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"Jeetay raho beta": Shoaib Akhtar Salutes Sameer Minhas after U19 Asia Cup masterclass

Akshita Patel

Sameer Minhas gets recognised by Pakistan legend [Source: @Pak_Connect, @RealSahibzada/X.com]Sameer Minhas gets recognised by Pakistan legend [Source: @Pak_Connect, @RealSahibzada/X.com]

Former Pakistan fast-bowling great Shoaib Akhtar was among the loudest voices praising teenage sensation Sameer Minhas. This was after Pakistan’s dominant victory over India in the U19 Asia Cup 2025 final. 

Pakistan beat India by a dominant margin of 191 runs to clinch the U19 Asia Cup 2025 title. Minhas was the star of the show as he hammered a record-breaking knock.

Sameer Minhas gets praise from legend Shoaib Akhtar 

Opening the innings, 19-year-old Sameer Minhas played with remarkable freedom and control, scoring 172 off just 113 balls. His innings was filled with clean hitting, smart placement, and fearless intent. 

Minhas attacked from the start, placing extra pressure on India's new-ball bowlers and never allowing them to settle into any sort of rhythm. By the time he was dismissed, Pakistan had already built a match-winning total of 347/8.

As Pakistan crushed their arch-rivals by 191 runs in Dubai, former legendary Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar praised Minhas with a proud message on social media.

“Jeetay raho beta. What a knock of 172 by Sameer Minhas to lead Pak-U19 to victory," Akhtar wrote on X.

Akhtar’s praise echoed the wider cricket fraternity’s reaction. Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood, former skipper Wasim Akram and several other cricketers also congratulated the young side for lifting the trophy in style. 

However, it was Minhas’ performance that stood out as the defining image of the final. The knock was not a one-off. Minhas had been one of Pakistan’s most consistent batters throughout the tournament, scoring 471 runs. 

Who is Sameer Minhas?

Sameer Minhas is not a fluke but a rising Pakistani batting talent who peaked in the U19 Asia Cup 2025. Born on December 2, 2006, in Multan, Minhas has risen through Pakistan’s age-group ranks, representing Multan and Southern Punjab before earning a national U19 call-up. 

He first grabbed attention earlier in the tournament with an unbeaten 177 on his Youth ODI debut. Sameer Minhas is also the younger brother of Arafat Minhas, who has already represented Pakistan at the senior level and played in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).