Why Mohammad Shayan is Not Playing Today in IND vs PAK Super Sixes U19 World Cup 2026?

The India U19 team are all set to take on the Pakistan U19 team in the last match of the Super Sixes round of the ICC Under 19 World Cup 2026. With Australia, England, and Afghanistan already through to the semi-finals, there's just one spot left. India and Pakistan both have some quality batters and bowlers in their playing 11, making this encounter a thrilling one to watch for the fans.

Meanwhile, Pakistan skipper Farhan Yousaf forced India to bat first after winning the toss. The Boys in Green have excluded Mohammad Shayan from the playing 11 for this upcoming encounter.

Why Mohammad Shayan is Not Playing Today Against India?

The final Super Sixes group match between one of the best cricket teams in the world, India and Pakistan is crucial, as both teams are close to qualifying for the semi-finals. Pakistan have made a change, with Mohammad Shayan ruled out due to a nasal bone fracture sustained during training. Ali Hassan has been named as Mohammad Shayan replacement in the most important encounter of IND vs PAK U19.

This will be Pakistan’s first match in Bulawayo, while India have already played all their games here. That gives the Boys in Blue an added advantage, as they are familiar with the pitch and conditions. India will also be eager for revenge after Pakistan defeated them in the U19 Asia Cup 2025 final.

How Pakistan Can Stun India to Reach U-19 World Cup Semis?

For Pakistan to qualify for the semi-finals, they need more than just a simple win over India; they need a massive victory to fix their Net Run Rate (NRR). Currently, Pakistan sits on 4 points with an NRR of +1.484, while India leads with 6 points and a much higher NRR of +3.337. To jump over India and take the final semi-final spot alongside England, Pakistan must win by a specific, large margin.

If India sets a target of 251, Pakistan must complete the chase in approximately 33.2 overs. This means maintaining a run rate of over 7.5 runs per over from the very first ball. Any slower than this, even if they eventually win the match, will not be enough to bridge the NRR gap. Consequently, the Pakistani openers will need to play aggressive and high-risk cricket from the start, looking for boundaries in every over to keep their World Cup dreams alive.