There is great news for the Under-19 players of Pakistan cricket team. Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has announced to give a special cash prize of one crore Pakistani rupees to all the players of his country’s Under-19 Asia Cup winning team on Monday, December 22, 2025. Pakistan’s youth team won its first title by defeating India by 191 runs in the final match played in Dubai on Sunday, 21 December. Sharif made this announcement at a welcome ceremony organized for the team and its support staff in Islamabad.

Team mentor and manager Sarfaraz Ahmed gave a statement

After the welcome ceremony held in Islamabad, team mentor and manager Sarfaraz Ahmed told the media that Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has announced a cash prize of Rs 1 crore for each player. Earlier, according to reports, Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi had announced a cash prize of Rs 50 lakh each for the players of the junior team that won the Asia Cup.

Sameer Minhas was the hero of the victory against India

In the final match of Under-19 Asia Cup 2025, Pakistan defeated the Indian team by a margin of 191 runs. The hero of Pakistan’s victory was Sameer Minhas, who played an excellent inning of 172 runs in 113 balls with the help of 9 sixes and 17 fours. In bowling for Pakistan, Ali Raza bowled brilliantly and took 4 important wickets for 42 runs in 6.2 overs. Apart from Ali, Mohammad Sayyam, Abdul Subhan and Huzaifa Ehsan also took 2 wickets each.

BCCI sought answers after the defeat from Pakistan

BCCI is looking strict after India’s embarrassing defeat to Pakistan in the Under-19 Asia Cup. This time BCCI will not depend only on the written report of the team manager. BCCI has asked for direct talks with head coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar and captain Ayush Mhatre and answers on their performance in the final match.

Sameer Minhas Player Of The Tournament: Pakistan Under-19 opening batsman Sameer Minhas has shone in the ACC Under-19 Asia Cup 2025. This 19 year old young batsman scored the most runs in the entire tournament, for which he was chosen ‘Player of the Tournament’. Sameer played a brilliant inning of 172 runs against India in the final match of Under-19 Asia, in which he played a total of 113 balls and hit 17 fours and 9 sixes, after which he was awarded the ‘Player of the Match’ award. On the basis of the excellent batting of Minhas, Pakistan won the second title of Under-19 Asia Cup by defeating India by 191 runs in the final match.

Who is Sameer Minhas?

Sameer Minhas is the son of former Pakistan Under-19 cricketer Kashif Minhas and his elder brother is Arafat Minhas, who has played four T20 Internationals for Pakistan between 2023 and 2024. Samir’s father Kashif Minhas had recognized his and his elder brother Arafat’s talent long ago. After which, he shifted to Lahore with the entire family for better cricketing facilities.

Sameer gave statement after winning the match

When the 19-year-old young batsman was asked whether there was any extra pressure of playing in the title match against traditional rivals India, Sameer said after winning the match, ‘India vs Pakistan is always a big match, but personally I did not feel any extra pressure. I just wanted to play my natural game and focused on that.

Sameer scored runs at an average of 157 in Asia Cup

Sameer Minhas scored the highest 471 runs in the Under-19 Asia Cup, in which he had an excellent average of 157 and strike rate of 117.45. Sameer will be seen playing again in the ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup next month. The way his performance has been, it seems that he is going to get many more opportunities in future, due to which now everyone’s eyes will be on Sameer in the Under-19 World Cup.