The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially confirmed its 15-member squad for the upcoming Under-19 tri-series in Zimbabwe and the subsequent ICC U19 Men's Cricket World Cup. In a move signalling continuity, the board has retained Farhan Yousaf as the team captain for both crucial tournaments.
Leadership and Squad Composition
Farhan Yousaf will lead the side, with Usman Khan serving as his vice-captain. The squad announcement comes as the current Pakistan U19 side is engaged in the ACC U19 Asia Cup in Dubai, where they are slated to face Bangladesh in a semi-final clash. The team finished second in Group A to reach the knockout stage.
The selection panel has made one key change from the Asia Cup contingent. Right-arm fast bowler Umar Zaib has been brought into the squad, replacing left-arm spinner Mohammad Huzaifa. A significant boost comes in the form of the return of right-arm pacer Ali Raza. Raza, who turned heads as a 15-year-old in the previous U19 World Cup in 2024, is remembered for his stellar spell of 4 for 34 against Australia in the semi-final, where he bagged nine wickets across just three matches.
Complete Squad and Reserves
The full 15-member Pakistan U19 squad is as follows: Farhan Yousaf (Captain), Usman Khan (Vice-Captain), Abdul Subhan, Ahmed Hussain, Ali Hasan Baloch, Ali Raza, Daniyal Ali Khan, Hamza Zahoor, Huzaifa Ahsan, Momin Qamar, Mohammad Sayyam, Mohammad Shayan, Niqab Shafiq, Sameer Minhas, and Umar Zaib.
Additionally, the PCB has named a list of non-traveling reserves who will be on standby. These players are: Abdul Qadir, Farhanullah, Hassan Khan, Ibtisam Azhar, and Mohammad Huzaifa.
Tournament Schedule and Preparation
The preparation for the World Cup will begin with a 50-over tri-series in Zimbabwe, featuring the host nation and Afghanistan. This series is scheduled to run from December 25 to January 6 across various venues in Harare, including Harare Sports Club, Prince Edward, Sunrise Sports Club, and Old Hararians Sports Club.
Following this, the team will head into the ICC U19 Men's Cricket World Cup 2024, which will be jointly hosted by Namibia and Zimbabwe from January 16 to February 6. Pakistan is placed in a group with England, Scotland, and the host Zimbabwe. Their group stage matches are all set to be played at the Takashinga Sports Club in Harare.
Key Fixtures to Watch
Tri-Series Schedule (Selected Pakistan Matches):
- 27 December: Afghanistan vs Pakistan, Harare Sports Club
- 29 December: Zimbabwe vs Pakistan, Prince Edward
- 2 January: Pakistan vs Afghanistan, Sunrise Sports Club
- 4 January: Zimbabwe vs Pakistan, Old Hararians Sports Club
- 6 January: Final, Old Hararians Sports Club
ICC U19 World Cup Group Stage Schedule (Pakistan):
- 16 January: Pakistan vs England, Takashinga Sports Club, Harare
- 19 January: Pakistan vs Scotland, Takashinga Sports Club, Harare
- 22 January: Zimbabwe vs Pakistan, Takashinga Sports Club, Harare
The Super Six stage will follow from January 24 to February 1, with the semi-finals on February 3 and 4. The grand final is scheduled for February 6 at the Harare Sports Club.
This announcement sets the stage for an exciting period of youth cricket. The PCB will hope that the combination of experienced campaigners like Ali Raza and a settled leadership under Farhan Yousaf will propel Pakistan to a strong performance in the World Cup, using the Zimbabwe tri-series as the perfect launchpad.
