Farhan Yousaf to Lead Pakistan U19 Team in Upcoming Tri-Series and World Cup
Captaincy Announcement
Pakistan has confirmed that 19-year-old middle-order batter Farhan Yousaf will remain the captain of the Under-19 cricket team. This announcement comes alongside the unveiling of a 15-member squad for the upcoming tri-series in Zimbabwe and the ICC Under-19 Men's Cricket World Cup, which is set to take place in Zimbabwe and Namibia from January 15 to February 6.
Current Performance
The Pakistan Under-19 team is currently participating in the ACC Under-19 Asia Cup in Dubai. They are scheduled to face Bangladesh in the semifinal on December 19 after finishing second in Group A. The final match of this eight-team tournament is slated for December 21. So far, Pakistan has played three matches, securing victories against Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates, but suffered a 90-run loss to the India U19 team.
Squad Changes
The squad for the World Cup features only one alteration from the Asia Cup lineup. Right-arm fast bowler Umar Zaib has replaced left-arm spinner Mohammad Huzaifa for both the tri-series and the World Cup. Additionally, Ali Raza, who made a significant impact in the 2024 tournament, has been included in the squad. At just 15 years old, Raza took 4 wickets for 34 runs against Australia in the semi-final, nearly leading Pakistan to victory. He ended the tournament with nine wickets across three matches.
Preparation for the World Cup
The upcoming tri-series, which includes Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the host nation Zimbabwe, will take place from December 25 to January 6. This series is crucial for the team's preparation ahead of the 50-over U19 World Cup.
Pakistan U19 Squad for the World Cup
The squad for the Under-19 World Cup is as follows: 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, Mohammad Shayan (wk), Niqab Shafiq, Sameer Minhas, Umar Zaib. Non-travelling reserves include Abdul Qadir, Farhanullah, Hassan Khan, Ibtisam Azhar, and Mohammad Huzaifa.