DUBAI: Pakistan Under-19 captain Farhan Yousaf has set his sights on World Cup success after leading his team to victory against India in the 2025 Asia Cup final, underlining the team’s growing confidence on the international stage.
“Our next goal is simple,” Yousaf said in an interview with PK Press Club News after the victory. “We want to be world champions.”
Yousaf said the team remained calm despite losing the toss, adding that having to bat first proved decisive on a pitch that favored the batter.
“We were disappointed to lose the toss, but once we were put into bat we were happy because the wicket looked good,” he said. “We stuck to the plan we discussed and executed it well.”
Pakistan posted a formidable total of 347 runs, a score that saw the captain demand an aggressive approach from his bowlers.
“After reaching that total, I told the bowlers to think as if they were defending 250 and attack from the start,” he said. “They kept that mindset, took wickets and applied pressure.”
The final was played in front of a large crowd including Pakistani and Indian fans, adding to the intensity of the event.
“Playing such an important match with fans from both countries in the stadium made it even more enjoyable,” Yousaf said.
With the Asia Cup secured, the Pakistan Under-19 team will then take part in a tri-national series in Zimbabwe before turning their attention to the Under-19 World Cup.
Born in Kasur, Punjab on December 15, 2006, Yousaf is a right-handed middle-order hitter and one of Pakistan’s emerging leaders, now firmly focused on translating continental success into global silverware.
