Pakistan Secures Second Win In U19 World Cup Against Nepal

Pakistan clinched their second triumph in the ICC U19 World Cup in East London, South Africa, as they overcame Nepal by five wickets. After restricting Nepal to 197 runs, Pakistan achieved the target in the 48th over, losing five wickets in the process.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Bipin Rawal made a notable contribution for Nepal, scoring 39 runs, while skipper Dev Khanal (23), Deepak Dumre (26), and Subash Bhandari (20) added to the team’s total. Pakistan’s Arafat Manhas, the left-arm spinner, secured three wickets, with Ubaid Shah and medium-pacer Ahmad Hassan each claiming two.

Read more: Pakistan Announces U19 Cricket World Cup 2024 Squad

In the chase, Pakistan’s openers Shamyl Hussain and Shahzaib Khan both posted 37 runs. The standout performance came from Azan Awais, remaining unbeaten with 63 runs. Ahmad Hassan (29) and Haroon Arshad (15*) played crucial roles, guiding Pakistan to their second victory.

In their previous match on January 21, Pakistan defeated Afghanistan by 181 runs. Shahzaib Khan’s impressive century (106 runs) played a pivotal role in the team’s total of 284/9. Captain Saad Baig also contributed significantly with 55 runs. The bowlers maintained the pressure, with Ubaid Shah securing 4 wickets, and Amir Hassan, Mohammad Zeeshan, and Ahmed Hussain contributing to a strong bowling effort.

Pakistan’s upcoming fixture is against New Zealand on January 27 in East London.

The squad includes Saad Baig (captain and wicketkeeper), Ali Asfand (vice-captain), Ali Raza, Ahmad Hassan, Amir Hassan, Arafat Minhas, Azan Awais, Haroon Arshad, Khubaib Khalil, Mohammad Zeeshan, Naveed Ahmed Khan, Shahzaib Khan, Shamyl Hussain, Muhammad Riazullah, and Ubaid Shah.