Minhas Records Historic 172 in First-Innings Masterclass
After being put into bat, Pakistan posted a towering total of 347/8 in their 50 overs, driven by a record-breaking performance from opener Sameer Minhas.
Minhas played an innings of sheer power and precision, smashing 172 off just 113 deliveries. His knock, which included 17 boundaries and 9 sixes, now stands as the highest individual score in the history of a U19 Asia Cup final. Minhas reached his century in just 71 balls, effectively taking the game away from the Indian bowlers during the middle overs.
He was ably supported by Ahmed Hussain (56) and Usman Khan (35), who helped build a platform that allowed Pakistan to dictate terms despite a late fightback from India’s Deepesh Devendran, who finished with figures of 3/83.
India Collapse Under High-Pressure Chase
Chasing a daunting 348 for victory, the eight-time champions, India, never managed to find their rhythm. Despite a brief, explosive cameo from 14-year-old sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi (26 off 10 balls), the Indian top order crumbled against Pakistan's disciplined pace attack.
India lost five wickets within the first 10 overs, leaving the middle order with an impossible task. Pakistan’s Ali Raza was the wrecker-in-chief, claiming 4/42, while Abdul Subhan and Mohammad Sayyam picked up two wickets each to stifle any hopes of a recovery. India was eventually bundled out for a mere 156 in 26.2 overs.
Awards and Post-Match Reactions
Sameer Minhas was the undisputed star of the tournament, taking home both the Player of the Match and Player of the Tournament awards after finishing the campaign with a record-breaking 471 runs.
"The plan was to play my natural game and give the team a total they could defend," Minhas said during the presentation. "Winning against India in a final is special, and doing it with a score like this is a dream."
Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has already announced a cash reward of PKR 10 million for each member of the winning squad, recognizing the significance of the victory on the international stage.
The Pakistan U19 team will now look to carry this momentum into their upcoming tri-series in Zimbabwe as they prepare for the U19 World Cup in January 2026.