The Pakistan Under-19 team had a conversation with Sachin Tendulkar before the match

Bulawayo: Ahead of their crucial Super Six match against Pakistan in the Under-19 World Cup, the Indian Under-19 men’s team had a virtual interaction with batting legend Sachin Tendulkar.

On Friday, England secured their place in the semi-finals with a 65-run victory over New Zealand, while Afghanistan also advanced to the last four with a 191-run win against Ireland. This means the match between India and Pakistan on Sunday is now a virtual knockout, with only one team from Group 2 progressing to the knockout stage.

The BCCI posted on its ‘X’ account on Friday, “It was a truly invaluable experience, providing the next generation with insights and perspectives on what it takes to succeed and sustain in the ever-evolving game, which goes beyond just technical skills and fitness, but also emphasizes the importance of staying focused, disciplined, humble, and grounded even when successful.”

They also posted pictures of the entire Under-19 team, with the full support staff – Head Coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar, Bowling Coach Sunil Joshi, and Fielding Coach Subhadeep Ghosh – in the background with Tendulkar. Besides the coaches, former Indian cricketer and BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) Head of Cricket VVS Laxman was also seen in the pictures.

Laxman posted on his ‘X’ account, “The Indian U19 team is in Zimbabwe for the #U19WorldCup. Hungry, focused and eager to learn. Embracing the challenge, getting better with every session and proud to represent the country on the world stage.”

Led by captain Ayush Mhatre, India defeated Zimbabwe by 204 runs in their first Super Six match played at the Queens Sports Club earlier this week. A brilliant century by Vihaan Malhotra and a fine half-century by Abhigyan Kundu were key contributions to the team’s victory. Meanwhile, Pakistan has suffered a major setback ahead of their crucial match against India, as wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Shayan has been ruled out of the tournament after sustaining a nasal fracture while keeping wickets during a practice match against a fast bowler. Shayan was taken to the hospital after the injury, where an X-ray confirmed the fracture.