Pakistan U19 (230/9) secure thrilling 1-wicket victory over Afghanistan U19 (226) in Match 2 of Zimbabwe ODI Tri-Nation Series

[hassan918]

Pakistan U19 face Afghanistan U19 in the second match of the Under-19 ODI Tri-Series in Zimbabwe, with both teams aiming to gain early momentum. Pakistan will look to their batting depth and pace attack to control the game, while Afghanistan are expected to rely on their fighting spirit and effective spin options. With plenty of young talent on display, it should be a competitive and closely watched contest.

Pakistan U19 Playing XI: Sameer Minhas, Ali Hassan Baloch, Farhan Yousaf(w/c), Ahmed Hussain, Hamza Zahoor, Huzaifa Ahsan, Niqab Shafiq, Daniyal Ali Khan, Mohammad Sayyam, Mohammad Huzaifa, Umar Zaib

Afghanistan U19 Playing XI: Khalid Ahmadzai, Osman Sadat, Faisal Shinozada, Uzairullah Niazai, Mahboob Khan(w/c), Azizullah Miakhil, Abdul Aziz, Nooristani Omarzai, Salam Khan Ahmadzai, Wahidullah Zadran, Zaitullah Shaheen

Pakistan U19 have won the toss and have opted to field



Image Credit: Zimbabwe Cricket

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[hassan918]

Pakistan U19 82/2 at the end of 15 overs.

 

[Muhammad Saad]

It's not live I think.

 

[Omer2002]

Afgans are batting not pak

 

[Omer2002]

It's not live I think.

Yes it is on youtube

 

[Muhammad Saad]

Afg batting looks good, our spin attack is useless.

 

[fumaster]

Apart from Minhas, any other up and coming players to keep an eye on?

 

[Ball Blazer]

Early breakthrough for Afg U19 as Sameer Minhas departs for a 2-ball duck...

 

[jamie smith fan]

Apart from Minhas, any other up and coming players to keep an eye on?

Baloch and ahmed hussain

 

[jamie smith fan]

Early breakthrough for Afg U19 as Sameer Minhas departs for a 2-ball duck...

Law of averages comes into play

 

[RidiculousMan]

Law of averages comes into play

That innings was way above his punch. He may not replicate that ever and will probably be judged on that standard from here on.

 

[finalfantasy7]

so Afghan u19's made 227

pakistan u19's are 3-1 at 10 overs

Heres a link to watch it - zimbabwe official cricket YT is showing the game:

 

[Ball Blazer]

Law of averages comes into play

A couple of bad innings won't define him. Sameer is a good prospect for Pakistan. He will rise.

 

[jamie smith fan]

A couple of bad innings won't define him. Sameer is a good prospect for Pakistan. He will rise.

Yeah spot on

 

[Ball Blazer]

3 wkts in hands. seems like a 70/30 match from here onwards. Afg are taking this one

 

[Devadwal]

What happened to next best thing since sliced bread aka Sameer Minhas.

Anda khane ka man tha shayad.

 

[G0rmintAunty]

This is has gone down to the wire thanks to Hamza Zahoor. Pak need 5 from 6 balls.

 

[finalfantasy7]

Won by 1 wicket

 

[hur rizvi]

Close match. Pakistan win

 

[Babeikh]

Pak win. commiserations to the Afghans and Indians who were supporting them.

 

[G0rmintAunty]

Lotta grit shown by the middle lower order today. Pleasing to see.

 

[G0rmintAunty]

Every one was saying this Zahoor sucks at batting but is a very good keeper. Well now it seems like he has become good in both aspects.

 

[Usman Chadda]

Every one was saying this Zahoor sucks at batting but is a very good keeper. Well now it seems like he has become good in both aspects.

@Muhammad Saad keeps hyping this mediocre tuk tuk Ali Baloch and keeps bashing Hamza Zahoor, who has been much better than Baloch.

Talent scouting gone wrong here I guess.

 

[KingOfPakBreakfast]

@Muhammad Saad keeps hyping this mediocre tuk tuk Ali Baloch and keeps bashing Hamza Zahoor, who has been much better than Baloch.

Talent scouting gone wrong here I guess.

The domestic stats from the u19 tournament (the same tournament that Saim and Maaz came through) back his opinion on Ali Baloch. But this is another level, and remember, development of individual players is never linear.

