India’s Under-19 team suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of arch-rivals Pakistan in the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup 2025 final, losing by a massive margin of 191 runs. The loss came as a surprise, especially after India had dominated the group stage, winning all their matches, including a 90-run victory over Pakistan earlier in the tournament.
Despite fielding a star-studded line-up featuring Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Ayush Mhatre, India were outplayed by a batting masterclass from Pakistan’s Sameer Minhas. Minhas scored a sensational 172 off 113 deliveries, an innings that included 17 fours and nine sixes, and proved decisive in the final.
Following the defeat, Cricbuzz reported that the BCCI is set to conduct discussions beyond its usual post-tournament review. The board is expected to engage with head coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar and captain Ayush Mhatre to assess India’s overall performance in the Under-19 Asia Cup, particularly in light of the final loss.
The review may also take into account an on-field incident involving Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Pakistan pacer Ali Raza. The two were involved in a heated exchange after Suryavanshi’s dismissal in the fifth over, an episode that added to the intensity of the contest.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi announced on Monday that the board would approach the International Cricket Council (ICC) over what it termed “provocative behaviour” by Indian players during the final, Geo News reported.
“Indian players kept provoking Pakistani players in the U19 Asia Cup final,” Naqvi said. “Pakistan will inform the ICC about the incident,” he added, while stressing that politics and sport should remain separate.
Pakistan Under-19 team mentor and former national captain Sarfaraz Ahmed also criticised India’s conduct during the match, calling it “unethical”.
“India’s behaviour during the game was not good, and the Indian team’s conduct was unethical,” Sarfaraz said. “But we celebrated the victory with sportsmanship, because there should always be sportsmanship in cricket. What India did is their own action.”
Tensions between the two nations have increasingly spilled over into the sporting arena. Earlier during the 2025 Asia Cup in September, the Indian senior men’s team adopted a “no-handshake” policy against Pakistan and also did not receive the winning trophy that was given by Mohsin Naqvi, who is Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board and also a federal minister of Pakistan.
The stance was later followed by the women’s and Under-19 teams throughout their matches in 2025 as a mark of protest and solidarity with the victims of the terror attack in Pahalgam.
The current Under-19 squad is now focused on preparations for the ICC Under-19 World Cup, scheduled to be held in January–February 2026.