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U19 World Cup: India beat Afghanistan by 7 wickets to meet England in final
Islamabad (Sports News): A magnificent hundred from Aaron George saw India pull off a record chase and beat Afghanistan by seven wickets in the ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup 2026 semi-finals.Faisal Khan and Uzairullah Niazai had each reached three figures for Afghanistan as they made 310 for four from their 50 overs.That left India needing to pull off the biggest chase in the history of the competition to progress, and they did just that.George was the star of the show, scoring a sensational 115, having earlier played second fiddle to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and then Ayush Mhatre.Although he could not quite see India home, the job was effectively done as they sealed a date with England in Friday’s final with 8.5 overs to spare.George piles up the runs in brilliant batting displayAfter winning the toss, Afghanistan elected to bat, with Khalid Ahmadzai (31) and Osman Sadat (39) starting strongly as they put on 53 for the first wicket.Osman kicked on after being joined by Faisal Khan, with the pair adding a further 64.Faisal, who already has two fifties and a hundred to his name in the tournament, was in exquisite form, and he and Uzairullah Niazai timed their innings to perfection.Faisal hit 15 boundaries in his 110 and he and Uzairullah combined to take Afghanistan to 265 for three with their 148-run stand.Even before Deepesh Devendran removed Faisal, Uzairullah had started to up the ante, going after the Indian bowling.And he ramped it up and matched his batting partner in making it to three figures, only the second time in the tournament’s history that two batters had hit centuries in the same innings of a knockout clash.With Uzairullah finishing unbeaten on 101, Afghanistan completed their innings on 310 for four, leaving India with history to make to progress to the final.India’s chase needed a fast start and in Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, they had just the man to send them on their way.The 14-year-old showed intent from the off and hammered four sixes in his 33 balls at the crease on his way to a blistering 68.He was given one life, when put down on 22, while opening partner Aaron George was on 20 when Wahid Zadran spilled a chance he had offered up.Sooryavanshi brought up his half-century in 25 deliveries and had brought the required rate down to a manageable level when he top-edged one to midwicket off Nooristani Omarzai.By that point, India had 90 on the board inside 10 overs, and the arrival of Ayush Mhatre did nothing to slow the chase.The skipper got off the mark with a six and took full advantage of good batting conditions as he and George put on 114 for the second wicket.Mhatre (62) fell to Nooristani (2/64) with 107 still required but Vihaan Malhotra quickly settled in alongside George.He got one life when he appeared to have been caught and bowled by Abdul Aziz, only to earn a reprieve thanks to a no-ball.George finally departed for 115 off 104 deliveries with 300 on the board, but Malhotra quickly wrapped things up on his way to 38 not out.Scores in brief: Afghanistan 310/4 in 50 overs (Faisal Khan 110, Uzairullah Niazai 101 not out; Kanishk Chouhan 2/55, Deepesh Devendran 2/64)India 311/3 in 41.1 overs (Aaron George 115, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 68, Ayush Mhatre 62; Nooristani Omarzai 2/64, Wahid Zadran 1/67)Result: India win by seven wickets
ICC Statement on ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
The ICC notes the statement that the government of Pakistan has made regarding the decision to instruct its national team to selectively participate in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026.While the ICC awaits official communication from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), this position of selective participation is difficult to reconcile with the fundamental premise of a global sporting event where all qualified teams are expected to compete on equal terms per the event schedule.ICC tournaments are built on sporting integrity, competitiveness, consistency and fairness, and selective participation undermines the spirit and sanctity of the competitions.While the ICC respects the roles of governments in matters of national policy, this decision is not in the interest of the global game or the welfare of fans worldwide, including millions in Pakistan.The ICC hopes that the PCB will consider the significant and long-term implications for cricket in its own country as this is likely to impact the global cricket ecosystem, which it is itself a member and beneficiary of.The ICC's priority remains the successful delivery of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup which should also be the responsibility of all its members including the PCB. It expects the PCB to explore a mutually acceptable resolution, which protects the interests of all stakeholders. (Media Release).
