Pakistan Under-19 cricket team mentor and former national captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has criticized India’s conduct during the final of the ACC U19 Asia Cup 2025, calling it unethical and lacking sportsmanship.
Pakistan delivered a dominant all-round performance in the final, successfully defending a massive total of 348 runs. India were bowled out for 156 in 26.2 overs, handing Pakistan a convincing 191-run victory and their first-ever ACC U-19 Asia Cup title.
Speaking at a media conference, Sarfaraz Ahmed expressed disappointment over India’s behavior during the match.
“India’s behavior regarding the game was not good, and the Indian team’s conduct in cricket was unethical. But we celebrated the victory with sportsmanship, because there should always be sportsmanship in cricket; what India did is their own action,” he said.
The 2017 Champions Trophy-winning captain also revealed that Shehbaz Sharif has announced a cash reward of Rs. 10 million for each player to honor the team’s historic achievement. He further praised the players for their outstanding performance and said they were appreciated during their meeting with the Prime Minister.
Sarfaraz also highlighted the contributions of middle-order batter Ahmed Hussain, who scored a vital 56 off 72 balls, including three fours and a six. “Ahmed Hussain’s innings was as important as Sameer Minhas’,” Sarfaraz said.
Sameer Minhas starred in the final with a remarkable 172 off 113 deliveries, smashing 17 fours and nine sixes.
Head coach Shahid Anwar also praised the team’s preparation and planning, explaining that the process began on June 17 with a talent hunt involving seventy players. Trials were held to identify the best prospects, and each player was given four matches to prove their ability. Those who performed well were then selected for the final camp.
He said the final ten-day camp, held in Karachi, included support from former cricketers who worked closely with the players to refine their skills. Anwar added that the team travelled with a clear objective: to win the trophy and to win the hearts of cricket fans.
