Shahzaib Khan's Stellar 159 Drives Pakistan to 43-Run Victory Against India in Men’s U19 Asia Cup

Dubai, Nov 30 (NationPress) A stunning 159-run innings by Shahzaib Khan propelled Pakistan to a 43-run victory over India during a Group-A encounter of the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

Shahzaib's remarkable performance spanned 147 balls, featuring five boundaries and ten towering sixes, as he anchored Pakistan's innings to a competitive 281 for seven. The opener from Mansehra formed a significant 160-run partnership with Usman Khan, who made a steady 60 off 94 balls. This collaboration laid the groundwork for Pakistan's strong innings, with Shahzaib adding another crucial 71 runs for the third wicket alongside Muhammad Riazullah, who scored 27.

On the bowling front for India, Samarth Nagaraj led the attack, capturing 3 for 45, while Ayush Mhatre provided support with an economical 2 for 30.

Chasing the target, India's innings faltered early, collapsing to 81 for four within just 15 overs. Ali Raza emerged as the standout bowler, dismantling the top order with impressive figures of 3 for 36 in nine overs. The much-discussed Vaibhav Suryavanshi, at just 13 years old, who was acquired by Rajasthan Royals for Rs 1.10 crore at the 2025 IPL mega auctions, was dismissed for a mere one run. A resilient 67 off 77 balls from Nikhil Kumar offered some resistance, supported by Harvansh Pangalia with 26 and Kiran Chormale with 20. Despite their efforts, India was ultimately bowled out for 238 in 47.1 overs, with Abdul Subhan and Faham-ul-Haq contributing two wickets each.

Shahzaib's outstanding innings earned him the Player of the Match accolade. Pakistan's next challenge will be against the UAE on December 2, where they aim to secure a spot in the semi-finals. Meanwhile, India will take on Japan the same day, hoping to bounce back from their defeat.

Brief Scores:

Pakistan U19 281-7, 50 overs (Shahzaib Khan 159, Usman Khan 60; Samarth Nagaraj 3-45) defeated India U19 238/10, 47.1 overs (Nikhil Kumar 67; Ali Raza 3-36) by 43 runs.