India U19 beat Pakistan U19 by 58 runs in ICC World Cup 2026
Bulawayo (Sports News):India U19 beat Pakistan U19 by 58 runs in their Super Six Group 2 fixture of the ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Sunday.Chasing a target of 253, Pakistan were bowled out for 194 in 46.2 overs despite fighting contributions from Usman Khan and Hamza Zahoor.Earlier, India were bowled out for 252 in 49.5 overs after being asked to bat first, with Vedant Trivedi top-scoring with 68. Pakistan bowlers kept things tight in the middle overs, as Abdul Subhan returned impressive figures of three for 33, while Mohammad Sayyam picked up two wickets.Pakistan’s reply began steadily as wicketkeeper-batter Hamza struck an aggressive 42 off 49 balls, including eight boundaries. After an early setback, Usman held the innings together with a composed 66 off 92 deliveries, sharing a crucial 63-run partnership for the third wicket with captain Farhan Yousaf, who scored 38 off 39 balls, hitting three fours and two sixes.However, regular wickets in the middle phase stalled Pakistan’s chase, as India’s spinners Ayush Mhatre and Khilan Patel took three wickets apiece.Following today’s defeat, Pakistan failed to qualify for the semi-final stage. During the 16-team tournament, Pakistan played five matches, winning three and losing two. Pakistan will return home from Harare via Dubai on Monday evening.Scores in brief:India U19 252 all out, 49.5 overs (Vedant Trivedi 68, Kanishk Chouhan 35; Abdul Subhan 3-33, Mohammad Sayyam 2-69)Pakistan 194 all out, 46.2 overs (Usman Khan 66, Hamza Zahoor 42, Farhan Yousaf 38; Ayush Mhatre 3-21, Khilan Patel 3-35)Player of the match - Kanishk Chouhan (India U19).
ACB Chairman Praises the Under-19 National Team Performance in World Cup
Islamabad (Sports Desk): The Chairman of the Afghanistan Cricket Board, Mirwais Ashraf, during an online meeting today, congratulated the Under-19 national team, along with their coaches and supporting staff, on the team’s recent successes and praised their efforts and performances for qualifying to the world cup semifinals.He said I feel proud that the team has reached the World Cup semi-finals for the third time in a few years. He added that he was pleased to see the results of the players’ hard work, especially following the preparation camps held inside the country and the series played against Bangladesh and India. He also praised the efforts of the coaching staff and the management team, saying that every time they have trusted domestic coaches, they have achieved positive results.The Chairman advised the young players not to dwell on defeats and to always move forward with a positive mindset. He assured them of continued support and said that the board will address all their needs.Raees Ahmadzai, the team head coach also praised the players’ performances, saying that although the team fought until the final over in the Asia Cup matches, they still faced defeat. He expressed his happiness that the players were mentally and physically prepared again in a short time, enabling them to believe in themselves and achieve success in such important matches. He thanked the administration for its constant support and praised the efforts of all supporting staff, including coaches, the manager, trainer, doctor, and video analyst, noting that their role was crucial in the team’s success.In the final part of the meeting, team captain Mahboob Taskeen, speaking on behalf of the players, expressed gratitude to the administration and coaches for preparing the team in the best possible way for the World Cup. He added that their journey is not over yet and that they will give their full effort to win the semi-final and, upon reaching the final, bring the honor of World Cup championship to Afghanistan.
