Hamza Zahoor’s unbeaten ton gives Pakistan U19 a three-wicket win over India

Hamza Zahoor’s unbeaten century turned the U19 Asia Cup cricket match in Pakistan’s favour, as Pakistan Under-19s beat India Under-19s by three wickets at Al Amerat on 8 November 2026. The BCCI fixture for the DP World Men’s U19 Asia Cup had both sides entering the clash unbeaten, with India having beaten Nepal Under-19s by 10 wickets at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Muscat on the Friday before.

Pakistan were defending champions, and India had named Aaryavir Sehwag and Anvay Dravid for the high-stakes tie. India’s reply was anchored by Arjun Rajput, the left-handed batter identified by the Times of India after he came to India’s rescue. India Today reported that Rajput reached his hundred in just 80 balls and kept India alive even when no batter had been able to score comfortably.

How the chase was rebuilt

Pakistan’s innings nearly fell apart early. They were 61 for 5 when Zahoor took the crease, and from there he anchored the chase with an unbeaten hundred. The Indian Express and NDTV Sports both described the result as a dramatic Pakistan win by three wickets, with NDTV Sports calling it heartbreak for India. Times Now reported that Zahoor’s note after the match, “Tomorrow match 50 inshallah”, went viral among Pakistan supporters.

India Today framed the defeat as Pakistan spoiling India’s Diwali party. The same report said Rajput’s 80-ball hundred was the bright spot in an innings where scoring had been difficult across the board.

Group A and what comes next

The stakes were set before the final ball. Outlook India reported that India U19 face UAE U19 in the Group A decider in Oman, with the winner securing a semi-final place alongside Pakistan. The same preview said India have superior batting depth and an unbeaten head-to-head record against UAE U19. Sportstar’s highlights show why the batting unit had been in good form: Sehwag and Raichandani put on an unbeaten stand to help India beat Nepal U19 by 10 wickets.

Moneycontrol reported that fans had questioned why Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was not playing in India’s U19 Asia Cup squad in Oman. Nothing in these reports states the reason for his absence.

For India, the immediate detail is the Group A decider against UAE U19: Outlook says the winner advances to the semi-finals alongside Pakistan. For Pakistan, the task shifts after Zahoor’s century and the viral “50 inshallah” message.