Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to host a special reception for the country’s Under-19 cricket team after their emphatic victory over India in the final of the recently concluded U19 Asia Cup in Dubai. The triumph has sparked nationwide celebrations, with the junior side earning rare recognition usually reserved for senior teams.
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Upon their return, the U19 players received a rousing welcome at Islamabad airport, complete with official protocol and fanfare. Such receptions are typically extended only to Pakistan’s senior national sides, underlining the significance of the win. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has already hailed the victory as a major milestone for cricket in the country.
Rare spotlight on Pakistan's junior cricket after historic win over India
Junior-level cricket in Pakistan often operates away from the limelight, but the Under-19 team’s victory over arch-rivals India changed that narrative overnight. The celebratory scenes at the airport reflected how deeply the result resonated with fans and officials alike.
Final heroes Sameer Minhas and Ali Raza have emerged as the standout performers of the tournament. Minhas’ sensational 172 in the final and Ali Raza’s four-wicket haul have seen both players hailed as major “finds” for Pakistan cricket.
Naqvi, who also serves as the head of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Interior Affairs, has remained a central figure in cricketing tensions between India and Pakistan since the senior men’s Asia Cup. During the final in September, the Indian team refused to accept the winners’ trophy from Naqvi in Dubai, leaving the silverware at the ACC headquarters — a matter that remains unresolved.
Amid the celebrations, reports suggest that Naqvi has announced cash rewards of PKR 5 million for each member of the U19 squad — an unprecedented gesture in Pakistan cricket, especially at the junior level. The move has further highlighted the importance attached to the landmark victory.
