PCB assigns Sarfaraz two major roles as Pakistan Confirms U19 squad

Sarfaraz Ahmed is back in the national setup, this time with the U19s. The PCB confirmed he will handle manager and mentor duties for the squad heading to the Asia Cup in Dubai.

Alongside that update came the final 15-member squad for the Under-19s. Farhan Yousaf takes over the captaincy after featuring last year. It is a young unit, still settling, and Sarfaraz’s addition gives them an experienced hand as they move into tournament mode.

Group Battles and Early Tension

Pakistan will play in Group A alongside India, Qualifier 1, and Qualifier 3. They made the semifinals last year before Bangladesh ended their run, a result still discussed inside the camp.

Their campaign starts on 12 December at The Sevens Stadium against Qualifier 3. The meeting with India on 14 December at the ICC Academy Ground is the standout fixture of the group. Pakistan closed out the opening round on 16 December at the same venue against Qualifier 1.

The semifinals fall on 19 December and the final on 21 December. The path is clear, but the room for mistakes is slim.

Sarfaraz’s Presence Lifts the Room

Sarfaraz brings a seasoned hand. In Tests, he piled 3,031 runs. In ODIs, he added 2,315. His leadership in the 2017 Champions Trophy is stitched into Pakistan’s cricketing history, and even now, that final win by 180 runs over India sparks conversation. His win percentages across formats rarely dip; 70% in one stretch, 78.37 percent in another. Numbers that whisper experience, even if he stopped playing Tests after his last Test appearance in Perth in 2023.

Sarfaraz is set to work alongside Shahid Anwar, Rao Iftikhar, Mansoor Amjad, Abrar Ahmed, Ubaidullah, and analyst Ali Hamza. The group is compact, and the PCB expects Sarfaraz to anchor the setup.

A Bigger Picture

The Asia Cup links directly to Pakistan’s preparation for the ICC U19 World Cup in early 2026. With Zimbabwe and Namibia set to host that event, every game in December helps Pakistan measure where its squad stands. The pressure is real for players this young, but the group has shown a steady, confident edge.

Pakistan heads to Dubai with Sarfaraz Ahmed working closely alongside them. He guides quietly, stepping in with a short reminder or a quick correction at the right moment. His experience across formats gives the squad a sense of direction.

As the tournament nears, the setup around the team grows sharper. The schedule is fixed, the opposition is known, and Pakistan’s next batch of cricketers now face the kind of exposure that reveals who is ready for the next level.