Sports
Pakistan U19 mentor Sarfaraz calls India’s conduct ‘unethical’ in Asia Cup final | The Express Tribune
Sarfaraz Ahmed praises his own side for responding with professionalism and sportsmanship
Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed will be performing managerial duties in the upcoming edition of HBL Pakistan Super League season 10. Photo: PSL
Pakistan Under-19 cricket team mentor and former national captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has strongly criticised India’s conduct during the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup 2025 final, describing it as “unethical” and contrary to the spirit of the game, while praising his own side for responding with professionalism and sportsmanship.
Pakistan delivered a commanding all-round performance in the final, defending a mammoth 348-run target and bowling India out for 156 in 26.2 overs to clinch their maiden ACC U19 Asia Cup title with a resounding 191-run victory at the ICC Academy in Dubai.
Speaking at a media conference in Islamabad after the triumph, Sarfaraz did not hold back while addressing India’s on-field behaviour during the blockbuster clash.
“India’s behaviour during the game was not good, and their conduct was unethical,” Sarfaraz said. “However, we celebrated the victory with sportsmanship because cricket should always be played in the right spirit. What India did is their own action.”
The 2017 ICC Champions Trophy-winning captain also revealed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced a substantial cash reward to honour the young champions.
“The Prime Minister has announced a reward of Rs10 million for each player, and in the future, these young cricketers will make the country proud,” Sarfaraz added.
Following their historic success, the Pakistan Under-19 squad received a hero’s welcome in Islamabad. On Monday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hosted a luncheon in their honour, personally congratulating the players and management for their landmark achievement. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and several federal ministers were also in attendance, highlighting the significance of Pakistan’s triumph on the continental stage.
Sarfaraz lauded the team’s collective effort in the final, singling out key batting contributions that laid the foundation for the massive total. While Sameer Minhas stole the spotlight with a breathtaking 172 off 113 balls, featuring 17 fours and nine sixes, Sarfaraz emphasised the importance of middle-order batter Ahmed Hussain’s composed innings.
“Ahmed Hussain’s knock was as important as Sameer Minhas’ innings,” Sarfaraz said, referring to Ahmed’s 56 off 72 deliveries, which included three fours and a six and helped Pakistan maintain momentum in the middle overs.
Head coach Shahid Anwar echoed Sarfaraz’s sentiments and shed light on the extensive preparation that underpinned Pakistan’s dominant campaign in the ACC U19 Asia Cup 2025.
“We began a talent hunt on June 17, with nearly seventy players participating in trials,” Anwar explained. “Each player was given four matches to prove himself. Those who performed consistently were invited to the final camp.”
The final ten-day training camp, held in Karachi, featured involvement from former Pakistan cricketers who worked closely with the squad to fine-tune skills and build mental resilience.
“When we left Pakistan, our goal was clear,” Anwar added. “We wanted to win the trophy and also win the hearts of cricket fans—and I believe we achieved both.”
The emphatic victory over arch-rivals India not only secured Pakistan’s first ACC Men’s Under-19 Asia Cup title, but also reinforced the country’s growing strength at junior level. With a blend of fearless batting, disciplined bowling and strong leadership off the field, Pakistan’s young cricketers have laid down a powerful marker for the future of Pakistan cricket.
The “Quadg0d” struggled in his first Olympic skate, but his best events are still to come, and there’s no reason to panic.
Source link
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Lindsey Vonn was the 13th skier to hit the slopes in the alpine ski women’s downhill at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics on Sunday and her dreams of powering through a devastating knee injury to make the medal podium came to a crashing halt.
Vonn was entering the first sector when she fell hard onto the slopes. The crowd gasped as they came to terms with the wipeout. She writhed in pain as medical professionals came to check on her. A helicopter came to get Vonn off the mountain.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
United States’ Lindsey Vonn concentrates ahead of an alpine ski, women’s downhill official training, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)
The Olympic legend was attempting to medal in the event despite a devastating knee injury she suffered while at the World Cup. She made clear in subsequent social media posts that her ACL was “100% gone.”
An ACL tear normally involves a recovery that lasts about a year, but Vonn planned to fight through it.
TEAM USA WOMEN’S HOCKEY POWERS PAST FINLAND AT MILAN CORTINA GAMES, TIES OLYMPIC RECORD
United States’ Lindsey Vonn crashes during an alpine ski women’s downhill race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Spectators react after United States’ Lindsey Vonn crashed during an alpine ski women’s downhill race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Spectators stunned after United States’ Lindsey Vonn crashed during an alpine ski women’s downhill race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
United States fans react following United States’ Lindsey Vonn’s crashed during an alpine ski women’s downhill race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)
She made a stunning comeback to the sport last year after nearly six years away from competition. Her return followed a partial titanium replacement inserted into her right knee, which she had in 2024.
