Pakistan U19 beat India U19 by three wickets in the biggest match of the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup 2026 group stage, chasing down 209 with 11 balls to spare at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Oman on Sunday, 8 November 2026.
Wicketkeeper-batter Hamza Zahoor was the hero of a famous chase, finishing unbeaten on 100 off 108 balls after Pakistan had slumped to 61 for five. His century — the second of the match — took the defending champions to the top of Group A with four points from two matches, and left India needing a win in their final group game to be sure of a semi-final place.
Match Summary
| Match | India U19 vs Pakistan U19, 8th Match, Group A, ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup 2026 |
| Venue | Al Amerat Cricket Ground, Al Amerat, Oman |
| Date | Sunday, 8 November 2026 |
| Start time | 10:30 AM IST |
| Toss | India U19 won the toss and elected to bat |
| India U19 | 208 all out in 46.3 overs (Arjun Rajput 107; Ali Raza 3/37, Rizwanullah 3/24, Niqab Shafiq 3/42) |
| Pakistan U19 | 209/7 in 48.1 overs (Hamza Zahoor 100*, Hasnain Abbas Dar 38; Manal Chauhan 3/32) |
| Result | Pakistan U19 won by 3 wickets (with 11 balls remaining) |
| Player of the Match | Hamza Zahoor (100* off 108) |
How the Match Was Won: Zahoor’s Rescue Act After Rajput’s Lone Century
India won the toss and chose to bat first, but the decision backfired within two balls. Fast bowler Ali Raza dismissed captain Lakshya Rajesh Raichandani for a duck off the second delivery of the match, and Pakistan’s new-ball attack kept striking. India were 22 for three, then 42 for four, and the top order was gone before the innings could settle.
Arjun Rajput then played one of the innings of the tournament. Walking in with his side in trouble, the middle-order batter counter-attacked his way to a century off 80 balls and finished with 107 off 85 deliveries, including 11 fours and five sixes. He made 107 of the 148 runs India added while he was at the crease, and when Rizwanullah finally removed him at 170 for seven in the 36th over, the rest of the batting folded quickly. India were bowled out for 208 in 46.3 overs, with Aaryavir Sehwag’s 22 and Kavya Patel’s 23 the only other scores of note. Ali Raza, Rizwanullah and Niqab Shafiq took three wickets each, while Mohammad Sayyam claimed the final wicket.
Pakistan’s chase began just as badly. Usman Khan, who had smashed an unbeaten 139 against the UAE in the opener, fell for 16, and by the 15th over Pakistan were 61 for five with 148 still needed. That was when Hamza Zahoor took control. The wicketkeeper-batter, coming in at number seven, added 107 runs for the sixth wicket with Hasnain Abbas Dar, who made a fighting 38 off 67 balls before falling with 41 still needed. Zahoor kept finding the boundary whenever India tried to squeeze, reached his fifty off 54 balls, and then his century, sealing the win with a boundary to finish unbeaten on 100 off 108 balls, with 10 fours and three sixes. Niqab Shafiq was 2 not out at the other end as Pakistan reached 209 for seven in 48.1 overs.
Key Performances
- Hamza Zahoor (Pakistan) — 100* (108): A match-winning unbeaten century under huge pressure, walking in at 61 for five and carrying the chase home. Player of the Match.
- Arjun Rajput (India) — 107 (85): A lone-hand century with 11 fours and five sixes that dragged India from 22 for three to a competitive total.
- Hasnain Abbas Dar (Pakistan) — 38 (67): The calm partner in the match-turning 107-run sixth-wicket stand with Zahoor.
- Ali Raza (Pakistan) — 3/37: Struck with the second ball of the match to remove the India captain and set the tone.
- Rizwanullah (Pakistan) — 3/24: The most economical of Pakistan’s three-wicket bowlers, and the man who finally removed Rajput.
- Manal Chauhan (India) — 3/32: India’s best bowler, taking three wickets for 32 runs in 10 overs to keep the chase alive.
What It Means for Group A
The win takes Pakistan to the top of Group A with four points from two matches, and a win against Nepal on Tuesday, 10 November, will seal top spot. The defending champions have now won both their group games and look the team to beat, with the semi-finals on 12 November and the final on 14 November.
India, on two points, are still well placed to reach the semi-finals, but their final group match against the UAE on Tuesday is now a must-win in practical terms. A defeat there would leave them relying on net run rate, and this loss has dented the strong net run rate they built with their 10-wicket win over Nepal in the opener. For the other Group A game, see our preview of UAE U19 vs Nepal U19, while Afghanistan’s big win over Malaysia shows how quickly the group tables are taking shape in Group B.
FAQs
Who won India U19 vs Pakistan U19 in the U19 Asia Cup 2026?
Pakistan U19 won by three wickets at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Oman on Sunday, 8 November 2026, chasing down India’s 208 to reach 209 for seven in 48.1 overs.
Who was the Player of the Match?
Hamza Zahoor, for his unbeaten 100 off 108 balls, including 10 fours and three sixes, which carried Pakistan home from 61 for five.
What were the scores in the match?
India U19 scored 208 all out in 46.3 overs, with Arjun Rajput making 107. Pakistan U19 replied with 209 for seven in 48.1 overs, with Hamza Zahoor finishing 100 not out.
Who was the top scorer in the match?
Arjun Rajput of India, with 107 off 85 balls — the top score of the game and more than half of India’s total. Hamza Zahoor’s unbeaten 100 was the match’s second century.
Where was the match played?
At the Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Al Amerat, Oman. India won the toss and chose to bat first.
Who do India and Pakistan play next in the U19 Asia Cup 2026?
Pakistan face Nepal and India face the UAE, both on Tuesday, 10 November 2026. The semi-finals are on 12 November and the final is on 14 November.
Conclusion
This was the match the tournament had been building towards, and it delivered a classic. Arjun Rajput’s century looked like it might be the defining innings of the game, but Hamza Zahoor’s unbeaten hundred — made with his team five down and 148 still needed — was the greater knock, and it took defending champions Pakistan to the top of Group A. For the match preview, see our India U19 vs Pakistan U19 preview.
For India, the defeat is a setback but not a disaster: a win over the UAE on Tuesday should still take them through. For Pakistan, it is a statement. They have beaten their biggest rivals, they have a match-winner in Zahoor to go with Usman Khan’s form, and their title defence is gathering real momentum.
For the full live scorecard and ball-by-ball details, see the match on Cricbuzz.
