Nepal win toss, choose to bowl against Pakistan in U19 Asia Cup

MUSCAT: Nepal won the toss and elected to field first against defending champions Pakistan in the 12th match of the Under-19 Asia Cup on Tuesday, with the Green Shirts already securing their place in the semi-finals.

The Group A encounter is being played at the Al Amerat Cricket Stadium in Oman, where Pakistan made one change to their playing XI for the contest.

Fast bowler Mohammad Huzaifa has been brought into the side in place of Ali Raza, who has been assigned to Pakistan’s Emerging Team for the upcoming Rising Stars Asia Cup.

Ali Raza will represent the emerging side as a replacement for injured pacer Aaqib Javed, according to the team update.

Pakistan have already booked their place in the knockout stage, having secured qualification from Group A. The defending champions will now look to maintain their momentum and build confidence ahead of the semi-finals.

For Nepal, however, the match is their final outing in the tournament after their elimination from the competition. Although they are no longer in contention for a semi-final spot, the team will aim to finish their campaign with a positive performance against the defending champions.

The other Group A fixture on Tuesday features India and the United Arab Emirates. The winner of that match will secure the remaining semi-final berth from the group.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka have already qualified for the semi-finals from Group B, collecting six and four points respectively.

With the knockout stage approaching, Pakistan will be keen to assess their combinations and give their players valuable match experience before the crucial semi-final encounter.

The contest against Nepal therefore provides the defending champions with another opportunity to strengthen their preparations while maintaining their winning momentum in the tournament.