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All eyes on high-profile final as IND and PAK advance to U19 Asia Cup 2025's title clash

Umesh Sharma

India U19's Aaron George (L) and Pakistan U19's Sameer Minhas (Source: X/ACC)India U19's Aaron George (L) and Pakistan U19's Sameer Minhas (Source: X/ACC)

The arch-rivals India and Pakistan are set to lock horns in the highly-anticipated final of the ongoing U19 Asia Cup 2025. India U19 defeated Sri Lanka U19 by wickets in the first semi-final, alongside Pakistan U19 defeating the Bangladesh U19 by wickets in the tournament’s second semi-final. 

In the first semi-final played at ICC Academy in Dubai, India U19 skipper Ayush Mhatre won the toss and asked Sri Lanka U19 to bat first in the rain-affected game. The rain reduced the game to a 20-over clash. Sri Lanka managed to post a total of 138 runs for the loss of eight wickets courtesy of Chamika Heenatigala’s 42 runs off 38 balls, with three fours. 

Apart from Heenatigala, skipper Vimath Dinsara and lower middle-order batter Sethmika Seneviratne also contributed with the individual knocks of 32 and 30, respectively to take Sri Lanka’s score past 130. Henil Patel and Kanishk Chouhan scalped two wickets each for India, alongside a wicket each picked by Kishan Singh, Deepesh Devendran, and Khilan Patel. 

Vihaan Malhotra, Aaron George shine in India U19's successful run-chase 

While chasing the target, India faced two early blows as they lost their openers Ayush Mhatre (7) and Vaibhav Suryavanshi (9) cheaply at the team score of 25 runs in 3.3 overs. 

But then came a match-winning and unbeaten partnership of runs for the third wicket between Aaron George (58) and Vihaan Malhotra (61) to seal the game for India by a big margin of eight wickets. Rasith Nimsara was the only bowler to pick wickets for SL U19, registering the figures of in overs. 

Eventually, India's Vihaan Malhotra and Aaron George won the ‘Player of the Match’ awards for his outstanding and game-defining performance. 

Speaking of another rain-affected semi-final of the tournament between Pakistan U19 and Bangladesh U19, the Boys in Green won the toss and invited Bangladesh U19 to bat first in the 27-over game. Azizul Hakim and co. were bundled out at the score of 121 runs in 26.3 overs. 

Samiun Basir (33) and skipper Hakim (20) were the only batters to cross the 20+ mark as individual scores. The teenage pace sensation Abdul Subhan shone for Pakistan, picking four wickets for just 20 runs in his six overs, including a maiden over. Besides him, Huzaifa Ahsan also claimed two wickets, alongside a wicket each bagged by Ali Raza, Mohammad Sayyam, and Ahmed Hussain. 

PAK U19 outmuscle BAN U19 in another rain-affected semi-final

Later in the run-chase, the young batting prodigy Sameer Minhas led the charge for Pakistan, after losing his opening mate Hamza Zahoor early at the team score of just one run on the last ball of the first over. Following this blow, Minhas added an excellent partnership of 85 runs for the second wicket with Usman Khan (27 runs off 26 balls, with two fours and two sixes). 

Later in the innings, Minhas and Ahmed Hussain (11) also stitched an unbeaten partnership of 36 runs to help Pakistan win by eight wickets and seal a spot in the tournament’s summit clash. Minhas ended up with an unbeaten knock of 69 runs off just 57 balls, with six fours and two sixes. Iqbal Hosain Emon and Samiun Basir claimed a wicket each for Bangladesh U19. 

Pakistan’s Abdul Subhan  won the ‘Player of the Match award for his excellent performance with the ball (4/20 in six overs)

Now, all eyes are on the high-profile final of the U19 Asia Cup 2025 between the arch-rivals India and Pakistan. The summit clash of the tournament's current edition will be played at the ICC Academy in Dubai on Sunday, December 21.