minhas, who is tipped to be a player to watch in the global event. The stylish batter was the leading run-scorer in the U19 Asia Cup, amassing 471 runs at an exceptional average of 157.
He has maintained his prolific form in the current tri-series, again sitting atop the scoring leaderboard with 246 runs from four matches at an average of 61.50.
With considerable momentum, Pakistan will be aiming to secure their third Under-19 World Cup trophy, a feat they last achieved in 2006. Their group stage campaign will see them face England on January 16, followed by matches against Scotland on January 19 and Zimbabwe on January 22.