Islamabad, December 22, 2025: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday hosted a special luncheon in honour of the Pakistan Under-19 cricket team following their triumphant Asia Cup campaign, praising the young cricketers for their discipline, resilience and historic victory over arch-rivals India in the final.
Welcoming the players individually, the prime minister congratulated the entire squad, coaching staff and team management, saying their outstanding performances had won the hearts of 240 million Pakistanis and lifted national pride. He said the emphatic win against India carried special significance and reflected Pakistan’s growing strength and depth in youth cricket.
“The way you trained, played and handled pressure shows maturity beyond your age. You have brought great honour to Pakistan and proved that our future in cricket is bright,” the prime minister remarked.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif specially lauded standout performers, including Sameer Minhas for his superb batting display of 172 runs, Under-19 captain Farhan Yousuf Khan for his leadership, Ali Raza for his impactful wicket-taking spells, and Abdul Subhan, who claimed 13 wickets during the tournament. He also acknowledged the collective contributions of all batters, bowlers, wicketkeepers, trainers and support staff.
Announcing incentives, the prime minister declared a cash award of Rs1 million for each player and Rs500,000 for every member of the sports staff, reiterating the government’s commitment to nurturing young talent. He prayed for the team’s continued success and urged the players to remain focused in the coming years to earn places in the national side.
Earlier, Interior Minister and PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi highlighted the team’s composure and professionalism, particularly in the high-pressure final. Referring to provocations during the match, he said the players displayed remarkable patience and maturity by staying focused solely on cricket. “We kept cricket and politics separate. Our boys did not react and remained committed to fair but fearless cricket. Allah rewarded their discipline with victory,” he said.
Mohsin Naqvi also announced that work had begun on establishing a state-of-the-art High Performance Centre in Lahore, noting that the existing facility had become outdated. He said the new centre would provide modern training resources and significantly benefit emerging cricketers. “In a few months, we will inaugurate a world-class facility to prepare our players for international challenges,” he added.
Speaking on behalf of the team, Under-19 captain Farhan Yousuf Khan thanked the prime minister and the Pakistan Cricket Board for their encouragement and support. He said structured training camps and strong backing from the management played a key role in the team’s success. “Even after a loss, the management stood by us and boosted our confidence. We aim to carry this momentum into the upcoming tri-series and the World Cup,” he said.
Several players also shared their experiences, crediting the coaching staff for focused training over the past four to six months. They highlighted technical work on bowling actions, length and consistency, along with mental conditioning, as crucial factors in performing under pressure.
The players expressed gratitude to the PCB, coaches and support staff for organising effective camps and fostering a positive team environment, saying the recognition at the highest level had further motivated them to work harder and aim for greater success on the international stage.
