Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hosted a luncheon in honour of Pakistan’s Under-19 cricket team, which recently won the Asia Cup.
The players, who defeated India in the final, were praised for their outstanding performance, and cash rewards were also announced.
Addressing the team, the prime minister said, “You young players have made history by defeating India. We hope you continue to bring pride to the country in the future.”
He gave special recognition to players Sameer Minhas and Ali Raza and expressed pride on behalf of the entire nation, saying, “The whole country is proud of you.”
The Prime Minister also extended best wishes to the team for the upcoming Under-19 World Cup next month. He acknowledged the role of the PCB chairman, management, and supporting staff, noting that the team’s decisive win in the final was the result of dedication and hard work.
“By winning the Asia Cup, the team has raised the nation’s flag with pride,” he added.
The PM announced cash rewards of Rs1 crore for each player and Rs25 lacs for each member of the team management.
Speaking about the win, the team captain, Farhan Yousuf, said, “Playing in the Asia Cup was very beneficial for us.”
Shahbaz Sharif added, “The nation celebrated this victory with great joy. In the match against India, Allah Almighty blessed Pakistan with success.”
Meanwhile, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi praised the players for their patience and composure throughout the tournament.
He noted that the Indian team repeatedly tried to provoke Pakistani players, but the team focused solely on the game. Naqvi also mentioned that these incidents would be reported to the ICC.
He further announced that Pakistan is constructing a new High-Performance Center in Lahore, which the Prime Minister will inaugurate. Naqvi added, “The team focused only on cricket, and Allah granted them victory.”
Captain Farhan Yousuf expressed gratitude to the PCB management and chairman Mohsin Naqvi for organizing excellent training camps. Player Sameer Munhas noted that the management had instructed the team to play fearless cricket, not careless cricket.
