Pakistan’s young cricketers stormed into the U19 Asia Cup final on Thursday, thrashing Bangladesh by nine wickets in the first semi-final at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Oman. The bowlers did the hard work first, dismissing Bangladesh for just 138, and the openers then made the chase look easy, finishing the match with more than 28 overs to spare.
Bangladesh won the toss and chose to bat, but the decision backfired almost at once. Pakistan’s bowlers kept the pressure on from the opening overs, and Bangladesh never built the partnerships a semi-final total demands. It is the fourth win in four matches at this tournament for the defending champions, who have now beaten the UAE, India, Nepal and Bangladesh in a single unbeaten run.
Rizwanullah Takes Five as Bangladesh Fold for 138
The star of the innings was Rizwanullah, whose five wickets for 30 runs in eight overs broke the Bangladesh batting apart and earned him the Player of the Match award. Whenever Bangladesh threatened to settle, he struck again, and his spell turned a cautious start into a collapse.
He had strong support from Mohammad Sayyam, who took two wickets for 29 runs in seven overs and removed both left-handed top-order batters early, including Kawser Ahmed, bowled for nine as he drove loosely at a full ball. Abdullah Al Muhi resisted with a fighting 50 off 45 balls, hitting four fours and two sixes, and Rakibul Hossan added 26 and All Rafi 20, but no one stayed long enough to lift the total. Bangladesh were all out for 138 in 31.4 overs, the innings ending when Sheikh Atiqur Rahman was stumped by Hamza Zahoor off Ahmed Hussain.
Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, the home of Pakistan cricket, where generations of players in this U19 squad dream of playing (file photo).
Photo: Zpotrick, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Openers Finish the Job Inside 22 Overs
A target of 139 can still trouble a side in a knockout match, but Pakistan’s openers removed all doubt within the first few overs. Hayam Khan and Usman Khan put on 123 runs for the first wicket, batting with a freedom that Bangladesh’s bowlers could not contain.
Hayam Khan made 69 off 72 balls, with eight fours and a six, before he was caught by Farid Hasan Faysal off Robiul Hasan Anik with the score on 123. Usman Khan, who had already starred in the opening win over the UAE, finished unbeaten on 64 off 54 balls, with seven fours and two sixes. Abdul Qadir then ended the match in style, hitting a six in his eight not out off five balls, as Pakistan reached 141 for one in just 21.5 overs, winning with 169 balls remaining.
R E A D M O R E
Pakistan U19 Beat Nepal by 101 Runs to Complete Asia Cup Group Sweep
An Unbeaten Run to Saturday’s Final
The semi-final win completes a flawless campaign so far. Pakistan opened the tournament by beating the UAE, then chased down 208 against India in the match of the group stage, swept Nepal aside by 101 runs, and have now dismantled Bangladesh, the side that won this title in 2024. Four matches, four wins, and a place in the final on Saturday 14 November, where they will meet the winners of the second semi-final between India and Afghanistan.
The run also underlines the strength of Pakistan’s age-group pathway, the same route that brought senior players such as Saim Ayub through to the national side. In a year when Pakistan’s veterans have also lifted silverware, winning the Over-40s World Cup, the teenagers in Oman are giving supporters every reason to believe the next generation is ready to carry that success forward.
What has stood out across the four matches is the balance of this side. The batting has produced big partnerships under pressure, the pace and spin bowlers have shared the wickets around, and the fielding, capped by Hamza Zahoor’s sharp stumping to end the Bangladesh innings, has held its standard in every game. Finals can turn on small moments, but Pakistan will go into Saturday’s match as the tournament’s form team, and the only unbeaten one left in it.
One more win on Saturday, and Pakistan’s U19s will bring the Asia Cup trophy home again.
Sources
- ESPNcricinfo: Bangladesh Under-19s vs Pakistan Under-19s, 1st Semi-Final scorecard
- Cricbuzz: Pakistan U19 vs Bangladesh U19, Semi Final 1 scorecard
- Featured photo: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, at night during a match. Photo: Younisjunejo, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Body photo: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, entrance. Photo: Zpotrick, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Umar Farooq is the founder and editor of Good News Pakistan. An engineer by profession and a writer by passion, he started the site in December 2022 to share good news from Pakistan, and has since written and edited more than 200 articles about its people, sports, science, business and world records. He believes the story of Pakistan is bigger than its headlines, and that good news, told honestly, is worth telling every day.