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‘Fearless but Not Careless’: Pakistan U-19s Celebrate Asia Cup Glory After Dominant Win Over India
Pakistan U-19s dominate India to win the Asia Cup as coach Shahid Anwer says the team achieved its goal of playing “fearless but not careless cricket.”
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by Muhammad Hashir
2025-12-22
‘Fearless but Not Careless’: Pakistan U-19s Celebrate Asia Cup Glory After Dominant Win Over India

Head coach Shahid Anwer on Monday said Pakistan had successfully achieved their objective of playing “fearless but not careless cricket” after the national Under-19 team lifted the Asia Cup with a crushing 191-run victory over arch-rivals India in Dubai.

Pakistan’s triumph was powered by an extraordinary innings from opener Sameer Minhas, who smashed a breathtaking 172 at the ICC Academy Ground to set up one of the most emphatic wins in the tournament’s history.

Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad after the team’s return, Shahid Anwer reflected on the long-term planning behind the success. He said the preparation process began on June 17 this year, describing it as an unprecedented step in age-group cricket.

“We called up 70 players, conducted trials, and ensured every player got four matches. They then played a regional one-day tournament,” Shahid said. “From there, the top 30 performers went into a five-month-long camp. That’s how this team was formed.”

The head coach emphasized unity and clarity of purpose as key factors behind the title win. “We wanted to play fearless but not careless cricket. We wanted a united team, and the result is in front of us,” he added.

The victorious squad met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif earlier in the day, where a cash award of Rs10 million was announced in recognition of their achievement.

Team mentor and manager Sarfaraz Ahmed, who captained Pakistan to the Under-19 World Cup title in 2006, praised the collective effort of players and coaching staff.

“We had players with the potential to do something big,” Sarfaraz said. “The coaches worked extremely hard, and the players responded. Our job was to give them confidence and allow them to play their natural game — one they will remember for the rest of their lives.”

Captain Farhan Yousaf echoed those sentiments, saying the team management’s backing played a vital role in maintaining morale throughout the tournament.

“We were told clearly that any loss would be the management’s responsibility, while victories would belong to the players,” Farhan said. “That trust kept our morale high at all times.”

Shahid Anwer also highlighted the adaptability and resilience of the players as decisive qualities. “In age-group cricket, most work is on basics. These players already had two strong traits — they never gave up and they were adaptable. We just had to polish them,” he noted.

Sameer Minhas, whose match-winning century dominated discussion at the press conference, said he simply trusted his natural instincts in the final. “I was focused on making runs for the team, and that helped me perform in such a big match,” he said.

Addressing the on-field tensions often associated with India-Pakistan encounters, Sarfaraz said he ensured his players maintained sportsmanship despite provocation. He criticized India’s conduct, including skipping post-match handshakes and a gesture made by one of their batters, but stressed Pakistan’s dignified response.

“Their behavior was not good and was unethical,” Sarfaraz said. “But we celebrated our victory with sportsman’s spirit.”

Pakistan’s Under-19 Asia Cup triumph is being hailed as a major boost for the country’s future cricket pipeline, reflecting both talent and structured long-term planning.
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