LAHORE – Former Pakistan national captain Sarfraz Ahmed was appointed as the manager and mentor of the Pakistan Under-19 cricket team, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed on Tuesday.
Sarfraz will accompany the team for the upcoming ACC Under-19 Asia Cup, scheduled to be held in Dubai from December 12 to 21, 2025. Farhan Yousuf will lead the team as captain, with Usman Khan serving as vice-captain.
The squad also includes Abdul Subhan, Ahmed Hussain, Ali Hasan Baloch, Ali Raza, Daniyal Ali Khan, Hamza Zahoor, and Huzaifa Ahsan. Additional members are Momin Qamar, Muhammad Huzaifa, Muhammad Siyam, Muhammad Shayan, Naqab Shafiq, and Sameer Minhas.
PCB officials said Sarfraz Ahmed’s appointment aims to provide guidance and mentorship to the young cricketers as they compete at the continental level.
It may be metnioned here that the next editioin of U19 of Asia Cup will feature eight teams.
Pakistan, who were beaten by Bangladesh in last year’s semi-final, are placed in Group ‘A’ alongside India, Qualifier 1 and Qualifier 3. Group ‘B’ comprises Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Qualifier 2 and Sri Lanka.
The eight-team tournament will provide Pakistan side with preparations ahead of the ICC U19 World Cup, which is set to be co-hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia from 15 January to 6 February 2026.
Pakistan will open their campaign on Friday, 12 December against Qualifier 3 at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai. Their second group match is against India on Sunday, 14 December at the ICC Academy Ground in Dubai, while their final group fixture is against Qualifier 1 on Tuesday, 16 December at the same venue.
The semi-finals will be played on 19 December at The Sevens Stadium and ICC Academy Ground, while the final will take place on Sunday, 21 December.
18-year-old Farhan recently led Lahore Region Whites in the National Men’s U19 Cup, scoring 369 runs from seven matches, including a century and two half-centuries. Usman Khan, who scored a century in the last edition of the ACC U19 Asia Cup, will be Farhan’s deputy in the event.
