Pakistan announce squad for U19 Asia Cup title defence

The Pakistan Cricket Board has named a 15-player national squad for the ACC Men’s Under-19 Asia Cup 2026, scheduled to run from November 5 to 14 in Oman. Farhan Yousuf will captain the defending champions as they seek to retain the continental title won in the United Arab Emirates last year.

Pakistan have been placed in Group A alongside India, Nepal and hosts the United Arab Emirates. Group B contains Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Malaysia, with the leading teams advancing to the knockout stage of the eight-nation competition.

The squad includes wicketkeeper-batters Abdul Qadir and Hamza Zahoor, while Usman Khan, Hayam Khan, Jahangir Bilal and Huzaifa Ahsan strengthen the batting department. Ahmed Hussain and Hasnain Abbas Dar have been selected as all-rounders, giving the team additional flexibility across different match situations.

Pakistan’s pace attack features Abdul Subhan, Mohammad Seyam, Ali Raza and Rizwanullah. Mohammad Huzaifa, a left-arm wrist-spinner, and left-arm orthodox bowler Niqab Shafiq provide the frontline slow-bowling options for conditions expected to reward variation and disciplined control.

Most of the selected players recently represented Pakistan during their four-match Youth ODI series in England, which the tourists won 3-1. Ali Raza and Huzaifa Ahsan are the only members of the Asia Cup group who were not part of that successful white-ball squad, allowing the management to preserve continuity while introducing limited changes.

Pakistan enter the tournament as defending champions after defeating India by 191 runs in the previous final at the ICC Academy Ground in Dubai. That emphatic victory delivered Pakistan their second Under-19 Asia Cup title and established Farhan’s group as one of the leading youth sides in the region.

The title defence will begin against the UAE on November 6 before Pakistan face India in the tournament’s most anticipated group fixture on November 8. Their final group match will be against Nepal on November 10, followed by the semi-finals on November 12 and the championship match two days later.

The India encounter is expected to provide an early measure of Pakistan’s prospects, but results against the UAE and Nepal will be equally important in determining qualification. The compact schedule will also test the squad’s fitness, bowling depth and ability to adapt quickly between matches.

The competition offers Pakistan’s emerging players another opportunity to gain international experience before progressing toward senior domestic and national pathways. Performances in Oman will be closely watched as selectors assess which young cricketers can sustain their development beyond age-group competition.

Pakistan will now focus on final preparations, tactical combinations and adapting to Omani conditions before the opening match. Retaining the trophy would reinforce the strength of the country’s youth programme, while another deep tournament run could identify players capable of becoming future senior internationals.