 

[hur rizvi]

Hamza Zahoor seems like a decent wk prospect

 

[Usman Chadda]

The domestic stats from the u19 tournament (the same tournament that Saim and Maaz came through) back his opinion on Ali Baloch. But this is another level, and remember, development of individual players is never linear.

True, which is why bashing an under-19 kid is unfair.

What little I saw of Hamza Zahoor’s cameo against India, he is definitely not awful nor mediocre.

 

[KingOfPakBreakfast]

Exactly, plus these are exactly the type of match situations that will help their development, more than a thumping win ever could.

I do think we need to see some positive signs from Baloch though. It’s been five innings where he’s gotten bogged down and then lost his wicket. When there is such a big difference between his domestic and international performances, the problem seems to be a confidence/mental gap. This tri-series is exactly the platform where he can snap out of it, however he’s the one who needs to address it head on.

 

[Ball Blazer]

Hamza Zahoor’s unbeaten half-century guides Pakistan U19 to thrilling one-wicket win

Harare, 27 December 2025: Hamza Zahoor’s unbeaten half-century helped Pakistan U19 register a thrilling one-wicket win over Afghanistan U19 in the tri-series match at Harare Sports Club in Zimbabwe on Saturday.

Chasing 227 to win, Pakistan U19 reached 230 for nine with three balls to spare, courtesy a match-winning knock of 68 not out from 51 balls by Hamza, who held his nerve in a tense finish.

Earlier, after being put in to bat, Afghanistan U19 posted 226 all out in their allotted 50 overs. Osman Sadat top-scored for Afghanistan with a patient 75 off 106 balls, which included four fours and a six while Mahboob Khan contributed 49.

For Pakistan, Usman Khan led from the front with the ball, grabbing four wickets for 37 runs, while Mohammad Sayyam and Daniyal Ali Khan bagged two wickets apiece to restrict Afghanistan to a manageable total.

Pakistan’s chase got off to a shaky start as they lost early wickets. Captain Farhan Yousaf anchored the innings with a solid 65 off 78 balls, striking six fours and two sixes, before falling in the 31st over with the score on 131.

With wickets tumbling at regular intervals, the responsibility fell on Hamza, who counter-attacked with confidence and maturity and struck eight fours and one six in the process. He found support from Daniyal Ali Khan (8, 13b, 1x4) and Sayyam (7, 21b) in brief stands, but Pakistan were left nine wickets down at 201.

Right-handed batter Hamza then added a crucial unbroken 29-run partnership for the last wicket with Niqab Shafiq, who scored one not out to steer Pakistan home in a thrilling finish and seal a memorable one-wicket win.

Pakistan U19 will now take on hosts Zimbabwe in the third fixture of the tri-series on Monday at the Prince Edwards School in Harare.

Scores in brief:

Pakistan beat Afghanistan by one wicket

Afghanistan 226 all out, 50 overs (Osman Sadat 75, Mahboob Khan 49; Usman Khan 4-37, Mohammad Sayyam 2-41, Daniyal Ali Khan 2-47)

Pakistan 230-9, 49.3 overs (Hamza Zahoor 68 not out, Farhan Yousaf 65, Ahmed Hussain 31; Salam Khan 4-44, Zaitullah Shaheen 2-52)

Player of the match – Usman Khan (Pakistan U19)

 

[Fenrir]

What happened to next best thing since sliced bread aka Sameer Minhas.

Anda khane ka man tha shayad.

Are you expecting him to score a century in every match?.It doesn’t happen in cricket.He looks a good player but it is too early to judge him.He got a lot of praise because he made a big score against India.Matches between India and Pakistan are all about handling pressure.In the past many Pakistan teams were strong on paper especially in bowling but they lost to India because they couldn’t handle the pressure.Indian trundler as used to get Pakistan out in many ICC tournaments.

 

[shamaan]

Any highlights ?

 

[shamaan]

Pakistan beat Afghanistan with 2nd string xi.

 

[Muhammad Saad]

@Muhammad Saad keeps hyping this mediocre tuk tuk Ali Baloch and keeps bashing Hamza Zahoor, who has been much better than Baloch.

Talent scouting gone wrong here I guess.

Well I have seen Ali bashing Faheem ashraf and FC bowlers under lights when the ball was swinging to all parts of the ground but it seems Ali is just a mental midget and lack confidence big time.

After seeing Hamza and Farhan bat little bit against India I did say that these two guys have some potential.