Pakistan punched their ticket to the semi-finals of the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup 2025 with a convincing 70-run win over hosts UAE on Tuesday at the ICC Academy. They needed this one to stay alive, and they delivered.
UAE Fall Short in 242-Run Chase
Batting first after Farhan Yousaf called right at the toss, Pakistan put up 241, a decent total for a game with so much on the line. The openers, Sameer Minhas and Usman Khan, got things rolling with a 40-run stand. Then, just as things looked steady, UAE’s Naseem Khan struck twice in back-to-back overs. Suddenly, Pakistan felt the heat.
Subhan Leads Pakistan’s Bowling Effort
Ahmed Hussain stepped in at number four and steadied the ship. He didn’t just hold things together, he built partnerships all through the middle order, working with Minhas, Yousaf, Huzaifa Ahsan, and later Hamza Zahoor.
That 52-run stand with Zahoor for the sixth wicket really mattered. Ahmed finished with a gritty 65 off 91 balls, the highest score for his team. Zahoor added a quick 42 off 51 balls at the end, pushing Pakistan to 241 for nine. For UAE, Yug Sharma stood out with three wickets, while Naseem Khan picked up two.
Ahmed Hussain Anchors Pakistan’s Innings
Chasing 242, UAE leaned hard on Ayaan Misbah. He played a sharp innings, 77 off 74 balls, smashing a dozen boundaries and giving the home crowd hope as he anchored the chase. But when he got run out in the 24th over, the wheels started to come off. Not long after, Prithvi Madhu and Muhammad Rayan followed him back in quick succession. That was it, Pakistan’s attack moved in for the kill.
Semi-final Line-up Confirmed
Abdul Subhan led the way with the ball, grabbing four wickets for just 31 runs in his 7.5 overs. Mohammad Sayyam, Momim Qamar, and Ahmed Hussain chipped in with a wicket each, cleaning up the rest. UAE was bowled out for 171 in under 38 overs.
With this win, Pakistan move on to the semis, joining India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. The last group match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will set up the semi-final matchups.
Pakistan handled the pressure, showing off their depth and resilience, qualities they’ll need even more as the tournament heads into the knockout rounds.
