Pakistan U19 Campaign Begins with Farhan Yousuf as Captain

The Pakistan U19 campaign gained fresh momentum as the cricket board named Farhan Yousuf captain for the ACC U19 Asia Cup. Usman Khan will serve as his deputy. Their leadership marks an important step toward a busy season.
The 50-over tournament begins in Dubai on December 12. It features eight teams split into two balanced groups. Pakistan join Group A with India, Qualifier 1 and Qualifier 3, which sets the stage for competitive early matches.

Tournament Schedule and Preparation

Pakistan open their journey against Qualifier 3 on December 12 at The Sevens Stadium. The team will then face India on December 14 at the ICC Academy Ground. Their final group game is on December 16 at the same venue. As a result, the squad will play three crucial matches in quick succession. The semi-finals follow three days later, while the final takes place on December 21.
The Asia Cup arrives at the perfect time. It helps Pakistan prepare for the ICC U19 World Cup next year in Zimbabwe and Namibia. The squad reached the semi-finals in the previous edition. Therefore, they aim to go even further this time.
Farhan brings valuable experience to the side. He played in last year’s event and recently led Lahore Region Whites in the National Men’s U19 Cup. His strong run included 369 runs in seven matches. He also scored a century and two half-centuries.
Usman adds consistency to the top order. He struck a century in the previous Asia Cup and scored 429 runs for FATA in the same domestic tournament. His two centuries highlight his growing confidence.
The team begins a training camp in Karachi today. This camp will help finalize their strategy before they depart for Dubai.