By Sardar Shaukat Mehmood Khan
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday hosted a luncheon in honour of the Pakistan Under-19 cricket team following their historic Asia Cup triumph, lauding the young players for their discipline, resilience and emphatic victory over India in the final.
Welcoming the players individually, the prime minister congratulated the entire squad, coaching staff and team management, saying their outstanding performance had lifted the nation’s pride and won the hearts of 240 million Pakistanis. He said the comprehensive win against arch-rivals India symbolised Pakistan’s growing strength in youth cricket.
“The way you trained, played and handled pressure shows maturity beyond your age. You have brought great honour to Pakistan and proved that our future in cricket is bright,” Prime Minister Shehbaz remarked.
The prime minister specially praised standout performers, including Samir Manaz for his brilliant knock of 172 runs, Under-19 captain Farhan Yousuf Khan for his effective leadership, Ali Raza for his match-winning bowling spells, and Abdul Subhan for taking 13 wickets during the tournament. He also acknowledged the collective contribution of batters, bowlers, wicketkeepers and the entire support staff.
Announcing incentives, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared cash awards of Rs1 million for each player and Rs500,000 for every member of the sports staff. He reiterated the government’s commitment to promoting youth sports and nurturing young talent, urging the players to remain focused and disciplined to earn places in the national team in the coming years.
Earlier, Interior Minister and Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Mohsin Naqvi praised the team’s composure and professionalism, particularly during the high-pressure final. Referring to provocations on the field, he said the players displayed remarkable maturity by keeping cricket separate from politics and focusing solely on the game.
“We played fearless but disciplined cricket. The boys showed patience, and Allah rewarded their commitment with victory,” Mohsin Naqvi said. He also announced that work had begun on establishing a state-of-the-art High Performance Centre in Lahore, noting that the existing facility had become outdated. He said the new centre would provide modern training resources for emerging cricketers.
Speaking on behalf of the team, Under-19 captain Farhan Yousuf Khan thanked the prime minister and the PCB for their support and encouragement. He said structured training camps and strong backing from team management played a crucial role in the Asia Cup success. “We will carry this momentum into the upcoming tri-series and the World Cup,” he added.
Several players also shared their experiences, crediting focused technical training and mental conditioning over the past few months for their strong performances under pressure. They expressed gratitude to the PCB, coaches and support staff, saying the recognition at the highest level had further motivated them to aim for greater success in future international competitions.
