DUBAI: UAE will host Afghanistan and Pakistan in an U19 tri-series in November this year. The venue will be confirmed later, the tri-series will begin from Wednesday, 13 November with the final set to take on Tuesday, 26 November. The series will help the teams prepare for the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup which will be played immediately after (venue for the Asia Cup to be confirmed). The series will also provide quality exposure to the youngsters from the three teams.
UAE will take on Pakistan in the opener on 13 November. The second fixture will be between Afghanistan and Pakistan on 15 November. UAE will play Afghanistan on 17 November followed by a Pakistan-Afghanistan match on 19 November.
Afghanistan will take on UAE on 21 November with the UAE-Pakistan 23 November match, the final league match before the Tuesday, 26 November decider which will be contested between the top two teams from the six-match group stage.
Director National Academy and Head Coach UAE Men’s U19 team Mudassar Nazar: “The series provides an excellent preparation opportunity for the three teams ahead of the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup. UAE had an incredible run in last year’s Asia Cup, playing the final of the prestigious tournament which included cricketing powers like India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. It was a phenomenal achievement indeed.
“U19 events act as a stepping stone for young cricketers and helps them understand the demands of professional cricket. We have an exciting bunch of young cricketers who are set to take UAE cricket forward in the years ahead, these two tournaments will surely help in their cricketing development and grooming.”
Chief Executive Officer Afghanistan Cricket Board, Naseeb Khan: “We are thrilled to be participating in the U19 tri-series alongside Pakistan and the UAE. This series will provide an excellent platform for our young cricketers to gain vital exposure and competitive experience.”
“Our Future Stars lineup has been currently undergoing through rigorous training as part of our plans to develop and prepare the team for the upcoming major tournaments, including the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup. We believe this series will greatly contribute to their growth and readiness for the assignments ahead.”
PCB Director International Cricket, Usman Wahla: “We are delighted that the Pakistan Men’s U19 team will be taking part in a highly competitive U19 tri-series in the UAE just before the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup. This will be a great opportunity for the young players to grow and nurture their skills.
“The PCB is thankful to the Emirates Cricket Board for arranging this tri-series which also shows strong bilateral ties between both the Boards and our shared commitment towards developing young players.”
U19 tri-series (50 overs) Afghanistan-Pakistan-UAE:
13 November – Pakistan vs UAE
15 November – Afghanistan vs Pakistan
17 November – UAE vs Afghanistan
19 November – Pakistan vs Afghanistan
21 November – Afghanistan vs UAE
23 November – UAE vs Pakistan
26 November – Final
