ISLAMABAD, Dec 22 (APP): The Pakistan Under-19 cricket team’s Asia Cup triumph was driven by a fearless brand of cricket and strong team unity, head coach Shahid Anwar said on Monday.
Addressing a press conference at a local hotel alongside team mentor Sarfaraz Ahmed, captain Farhan Yousaf and players Sameer Minhas and Abdul Subhan, Anwar reflected on the team’s preparation and journey to the title.
Pakistan, led by Farhan Yousaf, defeated arch-rivals India in the final on Sunday with a commanding performance.
Anwar said the team’s campaign began on June 17, 2025, when an initial pool of 70 players was selected. “Each player was given four matches to prove himself. After this phase, they returned to their respective regions. From the outset, our focus was on unity, faith and discipline,” he said.
He added that the management emphasized collective responsibility and a clear objective. “We decided to work as one unit. We didn’t just plan to win matches, we planned to win the trophy. The boys were encouraged to play fearless cricket, not careless cricket, and the results are there for everyone to see.”
He said the management took responsibility for any potential setbacks, allowing players to perform freely. “The players were told that defeat would be the management’s responsibility, while victory would belong to them. Full support was provided at all times, and no player’s morale was allowed to drop,” he said.
Team mentor Sarfaraz Ahmed said the squad was later received by the Prime Minister, who announced a cash reward of Rs10 million for each player. “We hope this team continues to win trophies and bring pride to the country,” he said, expressing confidence in the players’ future.
Sarfaraz described the Asia Cup success as the outcome of a complete and structured process. “The credit goes entirely to the players. The coaches worked tirelessly with the boys, and the Pakistan Cricket Board remains fully focused on junior cricket,” he said.
He also criticized India’s on-field conduct during the final, calling it inappropriate. “Cricket demands sportsmanship. We celebrated our victory with respect. Whatever India did was their own action, but ethical behavior should always be upheld,” he said.
Batter Sameer Minhas said Pakistan adopted an aggressive approach against India. “I planned to play a solid innings. There was no pressure in any match against India; my focus was only on playing my best cricket,” he said.
Captain Farhan Yousaf said the team entered the final with a clear and confident mindset. “This victory belongs to us as a team. We played aggressive cricket, and no one’s morale was low. Our objective was clear—we wanted to win the final,” he said.
Farhan added that the team’s focus has now shifted to the ICC Under-19 World Cup, with preparations set to begin in the coming weeks.