The journey for cricketing glory begins anew as Pakistan's Under-19 team, the reigning Asian champions, step onto the field today, Friday, to commence their campaign in the ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup 2026. Their first challenge comes against England at the Takashinga Sports Club in Harare, Zimbabwe, setting the stage for what promises to be a thrilling tournament for one of its most successful sides.
A Confident Squad with Recent Silverware
The young Shaheens enter this global 16-team event riding a massive wave of confidence, built on a foundation of recent dominant performances. Their preparation was crowned by a spectacular victory in the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup in Dubai, where they decimated arch-rivals India by a whopping 191 runs in the final. This triumph was swiftly followed by clinching the U19 tri-series in Zimbabwe, sealing it with a comprehensive nine-wicket win over the host nation.
This rich vein of form is a significant boost as Pakistan, a two-time champion having won the titles in 2004 and 2006, sets its sights on reclaiming past glory and adding a long-awaited third ICC U19 World Cup trophy to its cabinet. The tournament is being jointly hosted by Namibia and Zimbabwe from January 15 to February 6.
Roadmap Through the Tournament
Placed in Group C, Pakistan's group-stage itinerary is set. After the opener against England on January 16, they will face Scotland on January 19 before taking on hosts Zimbabwe in their final league match on January 22. All these group matches will be played at the Takashinga Sports Club in Harare.
The top teams from the group stage will progress to the Super Six round, scheduled from January 24 to February 1 in Bulawayo and Harare. The top four from this phase will then advance to the semifinals on February 3 and 4, with the grand finale set for Friday, February 6, at the iconic Harare Sports Club.
Preparation and Leadership
In the lead-up to the marquee event, the Pakistan U19 squad underwent extensive preparation, including structured training and warm-up matches to fine-tune strategies and adapt to local conditions. Their preparations saw a strong statement in a warm-up game where they defeated the United States by 69 runs.
The 15-member squad is led by captain Farhan Yousaf, who has grown into a composed leader over the past six months. Interestingly, the team boasts only one player with prior World Cup experience: right-arm fast bowler Ali Raza, who took nine wickets in the 2024 edition where Pakistan suffered a heartbreaking one-wicket semifinal loss to Australia.
Speaking about the team's readiness, Captain Farhan Yousaf expressed strong satisfaction. "The U19 camp in Multan laid a strong foundation for our success in the Asia Cup and the tri-series," he stated. "We are well-prepared for the World Cup. The players share a strong bond because we have been together for a long period. The tri-series and the warm-up match really helped us understand the conditions here, and we feel ready to perform at our best."
The nation's eyes are now fixed on Harare as these young stars embark on their quest to bring the world cup back home.
Pakistan's 15-Member Squad: Farhan Yousaf (captain), Usman Khan (vc), Abdul Subhan, Ahmed Hussain, Ali Hasan Baloch, Ali Raza, Daniyal Ali Khan, Hamza Zahoor (wk), Huzaifa Ahsan, Momin Qamar, M Sayyam, Mohammad Shayan (wk), Niqab Shafiq, Sameer Minhas, Umar Zaib.
Pakistan's Group C Fixtures:
- Jan 16 – Pakistan vs England
- Jan 19 – Pakistan vs Scotland
- Jan 22 – Pakistan vs Zimbabwe