Pakistan U19 to take on India U19 in decisive Super Six fixture on Sunday
Bulawayo (Sports News): Pakistan U19 will be aiming to repeat their ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup heroics when they take on India U19 in the Super Six fixture of the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Sunday. The match is scheduled to begin at 9.30am local time, with the toss taking place at 9am.Ahead of Sunday’s encounter, Pakistan trained at the Queens Sports Club on Saturday where the players, besides taking part in fielding drills, also had net sessions under the supervision of the coaching staff led by head coach Shahid Anwar.Pakistan, who currently have four points and are placed third in Group 2 of the Super Six stage, need to defeat India by a healthy margin to secure a place in the semi-finals. England sit at the top of the table with eight points and have already secured a semi-final berth in the ongoing mega event. From Group 1 of the Super Six stage, Afghanistan and Australia have already qualified for the semi-finals.In head-to-head encounters at the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup, both sides have faced each other 10 times, with Pakistan and India winning five matches apiece. Outside the ICC event, in the last five meetings between the two teams, Pakistan U19 have emerged victorious on four occasions, while India U19 have managed to win once.At the conclusion of today’s training session, Pakistan U19 captain Farhan Yousaf and batter Sameer Minhas in a conversation hosted by Daniyal Ali Khan shared their thoughts on the upcoming contest.Farhan Yousaf said:“Our preparations have been very good. I had an enjoyable and productive net session today. Over the last few games, I have tried to play positive cricket, learn from my mistakes and carry forward the good things into the next match.“The morale of the squad is very high. Not only for this match, but over the last few games as well, the players have shown great intensity and we are confident of putting in a strong performance.”Sameer Minhas said:“We played a scenario-based match yesterday on a challenging surface, which helped us understand how to survive, score runs and bowl in difficult situations.“Today we trained at the Queens Sports Club, where the match will be played. Along with focused net sessions, we also had fielding drills and games, which helped with team bonding. The environment in the squad is very positive.“The team has been performing well in recent matches and we are looking to carry the momentum forward and take confidence into the next game.”Updated squad: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, Mohammad Sayyam, Niqab Shafiq, Sameer Minhas and Umar Zaib.
T20 World Cup: ICC appoints Match Official for group stage
Islamabad (Sports News):Kumar Dharmasena and Wayne Knights will be the on-field umpires for the opening match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 between Pakistan and the Netherlands to be played at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground on 7 February.Dharmasena, an off-spinner who was a member of the Sri Lankan team that won the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 1996, has overseen 37 matches at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup including the finals of 2016 and 2022, putting him fourth on the all-time list.New Zealander Knights, in contrast, is at his first ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and will reach the landmark of 50 T20Is as on-field umpire in the Group A match in Colombo.The complete match-day appointments for the group stage of the 20-team tournament were announced today while the appointments for the Super Eight and knockout stages will be confirmed in due course.Elsewhere on the opening day, Nitin Menon and Sam Nogajski will be in the middle for the Group C clash between Scotland and the West Indies. Menon was part of the on-field team for the first semi-final at the 2024 World Cup, between Afghanistan and South Africa, while Nogajski’s four group matches last time out included India’s clash with the United States of America.Those two teams meet again this year, rounding off a triple-header on 7 February, and this time Paul Reiffel and Rod Tucker will be the on-field duo.Tucker leads the way for matches officiated in this competition, on 46, and will bring up his half-century during the tournament. The Australian will also be in charge of the England versus Nepal, India against Namibia and the South Africa against the United Arab Emirates fixtures.Chris Gaffaney and Richard Illingworth stood alongside for the 2024 final and reunite for the Group B clash between Australia and Ireland on 11 February.Illingworth will also be in the middle, alongside Dharmasena, for the crunch clash between rivals India and Pakistan in Colombo on 15 February.In all, 24 officials will be on-field umpires during the group stage, with Richard Kettleborough, Ahsan Raza, Langton Rusere and Adrian Holdstock among the other returnees.Match Referees: Dean Cosker, David Gilbert, Ranjan Madugalle, Andrew Pycroft, Richie Richardson and Javagal Srinath.Umpires: Roland Black, Chris Brown, Kumar Dharmasena, Chris Gaffaney, Adrian Holdstock, Richard Illingworth, Richard Kettleborough, Wayne Knights, Donovan Koch, Jayaraman Madanagopal, Nitin Menon, Sam Nogajski, KNA Padmanabhan, Allahuddien Paleker, Ahsan Raza, Leslie Reifer, Paul Reiffel, Langton Rusere, Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid, Gazi Sohel, Rodney Tucker, Alex Wharf, Raveendra Wimalasiri and Asif Yaqoob.