The Team USA legend is the second-most successful woman in World Cup history with 84 wins. She has won eight World Championship medals.
Vonn won a gold medal in the downhill and a bronze medal in the super-G at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games and a bronze medal in the downhill at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympic Games. She will look to add to her collection in Italy.
United States’ Lindsey Vonn is helicoptered off after crashing, during an alpine ski women’s downhill race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
She was set to compete in the women’s super-G as well, but the crash may very well keep her out of that event.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
- BCB president to attend ICC’s meeting: sources.
- Other board members likely to also attend emergency meeting.
- Aminul Islam to also meet PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
LAHORE: In the aftermath of Pakistan’s announcement to boycott its T20 World Cup 2026 match against India, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Aminul Islam has arrived in Pakistan, sources said on Sunday.
During his stay in Pakistan, the BCB chief, sources added, will attend the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) emergency meeting later today, with other board members also expected to participate.
Islam will also meet Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi before departing for Dhaka, the sources said.
Meanwhile, an ICC delegation led by its deputy chairman is also due to reach Pakistan at 4:30pm, to discuss the situation arising after Pakistan’s boycott of India match.
The development comes against the backdrop of Pakistan’s decision to boycott its World Cup match against India, scheduled for February 15, amid what the PCB has described as the ICC’s biased approach, with Bangladesh playing a central role in the dispute.
Tensions flared between the cricket boards of Bangladesh and India after Bangladesh’s star pacer Mustafizur Rahman was dropped from the Indian Premier League (IPL) on the directions of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), sparking outrage in Dhaka.
Later, the BCB requested the ICC to shift its matches outside India, but the international cricket body rejected the plea. Following the BCB’s firm stance, the ICC replaced Bangladesh with Scotland in the tournament, saying it was not feasible to change the schedule so close to the February 7 start of the event.
Furthermore, the PCB has dismissed reports by Indian media claiming that it had offered dialogue to the ICC to resolve the issue surrounding its decision to forfeit the India match.
PCB spokesperson Amir Mir issued the rebuttal after Indian journalist Vikrant Gupta claimed that the PCB had reached out to the ICC for dialogue on the India-Pakistan World Cup game.
Any clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan is one of the most lucrative fixtures in cricket, worth millions of dollars in broadcast, sponsorship and advertising revenue.
In commercial terms, the overall value of a single India-Pakistan T20 match is estimated at around $500 million, or approximately INR45,000 crore, when broadcast rights, advertising premiums, sponsorship activations, ticket sales and downstream commercial activity are taken into account.
According to a report, advertising slots during an India-Pakistan T20 match command between INR25 lakh and INR40 lakh for a 10-second spot, significantly higher than even knockout matches involving India against other top teams.
The most immediate financial impact would be felt by the official broadcast rights holder, as advertising revenue from the India-Pakistan match alone is estimated at around INR300 crore, the Indian publication cited industry projections as suggesting.
The BCB chief’s reported arrival in Pakistan is also being viewed in the context of earlier Indian media reports claiming that the ICC was seeking back-channel talks with the PCB and had tasked its deputy chairman Imran Khwaja, to engage with the Pakistani board on the issue.
What went wrong for Ilia Malinin and why everyone needs to chill out
The Best AI Notetakers to Record Your Meetings, Interviews, or Classes
Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show role breaks barriers and sparks debate
-
Tech6 days agoHow to Watch the 2026 Winter Olympics
-
Business6 days agoPost-Budget Session: Bulls Push Sensex Up By Over 900 Points, Nifty Reclaims 25,000
-
Tech1 week agoRight-Wing Gun Enthusiasts and Extremists Are Working Overtime to Justify Alex Pretti’s Killing
-
Fashion6 days agoCanada could lift GDP 7% by easing internal trade barriers
-
Tech1 week agoI Tested 10 Popular Date-Night Boxes With My Hinge Dates
-
Business1 week agoVideo: Who Is Trump’s New Fed Chair Pick?
-
Entertainment6 days agoThe Traitors’ winner Rachel Duffy breaks heart with touching tribute to mum Anne
-
Business6 days agoInvestors suffer a big blow, Bitcoin price suddenly drops – SUCH TV