Coach Yousuf Picks Six U19 Stars, Discusses U19 Asia Cup Semi-Final Loss

After Pakistan’s U19 team faced a tough loss in the U19 Asia Cup semi-final, Head Coach Yousuf highlighted the promising performances of six young cricketers.

Despite the disappointment of the semi-final loss to UAE U19, Yousuf remains hopeful about Pakistan’s cricket future. He pointed out the immense potential displayed by these budding talents.

In an interview with Cricket Pakistan, Yousuf praised Azan Awais and Saad Baig for their mature batting skills. He emphasized the team’s need for continuous improvement, acknowledging their good performance while stressing the room for growth.

“Azan and Saad have shown maturity in their batting skills, and I pray they perform even better. We’re doing well, but there’s always room to do better. We strive for improvement daily,” Yousuf stated.

He also commended Mohammad Zeeshan for excellent bowling and recognized Ubaid Shah’s contributions to the ball.

“Zeeshan has bowled remarkably, and Ubaid Shah has also made valuable contributions. The bowlers have really stepped up,” he added.

Reflecting on the semi-final against UAE, Yousuf admitted the opportunity to restrict the opposition to under 150 but credited UAE’s mature and aggressive play.

“In the last match against UAE, we could’ve restricted them to under 150. However, those UAE boys were mature, showed great aggression, and carried themselves well on the field. They had a slight edge, but that’s not an excuse. We should’ve won. At one point, we were 114 for 2, needing runs at a required rate of 3,” Yousuf remarked.

Yousuf emphasized the learning curve from such experiences, stressing the importance of focus and discipline for cricket’s future.

“The boys played well, but this is a learning experience. They need to focus more, be disciplined for the future of cricket, the World Cup, and beyond,” he noted.

Looking forward, Yousuf expressed confidence in Pakistan’s cricket future, highlighting talents like Shamyl Hassan and Riaz Ullah, acknowledging their potential for a successful future if they continue learning and growing.