Bulawayo: Rising star Sameer Minhas is all set to make his mark on the biggest stage as Pakistan aim for glory in the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup.
The Multan batter, who produced match-winning performances in both the recent ACC U19 Asia Cup and the record-breaking tri-series in Zimbabwe, says his focus is clear: winning the tournament for Pakistan.
Sameer’s cricketing journey began far away from the professional ground—the tiled floor of his home, water-soaked tiles and taped tennis balls became his first practice arena.
His father, a cricketer whose own sporting ambitions were curtailed, encouraged him and his elder brother Arafat Minhas to pursue the sport seriously.
“My father saw how much we enjoyed cricket and asked us to try the leather ball,” recalls Sameer. “My brother started first and then I followed. That moment changed everything.”
From street cricket to structured tracks, Sameer progressed steadily. He represented Multan region at the U13 level in the 2018-19 season and later captained South Punjab U13 and led the team to the finals.
He later played for South Punjab at the U16 level, participated in the PCB National U16 One Day Tournament 2020–21, and was selected in the PCB’s 100-player scheme.
The transition to U19 cricket came with its challenges, but in last year’s National U19 Cup, Sameer scored over 400 runs in seven matches, earning him a Pakistan U19 cap.
His brother Arafat, who has represented Pakistan in four T20Is, continues to be a major source of inspiration.
“Representing Pakistan is not easy,” admits Sameer. “It takes a lot of hard work and the expectations are always high.”
Sameer scored a match-winning century to help Pakistan beat arch-rivals India by 191 runs in the final of the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup in Dubai.
In the tri-series with Zimbabwe, he set a new record, reflecting his growing status as a key player in the team.
“I wanted to contribute to the team,” Sameer said of his record innings. “After my half-century, I decided to step up. When I saw the PCB post about the new record, it was an incredible feeling. To represent Pakistan and make a mark like that is something special.”
Beyond individual achievements, he credited Pakistan U19’s strong team unity as the foundation of their success. Months of training camps and shared experiences have created a bond that has been decisive in recent successes.
“Our bond is very strong,” he says. “That unity helped us win titles.”
Looking ahead to the World Cup, Sameer’s goals are straightforward: “Our simple plan is to win the World Cup. Personally, my first goal is to win it for Pakistan. The second is to be Man of the Tournament.”
Inspired by AB de Villiers for his fearless approach, the 19-year-old believes Pakistan U19 can achieve their ambitions.
He thanked the fans for their unwavering support and asked everyone to continue supporting the team ahead of the mega event.
Notably, the Green Shirts will play their opening match against England on January 16, followed by Scotland on January 19.
Their last group game is against Zimbabwe on January 22.
Pakistan Squad for U19 World Cup:
Farhan Yousuf (c), Usman Khan (VC), Abdul Subban, Ahmed Hussain, Ali Hasan Baloch, Ali Raza, Daniel Ali Khan, Hamza Zahoor (wk), Husaifa Ahsan, Momin Qamar, Mohammad Syam, Mohammad Shayan (wk), Uqab Shafiq, and Samar Shafiq.
ICC U19 World Cup Pakistan Matches: