ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Under-19 cricket captain Farhan Yousaf said his side will “fight hard” in the Asia Cup final against India in Dubai today, Sunday, as the two traditional rivals prepare to meet again after respective semifinal victories.
Pakistan reached the final with an emphatic eight-wicket win over Bangladesh on Friday, chasing down 122 inside 17 overs, while India booked their place by beating Sri Lanka by the same number of wickets in a rain-affected match at the ICC Academy Ground.
“This is a big game, the final,” Yousaf said in a video clip on Saturday. “We will go out to play good cricket, fight hard and give our 100 percent. The result is in God’s hands.”
The final will be the second meeting between the two sides in the tournament. In an earlier group-stage encounter, India defeated Pakistan by 90 runs after batting first and posting 240.
The Pakistan skipper expressed hope, however, his squad would “make history” this time.
“Our preparation has been very good and the boys’ morale is high,” he said, adding that skill development camps and strong mentoring had helped his team’s confidence.
He also maintained his team was playing as a unit, with collective performance driving results.
“Bangladesh were a very good opponent,” he said. “We really enjoyed playing against them.”
Yousaf said the confidence gained from Pakistan’s last match would be carried into the final.
The U19 Asia Cup is a key event for emerging talent in the region.
The final between Pakistan and India carries added weight given the heated rivalry and the opportunity for young players to stake claims for future national selection.
