Can India Continue Its Dominance Over Pakistan in the U19 Asia Cup Final?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- India seeks to maintain its U19 Asia Cup title streak.
- Pakistan aims to prove its mettle in high-pressure situations.
- Both teams are well-prepared with strong batting and bowling lineups.
- The match promises to be an intense showdown.
- Watch live on Sony channels and streaming services.
Dubai, Dec 20 (NationPress) Just a week after the previous encounter, India and Pakistan are poised to clash again in the U19 Asia Cup final at the ICC Academy Ground this Sunday. In their last face-off, India triumphed by 90 runs, and the tension from that match, where both teams opted out of a handshake, is likely to carry into the final.
For India, who have clinched the U19 Asia Cup title eight times, this match provides a valuable opportunity to hone their skills under pressure ahead of the upcoming Under-19 World Cup next month. Meanwhile, Pakistan will see this as a critical test of their resilience before the major tournament in Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Despite inconsistent performances from players like Mhatre and Vaibhav Suryavanshi, India can take comfort in the strong contributions from batters Aaron George, Vihaan Malhotra, Vedant Trivedi, and Abhigyan Kundu. Their batting prowess is well-supported by pacers Kishan Singh and Deepesh Devendran, alongside spinners Khilan Patel and Kanishk Chouhan.
On the other hand, Pakistan will depend on Sameer Minhas, the team's top scorer with 299 runs across four matches, which includes a century and a half-century. In terms of bowling, right-arm pacer Abdul Subhan stands out with 11 wickets in three matches, while left-arm fast bowler Mohammad Sayyam has taken eight wickets to date.
With both teams showcasing immense talent, a low-scoring match is not out of the question, particularly with favorable weather conditions. The outcome may depend on which batting unit can better handle the pressure in a final that is bound to deliver its share of excitement.
When: Sunday, December 21, 10:30 AM IST
Where: ICC Academy Ground, Dubai
Where to watch: Sony Sports Ten 1, Ten 3, and Ten 4 SD & HD channels on TV and SonyLIV for live streaming
Squads
India: Ayush Mhatre (C), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Vihaan Malhotra (vc), Vedant Trivedi, Abhigyan Kundu (wk), Harvansh Singh (wk), Yuvraj Gohil, Kanishk Chouhan, Khilan A. Patel, Naman Pushpak, D. Deepesh, Henil Patel, Kishan Kumar Singh, Udhav Mohan, and Aaron George.
Pakistan: Farhan Yousaf (captain), Usman Khan (vice-captain), Abdul Subhan, Ahmed Hussain, Ali Hassan Baloch, Ali Raza, Daniyal Ali Khan, Hamza Zahoor (wk), Huzaifa Ahsan, Momin Qamar, Mohammad Huzaifa, Mohammad Sayyam, Mohammad Shayan (wk), Niqab Shafiq, and Sameer Minhas.