• Pakistan, part of Group A, will face India, Japan, and UAE.
• Pakistan, led by Saad Baig, will face India in their opener on 30 November.
• Captain Saad Baig expressed confidence in the team’s readiness for the competitive tournament.

Dubai: The ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup begins this Friday, with Pakistan set to commence their campaign on Saturday. The eight-team, 50-over tournament will feature Group A matches at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium (DICS) and Group B matches at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium (SCS).

Pakistan, part of Group A, will compete against India, Japan, and UAE. Group B comprises Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. The semi-finals are scheduled for 6 December, while the final will be played at DICS on 8 December. Matches will begin at 10:00 am PKT, with the toss at 9:30 am PKT.

Led by Saad Baig, Pakistan will face India in their opener on 30 November at DICS, followed by matches against UAE on 2 December and Japan on 4 December. Four players—Mohammad Riazullah, Saad Baig, Shahzaib Khan, and Tayyab Arif—bring experience from the previous U19 Asia Cup held in December 2023 in the UAE.

Before the tournament, Pakistan spent three weeks in Dubai participating in a tri-series with Afghanistan and UAE. Despite finishing runners-up, the series provided valuable practice, with Shahzaib Khan (330 runs, five matches) and Usman Khan (314 runs, five matches) excelling as top batters. Bowlers Abdul Subhan and Ali Raza, with nine wickets each, were also among the top performers.

Speaking to PCB, captain Saad Baig expressed confidence:

“We have been in Dubai for a few weeks now and had a good outing in the tri-series tournament. Even though we couldn’t win the final, it provided players a great opportunity to acclimatise to the conditions and now we are ready for the Asia Cup.”

“The coaching staff has been there to guide us, and the players are fully committed to putting in their best efforts. We all understand the significance of this tournament, and everyone is motivated to give their best when an opportunity arises.”

“All the teams in the tournament are strong and we know it will be a tough competition. But with that challenge comes the opportunity for our players to showcase their best. Our focus will be on executing our plans and staying consistent throughout the tournament.”

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