Stanikzai Replaces Aqil as Afghanistan Bats; India Stays Unchanged
In a thrilling Under-19 World Cup semi-final, Afghanistan opted to bat first after winning the toss against India. Notably, Afghanistan made a significant change to their lineup, with fast bowler Khatir Stanikzai replacing Aqil Khan. Stanikzai, having performed admirably throughout the tournament, returns after missing the last Super Sixes match. Aqil Khan had previously taken 3 wickets for 36 runs in a match against Ireland.
India’s Unchanged Squad
India maintained the same XI from their previous game against Pakistan. Captain Ayush Mhatre expressed confidence in his team, acknowledging their positive attitude and commitment to keeping their game simple. India entered the semi-final unbeaten, following a solid 58-run victory over Pakistan.
Team Lineups
Below are the lineups for both teams in the semi-final match:
| India | Afghanistan |
|---|---|
| 1. Aaron George | 1. Osman Sadat |
| 2. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | 2. Khalid Ahmadzai |
| 3. Ayush Mhatre (capt) | 3. Faisal Shinozada |
| 4. Vihaan Malhotra | 4. Uzairullah Niazai |
| 5. Abhigyan Kundu (wk) | 5. Mahboob Khan (capt & wk) |
| 6. Vedant Trivedi | 6. Azizullah Miakhil |
| 7. RS Ambrish | 7. Khatir Stanikzai |
| 8. Kanishk Chouhan | 8. Abdul Aziz |
| 9. Khilan Patel | 9. Roohullah Arab |
| 10. Henil Patel | 10. Nooristani Omarzai |
| 11. Deepesh Devendran | 11. Wahidullah Zadran |
Key Performances and Highlights
Afghanistan faced a slight setback in the tournament against Sri Lanka but rallied back with a significant 191-run win over Ireland. This victory boosted their morale heading into the semi-final. As they face off against India, spectators anticipate an exciting match filled with emerging cricket talent.
