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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.
Lokesh Bam’s late fireworks proved in vain as England held on to beat Nepal by four runs in a thrilling T20 World Cup 2026 match at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, on Sunday.
Chasing 185, Nepal began strongly as openers Kushal Bhurtel and wicketkeeper Aasif Sheikh set the tone with aggressive stroke play. The 37-run partnership was broken when Sheikh fell for seven off nine balls, dismissed by Liam Dawson.
In the final over of the powerplay, Bhurtel was dismissed for 29 off 17 deliveries, featuring four boundaries and a six, leaving Nepal at 42 for 2 in 5.2 overs.
Skipper Rohit Paudel and Dipendra Singh Airee then steadied the innings, adding a 50-run partnership to take Nepal past the 100-run mark in 12 overs. Airee looked set for his 11th T20I half-century, troubling England’s bowlers with powerful strokes.
However, Sam Curran broke the 82-run stand by dismissing Airee for 44 off 29 balls, which included six fours and a six.
Shortly after, Rohit Paudel fell to Liam Dawson for 39 off 34 deliveries, featuring two fours and two sixes, reducing Nepal to 126 for 4 in 15.3 overs.
Nepal lost further momentum as Aarif Sheikh was caught by Jofra Archer for 10 off eight balls, including a six, leaving the side at five wickets down.
Lokesh Bam fought back, hitting consecutive sixes off Archer to bring Nepal closer, with 24 runs needed from the final two overs.
In the 19th over, Mark Wood conceded 14 runs but took the key wicket of Gulsan Jha for one, leaving Nepal needing 10 runs off the last over.
Sam Curran bowled the final over, conceding five runs as Nepal fell just short. Lokesh was the standout for Nepal, scoring a quick 39 off 20 balls with four boundaries and two sixes.
Batting first, England made a poor start as opener Phil Salt was dismissed cheaply for one off two deliveries, removed by Sher Malla on the first ball of the second over.
Wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell then stabilised the innings, scoring at a brisk pace with boundaries flowing freely.
However, Nandan Yadav had other plans, dismissing Buttler for a crucial 26 off 17 deliveries, including five boundaries, leaving England reeling at 43-2 in 4.3 overs.
Pressure continued to mount as England lost Tom Banton on the first delivery of the seventh over, dismissed by Sandeep Lamichhane for two off five balls.
Bethell and captain Harry Brook steadied the innings with a sensible partnership, guiding the team toward a competitive total as Bethell brought up his third T20I fifty and helped the side cross the 100-run mark.
The duo put together a 71-run partnership, which ended when Dipendra Singh Airee claimed the important wicket of Jacob Bethell.
Bethell finished his crucial innings with 55 runs off 35 balls, hitting four boundaries and four sixes, taking the team to 128-4 in 13.4 overs.
England were five wickets down when Airee struck again, taking the wicket of Sam Curran. It was Airee’s second of the match, and Curran was dismissed after scoring just two runs off eight deliveries.
Brook continued to pile on runs for his side, taking the total past the 150-run mark and earning a well-deserved sixth T20I fifty.
However, after reaching his milestone, Nandan Yadav claimed the key wicket, ending the captain’s valiant innings of 53 runs off 32 balls, which included four boundaries and three sixes.
Will Jacks remained unbeaten, playing a fiery 18-ball 39 that included one boundary and four sixes, while Archer was run out for one off three deliveries.
The “Quadg0d” struggled in his first Olympic skate, but his best events are still to come, and there’s no reason to panic.
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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.
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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)
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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.
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