India to Face Pakistan in the Semi-finals of the ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2019

As the group stage of the ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2019 comes to an end, teams will now be concentrating on the business end of the tournament. The U-23 teams from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan make it to the semi-finals of the competition.

One of the semi-finals is set to see the age old rivalry of India and Pakistan once again, this time at a junior level.

While Pakistan finished at the top of Group A, India failed to become the first placed team in their after losing to Bangladesh in a group stage encounter.

Bangladesh were playing their second match of Group B against India. Bangladesh put India in to bat first and on the back of medium pacer Sumon Khan’s four wicket haul, managed to restrict India to 246 in 50 overs.

Bangladesh began their rather comfortably with their captain Soumya Sarkar and Najmul Hossain adding 144 runs for the second wicket, but the former eventually fell six short of a century. Later, Afif Hossain came into to guide Bangladesh home with an unbeaten 34.

The victory allowed Bangladesh to gain a two point edge over India in Group B.

In group A, Pakistan were rather comfortable in their group. An eight wicket victory against Afghanistan, 90-run victory against Sri Lanka and an even bigger 147-run win over Oman in their last group match made sure Pakistan were unbeaten in the group and finished on top.

This meant that Pakistan, being the Group A winners, will face the runners of the Group B- India in the first semi-finals of the Emerging teams Asia Cup on November 20.

Pakistan U-23 will be looking to break their duck after losing on the three occasions that they have met India U-23. If they manage a victory, it will also take them a step further to their first Emerging Asia Cup.

The finals will be played on Sunday November 23. All the three matches will be played at the Shere Bangla National stadium, Dhaka.