IND vs PAK Live: India eye semi-final berth, face Pakistan in high-octane clash

For India, the path is clear.

A victory will confirm their semi-final qualification and also see them finish on top of the group, setting up a last-four meeting with Afghanistan.

Even in defeat, India remain in a favourable position, as a narrow loss would still keep them ahead of Pakistan thanks to their superior net run rate.

Pakistan, by contrast, face a much steeper climb.

As per ICC calculations, if Pakistan bat first and post a total of 250, they would need to beat India by at least 89 runs to leapfrog them into second place and qualify at India’s expense.

In terms of the tournament picture, Australia, Afghanistan and England have already booked their places in the semi-finals.

The final berth will be decided solely by the outcome of the India-Pakistan contest. England currently lead Group 2 with eight points and a net run rate of +1.757, followed by India on six points with a strong NRR of +3.337.

Pakistan sit third with four points and an NRR of +1.484.

Five-time champions India will head into Sunday’s Super Six showdown against arch-rivals Pakistan with revenge firmly on their agenda at the ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup in Zimbabwe.

More than just pride is at stake, with the clash set to decide the fourth and final semi-final spot, as the ICC has outlined detailed qualification scenarios for both teams.

The fixture carries extra significance following India’s heavy 191-run loss to Pakistan in the Under-19 Asia Cup final in Dubai last December — a setback that came after India had earlier beaten their rivals by 90 runs in the group stage of the same tournament.

Under the leadership of Ayush Mhatre, the Indian side will now aim to set the record straight on the world stage.

India are also expected to stick with their ‘no handshake’ policy against Pakistan, a stance they adopted during both the group match and final of the Asia Cup.

The decision comes against the backdrop of the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor carried out by the country’s armed forces.

Led by Ayush Mhatre, India registered a massive 204-run victory over Zimbabwe in their opening Super Six match earlier this week at the Queens Sports Club.

The win was powered by a splendid century from Vihaan Malhotra and a well-crafted fifty from Abhigyan Kundu.

Pakistan, meanwhile, have been dealt a significant setback ahead of the high-voltage clash with India, with wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Shayan ruled out of the tournament.

Shayan sustained a nose injury while keeping to a fast bowler during a scenario-based practice match. He was taken to hospital after the incident, where X-rays confirmed a fracture.

Hello and welcome to the Live coverage of Under19 World Cup match between India and Pakistan

The India Under-19 men’s team had a virtual interaction with batting great Sachin Tendulkar ahead of their crucial Super Six encounter against Pakistan in the ongoing U-19 World Cup.

England booked their place in the semi-finals after registering a 65-run win over New Zealand on Friday, while Afghanistan also advanced to the last four with a commanding 191-run victory over Ireland. As a result, Sunday’s India-Pakistan clash has effectively turned into a knockout, with only one team from Group 2 set to move into the semi-finals.

“In what was an invaluable experience, the next generation got insights and perspectives on the important ingredients for success and longevity in an ever evolving sport, not just limited to technical skills and remaining fit but also the importance of staying focused, disciplined, humble and rooted in success,” the BCCI wrote on its ‘X’ account on Friday.

The BCCI also shared photographs of the entire Under-19 squad along with the support staff — head coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar, bowling coach Sunil Joshi and fielding coach Subhadeep Ghosh — with Tendulkar in the background. Former India cricketer and Head of Cricket at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE), VVS Laxman, was also seen in the images.

“With the Indian U19 team in Zimbabwe for the #U19WorldCup. Hungry, focused and eager to learn. Embracing the challenge, growing with every session and proud to represent the country on the world stage,” Laxman wrote on his ‘X’ account.