U19 Asia Cup: UAE, Bangladesh Upset Powerhouses Pakistan, India to Reach Final

Dubai: Bangladesh secured a convincing four-wicket victory over India in the ACC Under-19 Asia Cup semifinal, earning a spot in the final. Maruf Mridha’s impressive spell of 4 for 41 and Ariful Islam’s counter-punching fifty played pivotal roles in Bangladesh’s success.

Facing a challenging pitch, India struggled, managing only 188 runs in 42.4 overs, with Musheer Khan (50) and Murugan Abhishek (62) being the main contributors. Maruf Mridha’s early wickets set the tone for India’s batting collapse.

In response, Bangladesh faced some early setbacks, reaching 34 for three in 9.4 overs. However, Ariful Islam’s resilient innings of 94 runs off 90 balls, supported by Ahrar Amin (44 off 101 balls), anchored a crucial 138-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Despite losing a few late wickets, Bangladesh comfortably reached the target in 42.5 overs.

In the first semifinal, UAE stunned Pakistan by 11 runs, setting up a final clash with Bangladesh. UAE posted 193 all out, driven by captain Aayan Khan’s 55 and opener Aryansh Sharma’s 46. Defending their total, UAE bowled out Pakistan for 182, securing a surprise victory.

The ACC Under-19 Asia Cup final promises an exciting contest between Bangladesh and UAE after their impressive semifinal performances.