Pakistan U19 beat New Zealand U19 by eight wickets
Harare (Sports News):A four-wicket haul by Abdul Subhan, followed by a fluent unbeaten 76 from Sameer Minhas guided Pakistan U19 to a comprehensive eight-wicket win over New Zealand U19 in their Super Six Group 2 fixture of the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup at the Harare Sports Club in Zimbabwe on Tuesday.After winning the toss and opting to field, Pakistan bowled New Zealand out for 110 in 28.3 overs, an effort that included five maiden overs – three by Subhan and two by Ali Raza. Right-arm fast bowler Subhan returned impressive figures of four for 11 to earn the player of the match award, while Ali Raza (3-36) provided solid support as Pakistan’s bowlers applied sustained pressure throughout the innings.New Zealand’s resistance came mainly through Hugo Bogue, who scored 39 off 27 balls. However, regular wickets meant New Zealand side never gained momentum, slipping from 59 for one to 67 for seven as Pakistan tightened the screws in the middle overs.In turn, Pakistan achieved the modest target in just 17.1 overs, losing only two wickets and with 197 balls to spare. Opening batter Sameer anchored the innings with yet another half-century. His unbeaten 76 came off 59 balls which included 10 fours and two sixes. He shared key partnerships, first steadying the innings after the early loss of wicketkeeper-batter Hamza Zahoor (8, 11b, two fours) and then adding 67 runs with Usman Khan (15, 24b, one four) for the second wicket.Following today’s win, Pakistan U19 will travel to Bulawayo on Wednesday to take on India in their second Super Six fixture at the Queens Sports Club on Sunday, 1 February. The first ball of the match will be bowled at 9.30am local time.Scores in brief:New Zealand U19 110 all out, 28.3 overs (Hugo Bogue 39; Abdul Subhan 4-11, Ali Raza 3-36)Pakistan 112-2, 17.1 overs (Sameer Minhas 76 not out)Player of the match – Abdul Subhan (Pakistan U19).
Pakistan announce squad for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
Lahore ( Sports News): The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced a 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, where they are placed in Group A and scheduled to face Netherlands in their opening game on 7 February in Colombo.The names were unveiled during a press conference addressed by the PCB Director High Performance and member men’s national selection committee Aqib Javed, Pakistan’s T20I captain Salman Ali Agha and white-ball head coach Michael James Hesson at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Sunday morning.Among the players, skipper Salman Ali Agha, Faheem Ashraf, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Sahibzada Farhan and Usman Tariq have received their maiden mega-event call-ups to the Pakistan squad.Meanwhile, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan and Usman Khan have played in at least one or more editions of the tournament since 2021. In the 20-team tournament, each team is set to play four group games before the Super Eight and Knockout Stage, all between 7 February and 8 March.Pakistan are also set to face Australia in a three-match T20I series at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on 29, 31 January and 1 February with the preparation camp starting today.15-member squad:Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk) and Usman Tariq
ICC appoints Match Official for Namibia Super 6 stage of U19 World Cup
Islamabad (Sports News):The Emirates ICC International Panels of Umpires and Referees have been announced for the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026 Super Six stage matches taking place in Namibia.Faisal Afridi and Nitin Bathi will be the on-field umpires for Australia’s clash with South Africa at the Namibia Cricket Ground, with Cory Black in place as TV Umpire and Forster Mutizwa as Fourth Umpire.Afridi was in the middle for South Africa’s group stage defeat against Afghanistan, while Bathi oversaw the Proteas’ victory over Tanzania.Also on January 25, Shaun Haig and Iknow Chabi will be the on-field duo as the West Indies take on Ireland. They will be supported by TV Umpire Graham Lloyd and Fourth Umpire Virender Sharma.It will be Haig’s third match as an on-field umpire involving the West Indies, as he also took charge of their defeat