ISLAMABAD: Enthusiastic fans of cricket gave a hero’s welcome to the Pakistan Under-19 cricket team, which returned to Islamabad after the Asia Cup victory. At Islamabad Airport a huge crowd was present to receive the young champions and the whole area was filled with drummers, bhangra performances, and calls of “Pakistan Zindabad” which made the atmosphere more vibrant.
The U19 team had a great time winning the Asian Cup final against India by a whopping 91 runs and thus clinched the trophy. The whole team got a hero’s welcome and a city tour was organized for them on double-decker buses that were specially arranged from the airport; it was indeed a great opportunity for the fans to be a part of the victory celebration.
The noise at the airport was mainly caused by the crowd who were the players’ warmest reception by screaming, waving flags, taking pictures, and even sharing a part of their joyful moments with others as a token of their gratitude. A lot of people said that they considered the young team their pride and their victory not only raised the morale of the whole nation but also provided encouragement for the future cricket players.
It is an incredible achievement for Pakistan’s U19 cricket team which has not only brought happiness to the players but to the entire country thus, the world map has become clearer in terms of Pakistan’s youth talent.
It is a great victory for Pakistan’s U19 cricket team, which has not only given the players joy but also the whole country, thus making Pakistan’s youth talent more visible on the world map.
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A star is born: Sameer Minhas rewrites history in U19 Asia Cup
Sameer Minhas of the Pakistan Under-19 team made his mark in the records by taking over the 13-year-old record of former Pakistan opener Sami Aslam during the Asia Cup for the Under-19.
Pakistan, in the final held in Dubai, thrice defeated their old rivals India, huge difference being 191 runs and the credit for making such a big margin by the performance of Sameer Minhas.
Sameer opened the batting, scoring a mesmerising 172 runs off just 113 balls with the aid of 17 fours and 9 sixes, which was total evenness and control of the Indian bowlers. Sameer Minhas’s exceptional performance has not only made a mark in the record books but also, to a great extent, laid the foundation for Pakistan’s success.
During the event, Sameer Minhas scored a total of 471 runs, breaking the former record of 461 runs held by Sami Aslam in the 2012 Under-19 Asia Cup and standing as the tournament’s number one scorer. In addition, Sameer’s remarkable all-round performance secured him the Player of the Tournament award.
Moreover, the explosive innings of 172 runs played by Sameer is not only the highest individual score ever achieved by a Pakistani batsman in Youth One-Day Internationals but also the highest individual score in the Under-19 match between India and Pakistan at the Pakistan end.
With this emphatic victory in the final, Pakistan was crowned the Under-19 Asia Cup champion, Sameer Minhas being the tournament’s brightest star and the future of Pakistan cricket being a bit more certain.
