Afghanistan U19 win toss, elect to bat against India in U-19 Asia Cup semi-final

Afghanistan Under-19 won the toss and elected to bat in the U-19 Asia Cup semi-final against India on Thursday. The match pits India, who progressed from Group A, against the Group B toppers Afghanistan.

India have won the Under-19 Asia Cup a record eight times, including one shared title, and reached the semi-finals after victories over Nepal and the UAE and a group-stage defeat by Pakistan. Against Nepal, India’s bowling unit dismissed the opposition for 128 before skipper Lakshya Rajesh Raichandani and Aaryavir Sehwag guided the chase. Sehwag led India’s batting against the UAE, scoring 160 off 168 balls as India posted 309 for seven. India folded for 208 against Pakistan, who registered a three-wicket win; Arjun Rajput scored 107 in that match while Rajput carried much of the scoring burden with only four other batters reaching double figures.

With scores of 70 not out, 22 and 160, Aaryavir Sehwag has accumulated 252 runs in three innings; Sehwag is also identified in the report as the son of former India opener Virender Sehwag. India’s bowling return includes medium pacer Ishan Sood and left-arm spinner Manal Chauhan, who have taken eight and five wickets respectively in the tournament.

For Afghanistan, Faisal Rahimi and Subhan Zakhail have shouldered much of the batting responsibility. Noor Ali is their leading wicket-taker with 13 wickets and Amir Hamza has contributed five wickets.

India U19 (Playing XI): Lakshya Rajesh Raichandani(c), Aaryavir Sehwag, VK Vineeth, Arjun Rajput, Yashbardhan Chauhan, Anvay Dravid(w), Manal Chauhan, Mohit Ulva, Aryan Savsani, Kavya Patel, Ishan Sood.

Afghanistan U19 (Playing XI): Abidullah Nadarjan, Faridullah Ihsas, Subhan Zakhail, Noman Salarzai(w), Shah Faisal Rahimi, Tahir Sarwary, Amir Hamza, Sohail Khan(c), Mohammad Ali, Bilal Salimankhil, Noor Ali Niazi.

India U-19 squad: Lakshya Rajesh Raichandani (c), Aaryavir Sehwag, VK Vineeth, Arjun Rajput, Yashbardhan Chauhan, Anvay Dravid (wk), Manal Chauhan, Mohit Ulva, Aryan Savsani, Kavya Patel, Ishan Sood, Yashveer Goud, Kushagra Ojha, Rajat Baghel, Shavin Vinodh. Afghanistan U-19 squad: Abidullah Nadarjan, Faridullah Ihsas, Subhan Zakhail, Noman Salarzai (wk), Shah Faisal Rahimi, Tahir Sarwary, Amir Hamza, Sohail Khan (c), Mohammad Ali, Abdullah Hamdard, Noor Ali Niazi, Sami Mubarez, Bilal Salimankhil, Lutfullah Mohammadi, Imran Mohammadi, Subhan Ali, Farid Zadran, Faisal Mubariz, Abidullah Abid, Hamza Khan Alikhil.

India will look to ride Aaryavir Sehwag’s form and secure a place in the final when they face Afghanistan in the men's U-19 Asia Cup semi-final on Thursday.