INDIA 19 vs UAE 19 Live score, U19 Asia Cup 2025: India’s U-19 Asia Cup campaign begins with both cricketing excitement and diplomatic intrigue. Led by in-form Mumbai and CSK opener Ayush Mhatre, India open against the UAE today, but the real focus is on Sunday’s match against Pakistan. Apart from the cricketing rivalry, the main question arises: will the Indian juniors get to shake hands with the Pakistani players? In senior tournaments – including the Asia Cup, Women’s ODI World Cup and Rising Stars T20 – Indian teams have rejected the customary handshake to show solidarity with the Indian Army and the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack.
However, for the U-19s, the ICC wants to keep politics firmly aside. A BCCI official confirmed that team manager Anand Datar had been given “explicit instructions” and if India chose not to shake hands, the match referee must be informed in advance. The Board recognizes that there is a tightrope between avoiding “bad publicity” internationally and respecting public opinion at home.
On the cricket front, India are the runaway favourites. Mhatre and fellow batting prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi come on the back of dominant Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaigns. Mhatre struck for centuries while Suryavanshi became SMAT’s youngest centurion. Together, they have nine centuries at senior level – more than all other Asia Cup teams combined. With Malaysia and the UAE missing out on 50-plus exposure, India and Pakistan are almost certain semi-finalists.
Meanwhile, defending champions Bangladesh enter the tournament with confidence. Their all-rounder Rizan Hossan, fresh from a century in England and a match-winning all-round show against Afghanistan, calls the event “the perfect World Cup test”. He credits strong family support, a disciplined rise through age-group cricket and a coaching staff that honed his three-dimensional game. Hossan has taken inspiration from Ben Stokes and believes Bangladesh’s cohesion and preparation can deliver another Asia Cup title.
