DUBAI, UAE: Pakistan’s bowlers Mohammad Sayyam and Abdul Subhan played key roles in reducing India to a modest total in their ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup 2025 match at the ICC Academy on Sunday.
The match, which was reduced to 49 overs per side due to rain, saw Pakistan captain Farhan Yousaf’s decision to field first pay off as India, who had posted a massive total in their opening game against the UAE, struggled to reach 240 before being bowled out in 46.1 overs.
India got off to a shaky start with Sayyam dismissing their star performer from the previous match, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, in the fourth over. Despite this early blow, a strong partnership of 49 runs between India captain Ayush Mhatre and Aaron George seemed to stabilise their innings.
However, Sayyam broke the partnership by dismissing Mhatre, who was looking in good touch with a quick-fire 38. India’s collapse continued as two more wickets fell in quick succession, with Niqab Shafiq removing Vihaan Malhotra and Vedant Trivedi cheaply, reducing India to 113/4 by the 20th over.
Highest scorer for India
George, who remained the highest scorer for India with 85 runs off 88 balls, then formed a crucial 60-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Abhigyan Kundu. Both were dismissed by Abdul Subhan, and Kundu contributed 22 runs off 32 balls.
Kanishk Chouhan attempted to hold the innings together with a patient 46 off 46 balls, but he fell to Ahmed Hussain, leaving the Indian tail exposed.
Pakistan’s bowlers then wrapped up the innings efficiently, with Sayyam and Subhan claiming three wickets each, while Niqab, Ali Raza, and Ahmed Hussain took a wicket each.
