KARACHI: The National Men’s U19 One-Day Cup gets underway on Sunday, 21 September, with 18 teams from 16 regions set to battle across Charsadda, Muridke, Peshawar, and Sheikhupura. A total of 72 group matches will be followed by the final on 14 October, with the venue yet to be confirmed. The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced a prize purse of PKR 3.475 million, with PKR 2 million reserved for the winners.
For Karachi, all eyes will be on the Blues and Whites, both placed in different groups. The Blues, slotted in Group A, will compete in Sheikhupura and Muridke, while the Whites, part of Group B, will be in action in Peshawar and Charsadda. Each side plays eight group matches, with the group leaders advancing to the final.
Batting firepower under Fahad Iqbal
The Blues’ squad boasts promising names like Sufyan Usmani, Musa Azad, and Abdullah Waheed, with former first-class cricketer Fahad Iqbal at the helm. Known for his batting pedigree, Fahad will be looking to shape a side that can dominate in the group stages. All-round balance comes through players like Ahmed Riaz Gaziani and Ayan Saleem, while the seam attack led by Hiziq Qureshi and Abdul Rauf could prove decisive on helpful surfaces in Sheikhupura.
Fresh faces under Motashim Ali
The Whites, coached by ex-left-handed batter Motashim Ali, will be banking on their mix of energetic batters and handy all-rounders. Talha Irfan, Abdul Sami, and Hamza Qureshi are expected to play key roles at the top, while Huzaifa Ahsan and Zaryab Shah bring grit to the middle order. The squad’s bowling depth, with names like RoailNisar and NiqabShafiq, makes them a competitive outfit in Group B.
Both Karachi outfits will be keen to make early statements. The Blues’ opening match against Larkana in Muridke offers a chance to flex their batting strength, while the Whites face a tougher start against Rawalpindi in Peshawar. Karachi has historically been a hotbed of junior talent, with several U19 standouts later graduating to Pakistan’s senior setup, and this tournament will be another opportunity for fresh names to emerge.
With the ICC U19 World Cup 2026 looming in Zimbabwe and Namibia, the competition doubles as a platform for young Karachi cricketers to put forward their case on the national stage. A strong showing from either the Blues or Whites could well be the start of another success story from the city that has consistently fueled Pakistan cricket.
Squads:
Karachi Blues: Sufyan Usmani, Musa Azad, Mohammad Zunair Ali, Abdullah Waheed, SahilNisar, Ahmed Riaz Gaziani, Aman Ahmed, Hiziq Qureshi, AyanSaleem, Anas Baloch, Abdul Rauf, Muhammad Zaid Hasan, AffanAbbasi, Muhammad Ahmed Aleem, Ali Shir Reserves: Shaziab Khan, Jawad Ahmed, Mohammad Hassan, Arshad Khan, Abdul Hayee
Coach: Fahad Iqbal
Karachi Whites: Talha Irfan, Abdul Sami, Hamza Qureshi, Huzaifa Ahsan, Muhammad Azan, HammadAlam, Alwaz Ahmed, Asad Umar, RizwanUllah, Zaryab Shah, RoailNisar, Niqab Shafiq, Saad Sakhawat, Arman Hussain, Sajjad Ahmed
Reserves: Amaullah, Muhammad AshbalNiazi, Muhammad SobanSadiq, Muhammad Farman, Muhammad Noman
Coach: Motashim Ali
