By Shakeel Ur Rehman, Peshawar
Pakistan’s 15-member Under-19 cricket squad arrived in Oman after departing from Karachi on Thursday morning to participate in the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup 2026. Led by captain Farhan Yousaf, the defending champions will aim to retain their title in the tournament scheduled to be held from 5 to 14 November.
The squad includes promising opening batter Usman Khan and 12 other players from the Pakistan U19 team that defeated England 3-1 in a four-match Youth ODI series in September.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has named the following 15 players for the continental tournament: Farhan Yousaf (captain), Abdul Qadir (wicketkeeper), Abdul Subhan, Ahmed Hussain, Ali Raza, Hamza Zahoor (wicketkeeper), Hasnain Abbas Dar, Haim Khan, Huzifa Ahsan, Jahangir Bilal, Muhammad Huzaifa, Muhammad Siam, Naqab Shafiq, Rizwanullah and Usman Khan.
Eight teams will compete for the title in the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup. Pakistan have been placed in Group A alongside arch-rivals India, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Nepal. Group B comprises Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Malaysia.
Thirteen Players from England Series-Winning Squad Included
Pakistan’s U19 team demonstrated its potential by defeating England 3-1 in the four-match Youth ODI series in September. Of the 15 players selected for the Asia Cup, only Ali Raza and Huzifa Ahsan were not part of the squad that won the series against England.
Young opener Usman Khan is expected to play an important role in strengthening Pakistan’s batting line-up. He impressed during the England tour with his outstanding performances, while captain Farhan Yousaf and the other talented batters will also be looking to make valuable contributions during the tournament.
Pakistan Aim to Defend Title After Historic Victory over India
Pakistan enter the tournament as defending champions following their emphatic triumph in the previous edition of the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup, held in the United Arab Emirates.
In the final, Pakistan defeated arch-rivals India by a massive 191-run margin to lift the trophy. The young Pakistan side will now be determined to reproduce that performance and retain its continental crown.
However, the presence of several strong teams means Pakistan will need consistent performances in all departments to successfully defend their title.
Pakistan’s Match Schedule
Pakistan will begin their campaign against the UAE on 6 November. They will face India on 8 November before playing their final Group A match against Nepal on 10 November.
All three matches are scheduled to begin at 10am Pakistan Standard Time.
The semi-finals will be played on 12 November, while the tournament final is scheduled for 14 November.
Team Management
The Pakistan U19 team management comprises Shahid Anwar as head coach and team manager, Rao Iftikhar Anjum as fast-bowling coach, Zohaib Khan as spin-bowling coach, Humayun Farhat as fielding coach, Ubaidullah as physiotherapist, Abrar Ahmed as trainer and Ali Hamza as performance analyst.
With a strong core of players from the England series-winning side and the confidence of their previous Asia Cup triumph, Pakistan will be aiming to deliver another impressive performance and bring home the continental title once again.
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