Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif announced on Monday a special cash award of 10 million rupees for each member of Pakistan’s U19 Asia Cup-winning squad.
On Sunday, the Pakistan team secured the title by defeating India by 191 runs.
Sharif made this announcement during a reception for the team and officials in Islamabad, where he praised their performance.
Sarfaraz Ahmed, the mentor and manager of the team, informed the media after the reception that the Prime Minister had announced a cash award of 10 million rupees (approximately USD 36,000) for each player.
Sarfaraz expressed his enjoyment in working with a group of talented players who have a promising future in cricket.
Mohsin Naqvi, the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has praised the victory
as a milestone for cricket in Pakistan. Junior cricket often goes unnoticed in the country, but the Under-19 team’s triumph over India led to a celebratory reception at the airport.
Naqvi also announced cash prizes of PKR 5 million each for the junior team players, an unprecedented gesture in Pakistan cricket.
Also Read: Mohsin Naqvi Hands U19 Asia Cup, Celebrates With Pakistan As Indians Left…
Head coach Shahid Anwar attributed the victory to the extensive process of selecting the squad and providing each player with sufficient exposure to 50-overs cricket.
“The process started in June when we picked around 70 players after trials and then reduced the number to 20. Most of these players were then given chances to play 50-over cricket at domestic level,” Anwar a former Test batsman said.
Pakistan achieved their seventh victory over India in 11 encounters at the Junior level since 2019. This triumph mirrored the Champions Trophy in 2017, where Pakistan lost the group match but went on to clinch the title with a commanding 180-run win in the final.
Pakistan secured their second U19 Asia Cup title, and following recent norms, there were no formal greetings between the players of the two teams.
(With inputs from Agencies)
