Dubai, December 14,2025: Pakistan’s batting faltered as they suffered a comprehensive 90-run defeat against arch-rivals India in a high-octane ACC Men’s Under-19 Asia Cup 2025 encounter at the ICC Academy on Sunday.
Chasing a modest target of 241 in a rain-curtailed 49-over-a-side match, Pakistan were bowled out for 150 in 41.2 overs, failing to mount a serious challenge despite a lone fighting effort from middle-order batter Huzaifa Ahsan.
Ahsan anchored Pakistan’s innings with a well-crafted 70 off 83 balls, hitting nine fours and two sixes, and remained the top-scorer for the Green Shirts. However, a lack of support from the rest of the batting lineup proved costly.
Pakistan began cautiously, reaching 21 without loss in eight overs, before Deepesh Devendran triggered a collapse by dismantling the top order. He removed Sameer Minhas (9), Ali Hassan Baloch (0) and Ahmed Hussain (4), leaving Pakistan reeling. Opening batter Usman Khan, who resisted initially, was dismissed by Kanishk Chouhan in the 14th over as Pakistan slipped to 30/4.
Ahsan then added some stability with captain Farhan Yousaf, stitching together a 47-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Yousaf scored 23 before being dismissed by Vaibhav Suryavanshi in the 24th over, providing India with a crucial breakthrough.
Ahsan continued to fight, forming brief partnerships with Hamza Zahoor (4), Abdul Subhan (6) and Mohammad Sayyam (2), but eventually fell to Chouhan in the 39th over. Kishan Singh wrapped up the innings by dismissing Ali Raza (6), sealing a dominant win for India.
For India, Devendran and Chouhan led the bowling attack with three wickets each, while Kishan Singh claimed two. Khilan Patel and Suryavanshi picked up one wicket apiece.
Earlier, Pakistan captain Farhan Yousaf’s decision to field first initially paid dividends as India were restricted to 240 all out in 46.1 overs. India, who had posted a massive 433/6 against the United Arab Emirates in their tournament opener, struggled to gain early momentum.
Mohammad Sayyam struck early, dismissing in-form opener Vaibhav Suryavanshi (5) with 29 runs on the board. India recovered through a brisk 49-run stand between captain Ayush Mhatre and Aaron George. Mhatre played an aggressive knock of 38 off 25 balls, including four fours and three sixes, before being dismissed by Sayyam in the 10th over.
India then lost wickets at regular intervals, with Niqab Shafiq removing Vihaan Malhotra (12) and Vedant Trivedi (7), reducing them to 113/4 in 19.5 overs. George steadied the innings with a crucial 60-run partnership for the fifth wicket alongside wicketkeeper Abhigyan Kundu.
Both George and Kundu were dismissed by Abdul Subhan in the 32nd over. George top-scored for India with an impressive 85 off 88 deliveries, hitting 12 fours and a six, while Kundu contributed 22 off 32 balls.
Kanishk Chouhan then held the innings together with a composed 46 off 46 balls before falling to Ahmed Hussain in the 45th over. The lower order failed to add meaningful runs as Ali Raza and Subhan cleaned up the tail.
For Pakistan, Sayyam and Subhan took three wickets each, Niqab Shafiq claimed two, while Ali Raza and Ahmed Hussain chipped in with one wicket apiece.
The emphatic victory strengthened India’s position in the tournament, while Pakistan were left to rue another batting collapse in a high-pressure clash.
