ICC Under 19 Men's Cricket World Cup 2026: India face off against Pakistan in their final Super Six game of the ICC U19 World Cup 2026 on Sunday, Feb. 1. The Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo plays host to the crucial game that will determine the last semi-finalist of the competition from Group 2. Led by Mumbai and Chennai Super Kings star Ayush Mhatre, India U19 sit second on the points table with 3 wins in their previous 3 matches.
After qualifying with wins over fellow group qualifiers Bangladesh and New Zealand, India U19 hammered Zimbabwe in their first Super Six match. The victory elevated India to six points with a strong net run rate of +3.337, which should give Mhatre & co some leeway even if they lose to the Pakistanis.
For Pakistan, the need of the hour is a massive win over India if they are to displace the neighbours and qualify alongside top-ranked England from this group. Heading into the contest in Bulawayo, they are positioned third on the table despite winning their previous Super Six game against New Zealand convincingly. Since Pakistan entered the Super Six with the loss to fellow qualifiers England, they carried a disadvantage. Despite beating the Kiwis, they have just 4 points from 3 games and a lesser NRR of +1.484.
England, having beaten Pakistan and Zimbabwe in the group stage, cemented their berth in the semis with wins over Bangladesh and New Zealand. If India beat Pakistan, they will replace England in the top spot in the Super Six Group 2, owing to a superior NRR and book the semi-finals clash with Afghanistan on Wednesday, Feb. 4 at the Harare Sports Club. It will mean that England will have to face Australia in the semi-final scheduled on Tuesday, Feb. 3, in Bulawayo.
However, if Pakistan somehow pull off a victory so big that they displace and eliminate the Indians with a second spot finish, they will likely play Australia, and England will go on to face the Afghans. Even a marginal defeat for the Indians would mean the end of the road for Pakistan.
Mathematically, Pakistan's best hope is to bat first. They would then need to win by 105 runs or more to finish second in the Group 2 standings and qualify at India's expense. In case they chase, Pakistan will have to hunt down any target of 251 or higher within 29.4 overs or less to make it.
From Group 2, Bangladesh, New Zealand and co-hosts Zimbabwe have already been eliminated. In Super Six Group 1, Sri Lanka, West Indies, South Africa and Ireland failed to make it to the semi-finals.
U19 World Semi Finals And Final Date/Time
The first semi-final of the U19 World Cup will take place on Tuesday, Feb 3, and the second semi-final will take place on Wednesday, Feb 4. The final of the U19 World Cup 2026 will be played on Friday, Feb 6. All matches will begin at 1 p.m. IST.
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