Scored 172 runs against India, broke Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s record and became the new U19 star; PAK player Sameer Minhas looted the party

India-Pakistan Any match between the two is not just a match, it is a test of history, pressure and passion. When this clash takes place on a big stage like the final of the Under-19 Asia Cup, the true identity of every player comes to the fore. In this final played in Dubai, a name emerged who left the Indian bowlers helpless and showed the cricket lovers the superstar of the future. This name is Sameer Minhas.

At the age of just 19, the confidence, aggression and intelligence with which Sameer Minhas batted made it clear that this was not just an innings, but a glimpse of the years to come. The historic innings of 172 runs, a string of records and his dominance throughout the tournament all brought Sameer into the limelight overnight.

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Who is Sameer Minhas?

Sameer Minhas was born on 2 December 2006 in Lahore, Pakistan. He comes from a family where cricket is not just a game but a passion. Since childhood, Sameer started proving his batting prowess in street cricket, local parks and school tournaments. His father was a great fan of cricket and he was the first to recognize Sameer’s talent. Due to getting the right guidance at the right age, Sameer’s technique remained strong from the beginning whether it was front foot defense or pull and drive against fast bowlers.

cricket is in his blood

Sameer Minhas is the younger brother of Pakistan’s international cricketer Arafat Minhas. Arafat has played T20 International for Pakistan and has also been a part of the Under-19 World Cup. Watching his elder brother play professional cricket was the biggest learning for Sameer. Preparation for domestic cricket, fitness, mental strength and the art of handling pressure – all these things gave him a role model sitting at home. This is the reason why Sameer emerged as a mature batsman at an early age.

Sameer’s dominance in Under-19 Asia Cup

Sameer Minhas became the backbone of Pakistan’s batting in the Under-19 Asia Cup 2025. He started the tournament with an explosive inning of 177* runs against Malaysia. This innings was special not only because of the big score, but also because of the strike rotation and the understanding of putting pressure on the bowlers. After this, even though he got out cheaply against India in the group stage, but by scoring 44 and 69 not out against UAE and Bangladesh, he showed that he is not the story of one match.

Historic innings against India in the final

When Pakistan came to bat in the final played at the ICC Academy ground in Dubai, the Indian team was expecting quick wickets. But Sameer Minhas took the pace of the match into his own hands from the very beginning. He completed his century in just 71 balls and then there was no sign of stopping. The line-length of the Indian bowlers kept deteriorating and Sameer took every bad ball outside the boundary. This innings will be counted among the most mature under-19 innings played under pressure.

When was Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s record broken?

In this Under-19 Asia Cup, Sameer Minhas broke the record of young Indian batsman Vaibhav Suryavanshi. His inning of 177* runs played against Malaysia made him the most talked about player of the tournament. This innings came at a time when the fastest and most impressive innings in the tournament were being compared, and Sameer put himself at the forefront.

172 runs in the final: rain of records

In the final against India, Sameer Minhas was out after scoring 172 runs on 113 balls. This innings included 17 fours and 9 sixes. This score is the highest individual score so far in the U19 Asia Cup final. He laid the foundation for Pakistan to reach 300+ score and completely shifted the pressure on India.

Big records of the tournament

• Total runs in U19 Asia Cup 2025: 471
• Average: 157.00
• Most runs in a single edition
• Highest individual score in the final
• First player in the world to score 400+ runs in a single tournament

Future Pakistan superstar?

There is aggression as well as restraint in Sameer Minhas’s batting, which makes him special. Cricket experts believe that if he keeps working on fitness and consistency, he can soon enter the senior team of Pakistan. The confidence he has shown in the Under-19 Asia Cup has made it clear that Pakistan has got a new batting star.