KABUL (SW): Afghanistan has made history by thrashing Pakistan to a thumping 185 runs defeat in the final to lift the under-19 cricket Asia Youth Cup trophy in Malaysia.
For Afghanistan, Ikram Alikhail made a century while Rehmanullah Gurbaz 40 runs. Afghanistan's Mujeeb Zadran took an overall 20 wickets in the tournament and was named the best player of the tournament.
Pakistan had won the toss and elected to field. They managed to restrict Afghanistan to 248 for 7 off 50 overs. However, they were all out on just 63 off 22.1 overs, with Afghanistan's M. Rahman taking 5-13 and Q. Kamawal 3-18. Rahmanullah Gurbaz scored 40 runs from 53 balls with the help of five fours and a six while Ibrahim Zadran made 36 runs from 76 balls with one boundary and one six to his name.
In reply, Pakistan only scored 63 runs as they were bowled out in 22.1 overs. Only two batsmen scored in double figures. Mohammad Taha made 19 runs while Hasan Khan scored 10 runs for the green shirts. Mujeeb grabbed five wickets for Afghanistan while Qais Ahmad dismissed three Pakistani wickets.
President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has facilitated the entire nation on this victory.
Afghanistan's chief executive Abdullah Abdullah also congratulated the team via Twitter. “I feel proud to congratulate our nation on this very unique, rare and prideful occasion of our country's cricket as Afghanistan's U19 clinches historic win over Pakistan at the ACC U-19 Asia Cup and lifts the trophy for the first time in the history”, he stated in a message.
Pakistan U-19 (squad): Mohammad Arif, Muhammad Mohsin Khan, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Taha, Rohail Nazir (wicket keeper), Saad Khan, Hasan Khan (captain), Muhammad Musa, Munir riaz, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Suleman Shafqat, Muhammad Zaid Alam, Muhammad Hammad Khan, Muhammad Ashar Qureshi and Omair Yousuf
Afghanistan U-19 (squad): Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Ikram Ali Khil (wicket keeper), Darwish Rasool, Nisar Wahdat, Qais Ahmad, Azmatullah Omarzai, Naveen-ul-Haq (captain), Mujeeb, Wafadar, Tariq Stanikzai and Yousuf Zazai
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