The final of the U19 Asia Cup 2025 in Dubai unfolded as a completely one-sided affair, with Pakistan asserting total dominance over India. After being asked to bat first, Pakistan posted an imposing total of 347 for 8, a score that immediately put India under immense pressure.
The highlight of Pakistan’s innings was an extraordinary knock from Sameer Minhas, who played with composure and aggression to register a magnificent 172 off 113 deliveries. His innings not only anchored the team’s effort but also went down as the highest individual score ever recorded by a Pakistani batter in Youth ODIs. From the very first innings, it was clear that Pakistan had seized control of the contest.
Pakistan Bowlers Dismantle India’s Batting Line-up
Chasing a daunting target, India’s batting struggled to find any rhythm against Pakistan’s disciplined and fiery pace attack. The trio of Ali Raza, Mohammad Sayyam, and Abdul Subhan proved too hot to handle, sharing eight wickets among themselves. Their consistent line and length exposed the Indian batters’ vulnerabilities, triggering a rapid collapse.
India was eventually bundled out for just 156 runs, suffering a crushing defeat by 191 runs. As the wickets kept falling, cameras captured a visibly delighted Mohsin Naqvi in the stands, smiling as Pakistan tightened its grip on the final. The moment summed up how comprehensively Pakistan had outplayed their traditional rivals on the big stage.
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Naqvi’s Presence And Recent Asia Cup Controversies
Following the conclusion of the match, Naqvi joined the victorious Pakistan players for a celebratory lap around the ground, acknowledging fans gathered near the boundary. As chairman of the Asian Cricket Council, as well as chief of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Naqvi was scheduled to present the trophy, adding further significance to his presence at the final. His appearance also revived memories of a recent controversy from September, when India defeated Pakistan in the senior men’s Asia Cup final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Due to geopolitical sensitivities, India chose not to accept the trophy from Naqvi, resulting in the silverware being kept at the ACC headquarters. More recently, however, Naqvi was seen freely celebrating in November 2025 during the Rising Stars Asia Cup in Doha, where he successfully presented the trophy to Pakistan Shaheens after their dramatic Super Over win against Bangladesh A, underlining contrasting moments in his recent cricketing engagements.
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