against Afghanistan and victory over South Africa in the group stage.The following day, Afghanistan take on Sri Lanka, with Cory Black and Forster Mutizwa in the middle. Haig will be the TV Umpire, with Chabi in place as Fourth Umpire.Black and Mutizwa will also be the on-field team for the 13th-16th place play-off match between Japan and Tanzania at the High Performance Oval.The Match Officials for the Super Six matches in Zimbabwe will be announced once those match ups are confirmed.24 January – Japan v Tanzania – High Performance Oval, WindhoekOn-field: Cory Black and Forster MutizwaTV: Graham LloydFourth: Deighton ButlerReferee: Prakash Bhatt25 January – Australia v South Africa – Namibia Cricket Ground, WindhoekOn-field: Faisal Afridi and Nitin BathiTV: Cory BlackFourth: Forster MutizwaReferee: Prakash Bhatt25 January – West Indies v Ireland – High Performance Oval, WindhoekOn-field: Shaun Haig and Iknow ChabiTV: Graham LloydFourth: Virender SharmaReferee: Neeyamur Rahul26 January – Afghanistan v Sri Lanka – Namibia Cricket Ground, WindhoekOn-field: Cory Black and Forster MutizwaTV: Shaun HaigFourth: Iknow ChabiReferee: Neeyamur Rahul
Pakistan U19 beat Zimbabwe U19 by eight wickets to reach Super 6 stage
Islamabad (Sports News): An unbeaten half-century by Sameer Minhas and a three-wicket haul from Ali Raza helped Pakistan U19 register an eight-wicket win over Zimbabwe U19 in their Group ‘C’ fixture of the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup at the Takashinga Sports Club in Harare on Thursday afternoon. The win also confirmed Pakistan’s qualification for the super six stage of the tournament.After opting to field, Pakistan bowlers put Zimbabwe on the back foot early. Wicket-keeper Hamza Zahoor was sharp behind the stumps, taking a fine diving catch to his right to dismiss Kian Blignaut off Ali Raza’s bowling. Captain Farhan Yousaf then produced a moment of brilliance by diving to his right to take a superb catch off Momin Qamar’s bowling to remove Zimbabwe’s top run-getter Nathaniel Hlabangana, who scored 59 off 85 balls, including seven fours and one six.Right-arm fast bowler Ali, who had taken four wickets in the previous match against Scotland, led the bowling attack with figures of three for 16 in eight overs. He struck early to remove Kupakwashe Muradzi and Kian Blignaut and later dismissed Brandon Senzere.Fast bowlers Abdul Subhan and Mohammad Sayyam, along with left-arm spinner Momin, picked up two wickets apiece as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 128 in 35.5 overs.In reply, Pakistan achieved the target comfortably in 26.2 overs. Sameer anchored the innings with an unbeaten 74 off 75 balls, hitting six fours and three sixes. He was well supported by Usman Khan, who scored a brisk 26, as the pair added 49 runs for the second wicket.Ahmed Hussain remained not out on 24 as Pakistan reached the target with 142 balls to spare.The convincing win earned Pakistan two valuable points and secured their place in the super six stage, which will commence later this week.Pakistan, who finished second in Group ‘C’ (C2), will face B3 in the super six stage at the Harare Sports Club on Tuesday, 27 January, before taking on B1 at the Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, on Sunday, 1 February. Sameer Minhas said:“Qualifying for the super six stage is a big achievement for us as a team. After getting out early in my previous innings, my focus today was to spend time at the crease, keep things simple and trust my basics, which helped me build my innings and gain confidence.“Our fielding and bowling were very encouraging. Our fielding was a big positive. All the players put in a lot of effort and it is the result of the hard work we have done in training. The fielding coach has worked extensively with us and it showed on the field.“The super six stage will be challenging with quality teams and two crucial matches. Our aim will be to win with a healthy net run-rate, which will be vital heading into the semi-finals.”Scores in brief:Zimbabwe 128 all out, 35.5 overs (Nathaniel Hlabangana 59; Ali Raza 3-16, Abdul Subhan 2-14, Mohammad Sayyam 2-36, Momin Qamar 2-39)Pakistan 132-2, 26.2 overs (Sameer Minhas 74 not out, Usman Khan 26, Ahmed Hussain 24 not out)Player of the match: Sameer Minhas
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