Pakistan's PM announces Rs10m each for members of U-19 cricket team for winning Asia Cup
- Last updated: December 22, 2025 | 18:05 ..
Gulf Today Report
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Monday hosted a luncheon in the honour of the team and congratulated the team as well as its management on the win.
Interior Minister and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Syed Mohsin Naqvi and other federal ministers attended the function in Islamabad.
The prime minister, in particular, was all praise for Sameer Minhas and Ali Raza. He also praised the PCB chairman, management and the sporting staff on the victory.
Speaking on the occasion, he asked Naqvi to look after the players. "Provide them all facilities they ask for.” He went on to say that the zeal and fervour with which the team played the final against India was unprecedented.
He said he was optimistic that soon the team would also win the under-19 World Cup.
Later speaking to the media with captain Farhan Yousaf, Sarfaraz Ahmad, coach of under-19 national cricket team, said that Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif had announced Rs10 million each for the members of the team for winning the Asia Cup final against India. "He met with each and every player and patted on his back,” Sarfaraz added.
He said he was pleased to meet the prime minister. "I hope that the team will win more titles in future,” Sarfaraz said, adding, "I congratulate the entire nation on this victory.”
Skipper Farhan Yousaf said none of the players was in low spirits. "The morale of each and every player was high,” he added.
The head coach Shahid Anwar said the team had decided to remain fearless in the face of the opposition.
“We began a process on June 17 [this year],” recalled Shahid at a news conference in Islamabad on Monday, following the team’s arrival and a meeting with Prime Minister Shaehbaz Sharif at the PM House.
“It was an unprecedented step … we called up 70 players, conducted trials and gave each player four matches each and then they participated in a regional One-day tournament,” he added.
“The top performers, 30 of them, then took part in a five-month long camp … that’s how the team was made.