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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially announced Farhan Yousuf as the captain of Pakistan’s U19 team for the upcoming ACC U19 Asia Cup, with the talented Usman Khan appointed as his deputy. The tournament, featuring eight teams in the 50-over format, will be played in Dubai from December 12 to 21, marking a crucial preparation stretch for Pakistan ahead of the 2026 ICC U19 World Cup.
Pakistan have been placed in Group ‘A’, where they will face arch-rivals India, along with Qualifier 1 and Qualifier 3. Group ‘B’ features Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Qualifier 2, setting up a competitive environment as the continent’s rising stars battle for regional supremacy.
The PCB highlighted that this tournament will serve as a vital platform for the young Pakistani side to hone their skills before the ICC U19 World Cup scheduled to be co-hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia from January 15 to February 6, 2026. In the previous edition of the Asia Cup, Pakistan showcased strong performances and reached the semi-finals before being eliminated by Bangladesh, adding further motivation for this year’s squad.
Pakistan will kick off their campaign on December 12 against Qualifier 3 at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai. Their second and arguably most anticipated match will be on December 14 against India at the ICC Academy Ground. The final group-stage fixture will take place on December 16 against Qualifier 1 at the same venue. The semi-finals are scheduled for December 19, with the final to be held on December 21, rounding off a high-intensity cricketing fortnight.
Farhan Yousuf, who was part of last year’s Asia Cup squad, enters the tournament with impressive domestic form. He recently captained Lahore Region Whites in the National Men’s U19 Cup, amassing 369 runs in seven matches. His tally included a commanding century and two well-crafted half-centuries — performances that underline his leadership potential and batting consistency.
Vice-captain Usman Khan also brings strong credentials into the side. Having scored a century in the previous Asia Cup edition, Usman continued his excellent run by representing FATA in the National Men’s U19 Cup. He totaled 429 runs in seven outings, which featured two centuries and one half-century, proving his reliability as a top-order batter.
The team will begin a dedicated training camp in Karachi starting today, where they will undergo technical, tactical, and fitness preparation under an experienced panel of support staff. The camp will continue until the squad departs for Dubai.
Pakistan U19 Squad (15-member team)
- Farhan Yousaf (captain)
- Usman Khan (vice-captain)
- Abdul Subhan
- Ahmed Hussain
- Ali Hassan Baloch
- Ali Raza
- Daniyal Ali Khan
- Hamza Zahoor (wk)
- Huzaifa Ahsan
- Momin Qamar
- Mohammad Huzaifa
- Mohammad Sayyam
- Mohammad Shayan (wk)
- Niqab Shafiq
- Sameer Minhas
Non-Traveling Reserves:
Abdul Qadir, Hasnain Dar, Mohammad Hassan Khan, Ibtisam Azhar, Umar Zaib
Support Staff:
- Sarfaraz Ahmed (Manager/Mentor)
- Shahid Anwar (Head Coach/Batting Coach)
- Rao Iftikhar (Bowling Coach)
- Mansoor Amjad (Fielding Coach)
- Abrar Ahmed (Trainer)
- Ubaidullah (Physio)
- Ali Hamza (Analyst)
With a balanced squad featuring both established performers and promising newcomers, Pakistan will aim to replicate — and surpass — their previous Asia Cup accomplishments. Fans will be eager to see how Farhan Yousuf’s leadership and Usman Khan’s batting prowess lift the team as they embark on a new chapter in junior-level cricket.
