Noor Ali Niazai has 13 wickets for 71 runs, and he is what stands between India’s Under-19s and the Asia Cup final
Afghanistan won all three of their Under-19 Asia Cup group games by more than 100 runs or by ten wickets, and India play them in the semi-final in Muscat on Thursday.
Nov 10, 2026
Noor Ali Niazai has bowled 24.3 overs at the Under-19 Asia Cup and taken 13 wickets for 71 runs. The Afghanistan fast bowler took 3 for 29 against Bangladesh, 6 for 7 against Malaysia and 4 for 35 against Sri Lanka, and India have to get past him in the semi-final at Al Amerat on Thursday.
Pakistan settled the other semi-final on Tuesday. They beat Nepal by 101 runs to finish Group A with three wins out of three, and they play Bangladesh, who were second in Group B. Both semi-finals start at 10:30am IST, and the final is on Saturday.
Afghanistan have not been close to losing
Afghanistan won their two games batting first by 113 and 106 runs, and the third by ten wickets. They made 231 against Bangladesh in the opening round, with 83 off 97 balls from Shah Faisal Rahimi, and then bowled them out for 118 in 25.5 overs. Noor and Amir Hamza took three wickets each.
Malaysia lasted 22.3 overs and made 42. Noor bowled 9.3 of those overs, five of them maidens, and Afghanistan knocked off the runs in three. On Monday Subhan Zakhail made 107 off 111 balls and Abidullah Nadarjan 55 as Afghanistan reached 275, and Sri Lanka were all out for 169.
If there is a gap, it is in the batting. Afghanistan have batted a full innings twice and been bowled out both times, for 231 in 49 overs and 275 in 49.5. Neither total was ever in danger against Bangladesh or Sri Lanka. India’s bowlers, who had Nepal all out for 128, will see a chance there.
India lean on Sehwag
Aaryavir Sehwag has 252 runs in three innings: 70 not out against Nepal, 22 against Pakistan and 160 against the UAE on Tuesday. The rest of the top order has been less reliable. Captain Lakshya Raichandani’s scores read 53 not out, 0 and 17.
The one time India’s top order failed, they were 22 for 3 against Pakistan and needed Arjun Rajput’s 107 to get to 208. Pakistan chased it down with three wickets and 11 balls to spare.
The bowling has held up. Ishan Sood has eight wickets, with 3 for 18 against Nepal and 4 for 37 against the UAE. Manal Chauhan has five wickets and has conceded 82 runs in 25 overs.
Ahmed Hussain wins it for Pakistan
Pakistan’s win over Nepal came from Ahmed Hussain. He made 89 off 73 balls as Pakistan reached 275 for 7, after a half-century from captain Farhan Yousaf, and then took 4 for 35 in his ten overs. Nepal were all out for 174 in the 44th over.
If India and Pakistan both win on Thursday, the final will be a rematch of Sunday’s group game, and of last year’s final, which Pakistan won by 191 runs.