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Pakistan U19 stars to watch out for vs India U19 ahead of U19 Asia Cup 2025 clash in Dubai

Jatin

Sameer Minhas and Ahmed Hussain [Source: @Aryaseen5911/x.com]Sameer Minhas and Ahmed Hussain [Source: @Aryaseen5911/x.com]

When India and Pakistan lock horns, age groups don’t matter. On Sunday in Dubai, the Under-19 Asia Cup 2025 throws up another chapter of this storied rivalry and both sides are walking in with their chests puffed out after record-breaking wins.

India smashed 433/6 against UAE. Pakistan responded by flattening Malaysia after piling up 345/3 and bowling them out for 48. The common thread? Openers on fire and batters making hay while the sun shone.

While India will lean on Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s freakish form, Pakistan have a few aces up their sleeve who can turn the game in no time. Let’s take a look at Pakistan U19 stars to watch out for vs India

4. Usman Khan

Don’t let the scorecard from the first game fool you. Usman Khan is one of those batters who can look scratchy one day and unstoppable the next. The stylish left-hander fell for just 1 in the opener, but that is just a blip. Usman has 247 runs in 5 Youth ODIs at an average close to 50 with a century and two fifties already under his belt.

More importantly, he knows how to hurt India. In the previous U19 Asia Cup, he played a patient 60 off 94 balls against India U19, laying the base for a Pakistan win. He even chipped in with the ball in that game, picking up one wicket. Give him time at the crease and he starts purring. India’s new-ball bowlers will want to nip him early, because once he settles in, he is hard to dislodge.

3. Ahmed Hussain

Ahmed Hussain began the tournament like a man with a point to prove. Walking in at No. 4, the left-hander stitched together a classy 132 off 114 balls. Eight fours, two sixes, and plenty of busy running between the wickets. Hussain is the kind of batter who doesn’t panic. He soaks up pressure, rotates strike and waits for bowlers to blink first.

That makes him dangerous in a high-voltage game like India vs Pakistan. Add to that his handy left-arm spin option and Ahmed becomes a proper two-way package. India’s spinners will be keen to get him before he digs in, because once he finds rhythm, the scoreboard keeps ticking without much fuss.

2. Ali Raza

If Pakistan’s batting lit the fuse, Ali Raza brought the explosion with the ball. The right-arm medium-fast bowler tore through Malaysia with figures of 3/11 in 6 overs, including three maidens. Raza hits the deck hard, gets movement and backs it up with pace. Yorkers, sharp bouncers, and relentless accuracy are his calling cards.

He is exactly the kind of bowler who loves the new ball and thrives under pressure. India’s openers, especially Vaibhav Suryavanshi and skipper Ayush Mhatre, will remember him well. Last year in the U19 Asia Cup, Raza picked up 3/36, including the prized wicket of Suryavanshi. That sets up a tasty rematch.

He also isn’t short on experience. Raza has played domestic cricket, featured in the PSL for Peshawar Zalmi where he bagged 12 wickets in 9 matches and knows how to handle big moments. India’s top order will need to play his spell with soft hands and sharp minds.

1. Sameer Minhas

If there is one name that has everyone talking, it is Sameer Minhas. The right-handed opener announced himself in style with a jaw-dropping 177 off 148 balls with 11 fours and eight sixes. Minhas shared a massive 293-run partnership with Ahmed Hussain and by the time he walked off, the match was done and dusted.

He has a wide range of shots and doesn’t mind taking on the bowlers once he is set. India’s new-ball attack, led by Kishan Kumar Singh and Henil Patel, will have to be bang on target from ball one. Any width, any overpitch, and Minhas will make them pay.

Conclusion

Pakistan U19 are riding high on confidence, momentum and form. Their batters are in the zone, their bowlers are breathing fire and the belief is sky-high.

For India U19, this won’t just be about skill. It will be about handling pressure, winning key moments and keeping these Pakistan stars quiet. Because in an India vs Pakistan clash, it only takes one player to change the story and Pakistan have more than a few who can.