Teenage sensation Mohammad Huzaifa delivered a record-breaking performance as Pakistan registered a commanding 180-run victory over Japan in the 2024 Under-19 Asia Cup at the Dubai International Stadium on December 4th.
The left-arm wrist-spinner’s stunning spell of 6.3-3-8-5 tore through Japan’s batting lineup, propelling Pakistan to their third consecutive win in the tournament.
Defending a competitive total of 243-6, Pakistan bowled out Japan for a paltry 63, with Mohammad Huzaifa picking up five of the last six wickets in a masterclass of spin bowling. This remarkable effort etched Huzaifa’s name in the history books, making him the most successful Pakistan spinner in Under-19 ODIs this century.
Pakistan entered the match with four changes to their playing XI and struggled initially after being reduced to 34-2 in the first 10 overs. By the halfway mark, they were reeling at 100-5.
Shahzaib Khan, who had already hit centuries against UAE and India earlier in the tournament, rescued his side with a vital 82-run sixth-wicket partnership alongside Mohammad Riazullah. Shahzaib contributed a steady 45 off 69 balls before falling in the 44th over.
Riazullah then took charge, smashing an unbeaten 66, while Ahmed Hussain chipped in with a quick-fire cameo. Their 61-run standoff just 37 balls helped Pakistan post a defendable total on a challenging surface.
Chasing 244, Japan’s hopes rested on opener Nihar Parmar, who top-scored with 25. However, no other batter managed to reach double digits as Pakistan’s bowling attack ruthlessly dismantled the opposition.
Mohammad Ahmed (2-9), Ahmed Hussain (2-17), and Faham-ul-Haq (1-14) supported Huzaifa’s heroics, ensuring Japan folded for just 63.
Huzaifa’s figures of 5-8 rank as the eighth-best bowling performance by a Pakistan bowler in U-19 ODIs. While Shaheen Afridi leads the chart with his 6-15 against Ireland in the 2018 U-19 World Cup, Huzaifa’s spell stands out as the finest by a Pakistan spinner in the 21st century.
He narrowly trails Muhammad Shahzad’s 5-7 against Papua New Guinea in the 2022 U-19 World Cup but surpasses the likes of Mohammad Wasim, whose 5-12 against Scotland in 2020 also features in the top 10.
| Name | Figures | Opposition | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | 6-15 | Ireland U19 | Whangarei | 2018 |
| Salman Fazal | 6-28 | West Indies U19 | Lahore | 1995 |
| Adil Raza | 6-29 | Malaysia U19 | Johor | 2008 |
| Ahmer Saeed | 6-34 | South Africa U19 | Paarl | 1997 |
| Arshad Iqbal | 6-34 | Sri Lanka U19 | Chattogram | 2018 |
| Awais Ali | 6-56 | Zimbabwe U19 | Diego Martin | 2022 |
| Muhammad Shahzad | 5-7 | Papua New Guinea U19 | Port of Spain | 2022 |
| Mohammad Huzaifa | 5-8 | Japan U19 | Dubai | 2024 |
| Mohammad Wasim | 5-12 | Scotland U19 | Potchefstroom (Uni) | 2020 |
| Zahid Saeed | 5-14 | New Zealand U19 | Colombo (RPS) | 2000 |
With this dominant win, Pakistan has secured their spot in the semi-finals, where they will face Bangladesh on Friday. As the team continues to fire on all cylinders, Mohammad Huzaifa’s emergence adds another weapon to their already formidable arsenal, bolstering their chances of lifting the Asia Cup trophy.
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