India started their campaign in the U19 Asia Cup on a handsome note after beating Afghanistan by seven wickets on Friday, December 8 at the ICC Academy in Dubai.

Arshin Kulkarni was their star performer after he delivered with both bat and ball. He was amongst India’s standout bowlers after he finished with figures of 8-0-29-3, helping his team restrict the Afghans to 173.

Thereafter, the right-handed batter from Solapur, Maharashtra, scored an unbeaten 70 off 105 balls with four fours as India chased down the target with 12.3 overs to spare.

Raj Limbani was also impressive for India after he picked up three crucial wickets of Wafiullah Tarakhil, Mohammad Younus and Bashir Ahmed. Left-arm pacer Naman Tiwari impressed with figures of 10-0-30-2.

Musheer Khan, the younger brother of Sarfaraz Khan, stayed unbeaten on 48 off 53 balls.

Zeeshan stars for Pakistan

Pakistan also made a winning start to their campaign after they beat Nepal by seven wickets at the ICC Academy Ground No 2 in Dubai.

Right-arm pacer Mohammad Zeeshan ripped through the opposition batting with figures of 9.2-1-19-6. On the back of his spell, Pakistan bowled Nepal out for 152 in 47.2 overs.

Uttam Magar scored a half-century for Nepal before Amir Hassan dismissed him caught and bowled. Dipesh Khandel scored 31 runs and put on 68 runs for the sixth wicket with Magar.

Hassan chipped in with two wickets while Ubaid Shah, Naseem Shah’s younger brother, and Ali Asfand accounted for one wicket apiece.

Pakistan lost the early wickets of Shamyl Hussain and Shahzaib Khan with their score at 23 in 6.4 overs. But Azan Awais and skipper Said Baig’s 108-run stand for the third wicket put Pakistan in a winning position.

Baig and Awais scored 50 and 56 not out respectively in the run-chase. Zeeshan played a cameo of 20 off eight balls as Pakistan romped home with 23.2 overs left.