Afghanistan crush Pakistan to win Asia Cup U-19 title
By our correspondents
November 20, 2017
KARACHI: The Kinrara Academy Oval, Kuala Lumpur, turned out to be a graveyard for Pakistan Under-19s on Sunday when they were routed by Afghanistan Under-19s by 185 runs in the final of Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Under-19 Asia Cup. The heroes of Afghanistan’s huge victory were Ikram Faizi and off-spinner Mujeeb Zadran who did remarkable jobs in their respective departments to demolish the Green-shirts. Ikram smashed 107 not out to enable Afghanistan to post 248-7 in the stipulated 50 overs.Mujeeb, a 16-year-old off-spinner, then took 5-13 in 7.1 overs to dismiss Pakistan for only 63 in 22.1 overs. After being invited to bat by Pakistan’s skipper Hasan Khan, Afghanistan had a calm but solid start as their openers Rehman Gul (40) and Ibrahim Zadran (36) put on 61 runs on a wicket which had ample assistance for spinners. Gul hit five fours and one six from 53 balls while Zadran smashed one six and one four from 76 deliveries. No3 batsman Faizi took time at the crease, but having once settled took his side to a decent total, facing the Pakistani bowlers with great maturity. Faizi added 69 runs for the third wicket with Darwish Rasool, who belted 24-ball 18 with one four.Faizi then dominated the 50-run sixth wicket stand with Qais Ahmad, who chipped in with 13-ball 14 with one four. Left-hander Faizi smashed ten fours and two sixes. Mohammad Musa was the pick of the bowlers with 3-46 in ten overs.Shaheen Shah Afridi got 2-42.In response, Pakistani batsmen failed to resist and were skittled out for only 63. Mohammad Taha scored 38-ball 19 with one four. Hasan Khan made a-run-a-ball ten with one hit to the fence.No other batsman managed double figures.Mujeeb was ably backed by Qais Ahmad Kamawal, who returned with figures of 3-18 in six overs.Faizi was declared man of the match. Mujeeb was given the man of the tournament award.Qazi Ashraful Afsar Sohel of Bangladesh and Ntin Narendra Menon of India supervised the match. Pakistan U19s won toss Afghanistan U19s Rahman Gul c Arif b Musa 40 Ibrahim Zadran c Arif b Taha 36 †Ikram Faizi not out 107 Darwish Rasooli c Omair b Musa 18 Nisar Wahdat c Shaheen b Musa 7 Tariq Stanikzai c Taha b Hasan 5 Qais Ahmad c Rohail b Shaheen 14 *Naveed Obaid c Rohail b Shaheen 2 Abdul Wasi not out 1 Extras (lb 3, nb 4, w 11) 18 Total (7 wickets; 50 Overs) 248 Did not bat: Wafadar, Mujeeb Fall: 1-61, 2-91, 3-160, 4-182, 5-194, 6-244, 7-247 Bowling: Munir 9-1-58-0; Shaheen 10-1-42-2; Musa 10-2-46-3; Hasan 10-0-36-1; Suleman 6-0-40-0; Taha 5-0-23-1 Pakistan U19s M Arif lbw b Mujeeb 4 Omair Yousuf b Mujeeb 0 Abdullah Shafique c Mujeeb b Wafadar 8 M Taha c Nisar b Qais 19 †Rohail Nazir lbw b Qais 7 Saad Khan b Mujeeb 7 *Hasan Khan run out 10 Suleman Shafqat b Mujeeb 0 Shaheen Shah Afridi lbw b Mujeeb 3 M Musa st Ikram b Qais Ahmad 0 Munir Riaz not out 0 Extras (lb 1, w 4) 5 Total (all-out; 22.1 Overs) 63 Fall: 1-5, 2-11, 3-23, 4-32, 5-42, 6-55, 7-55, 8-61, 9-62, 10-63 Bowling: Naveed 5-1-14-0; Mujeeb 7.1-2-13-5; Wafadar 4-0-17-1; Qais 6-1-18-3 Result: Afghanistan U19s won by 185 runs Series: Afghanistan U19s won the 2017/18 Asian Cricket Council U19s Asia Cup Youth ODI debut: Abdul Wasi (Afghanistan) Man of the Match: Ikram Faizi (Afghanistan) Man of the Series: Mujeeb Zadran (Afghanistan) Umpires: G Sohel (Bangladesh) and N Menon (India). TV Umpires: D Gunawardene (Sri Lanka). Match Referee: M Nayyar (India)