India recovered from 252-8 to beat Pakistan by one wicket in the Under-19 Asia Cup final, Al Jazeera reported. The match was played on Saturday at the Oman Academy Cricket Ground in Al Amerat, on the outskirts of Muscat. Mohit Ulva hit a boundary off the final ball with India needing three runs.
Pakistan won the toss, chose to bat and posted 337-9 in their 50 overs. Opener Usman Khan led the way with 107 off 111 balls. Abdul Qadir added 80 and captain Farhan Yousaf made 63. India's openers gave the chase a strong start. Captain Lakshya Raichandani scored 80 off 101 balls. Aaryavir Sehwag, son of India great Virender Sehwag, made 58 off 61 with nine fours.
India then slid to 252-8 in the 42nd over. Manal Chauhan and Ulva rescued the chase with a 57-run stand for the ninth wicket. Chauhan made 47 off 32 balls, and Ulva finished unbeaten on 49 off 26. The title extends India's record to nine at Under-19 level and is their first since 2021. Sehwag was named player of the tournament after topping the run charts with 361 runs in five innings.
Ulva said the tournament had not gone well for him, but he believed he could deliver. He said he needed Chauhan's support and knew it was his day. He added that the team kept telling themselves that on a flat wicket, if Pakistan could score that many, India could too.
The celebrations then turned ugly, according to Al Jazeera. One Indian player yelled and gestured angrily in the face of Pakistan wicketkeeper Hamza Zahoor, who did not respond. Others kicked their legs towards the Pakistan dressing room as team management tried to hold them back. Former cricketers and Indian fans criticised the conduct on social media.
Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf wrote on X that players represent their upbringing and values, not just their country. He urged them to stay respectful and composed in victory or defeat. One Indian fan wrote on X: "It's a cricket match, not a war." Al Jazeera said former Indian cricketers and leaders praised the win but did not condemn the behaviour.
Both teams skipped the customary handshake. Refusing handshakes has become a recurring feature of India-Pakistan matches over the past year, as political tensions spilled onto the pitch. Indian teams have also twice refused to accept Asia Cup trophies from Asian Cricket Council President Mohsin Naqvi, who is also Pakistan's interior minister.