India beat Pakistan by 58 runs: U19 World Cup 2026 – as it happened

That is it for our live coverage of India against Pakistan at the Under-19 Cricket World Cup.

India secure the win, and their passage through to the semifinals.

Pakistan head home, but – with news elsewhere of the Pakistani boycott of the game against the Indians at the T20 World Cup – we are all left to wonder when we will see the nations take to the field to face each other again.

For India, it’s a last-four meeting with Afghanistan, with the winner facing Australia or England in next Sunday’s final.

Do stay tuned to Al Jazeera Sport throughout the week, and join us for next weekend’s live action.

For today, though – from me, Kevin Hand – it’s goodbye for now.

Alongside the developing story about Pakistan’s boycott of the India game at the 2026 T20 World Cup, it has been a packed day for sport news.

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India’s T20 World Cup opener against USA next Saturday is our next live commentary on Al Jazeera Sport.

On the same day, we’ll bring you all the English Premier League football action from Tottenham Hotspur against Manchester United – who have just produced a stunning winner against Fulham to make it three from three for interim coach Michael Carrick.

We’ll bring you plenty of preview material ahead of the T20 World Cup across the coming week, but check in here for what we have already released.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi met Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif last week to discuss the issue, but did not clarify whether Pakistan would travel to the tournament.

“It was agreed that the final decision will be taken either on Friday or next Monday,” said Naqvi, who is also Pakistan’s interior minister.

All of Pakistan’s World Cup matches have been scheduled in Sri Lanka because of the fraught relations between New Delhi and Islamabad.

After Bangladesh’s expulsion, the ICC was accused of practising “double standards” in its extraordinary move to oust a full member nation on the basis of a logistical deadlock.

“You can’t have double standards,” Naqvi said.

“You can’t say for one country [India] they can do whatever they want and for the others to have to do the complete opposite. That’s why we’ve taken this stand and made clear Bangladesh have had an injustice done to them. They should play in the World Cup. They are a major stakeholder in cricket.”

Click here to read more from our report on the developing story.

Pakistan’s participation in the tournament was thrown into uncertainty after Bangladesh were ousted by the International Cricket Council (ICC) over a logistical deadlock.

The ICC kicked Bangladesh out of the World Cup and replaced them with Scotland because of an impasse over security concerns that the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had raised about playing in India.

The Pakistan Cricket Board swiftly threw its weight behind Bangladesh and said it will not make a “final decision” on its team’s participation until next week.

Sunday’s Pakistan government statement did not, however, mention why the cricket team would not play its group match against India.

On the field, Pakistan’s preparations could not be moving in a much better direction ahead of the T20 World Cup:

SERIES SWEEP SECURED OVER AUSTRALIA 🇵🇰💪🇦🇺#PAKvAUS | #MateWeAreReady | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/3dg3y0ynF2

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) February 1, 2026

The 2026 ICC Under-19 World Cup final is scheduled to be held on February 6.

Harare Sports Club in Zimbabwe will stage the final.

The T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, features 20 nations and begins on Saturday.

Pakistan are drawn in Group A along with India, Namibia, Netherlands and the US, and are playing all their matches in Sri Lanka. Pakistan’s first match on Saturday is against the Netherlands at the Singhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground in the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo.

If Pakistan boycott their match against India, they will forfeit two points.

Click here to read more from our breaking news report.

India will play Afghanistan in the second semifinal on February 4, in Harare.

Australia and England will meet in Bulawayo on February 3.

“That was a really good start, but there was help in the wickets; the way we batted was really brilliant,” India captain Ayush Mhatre said.

“The boys contributed really well, the bowlers with the bat as well.

“The ball was spinning a little towards the end, and for them.

“We are just looking at match by match and not thinking about the final.

“We just want to win the semifinal.”

𝑰𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒂 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒎𝒊-𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒔 🔥

The Team in Blue make it into the final four of the #U19WorldCup 👊 pic.twitter.com/lb6FLnMR2y

— ICC (@ICC) February 1, 2026

“We bowled very well at the start, which meant we got three wickets very early on,” Pakistan captain Farhan Yousuf said.

“We didn’t bowl so well in the middle overs, and they got a big total.

“We will recover in the future, and I am very proud of the boys.

“The first plan was win and qualify for the semifinals, but after losing some wickets, the plan changed.

“The result doesn’t matter; I’m proud of the team.”

The Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan grants approval to the Pakistan Cricket Team to participate in the ICC World T20 2026, however, the Pakistan Cricket Team shall not take the field in the match scheduled on 15th February 2026 against India.

— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) February 1, 2026

We’ll hear from both camps soon.

Australia and Afghanistan are one and two respectively in Group 1.

India and England hold first and second respectively in Group 2.

The all-rounder receives the award on the pitch side as the post-match ceremony begins. A huge cheer from the Indian team as the award is presented.

Kanishk Chouhan wins the @aramco POTM award for his all-round excellence in India's last Super Six encounter 🙌 pic.twitter.com/JVOhoQB63X

— ICC (@ICC) February 1, 2026

The India players are all on the field, but no handshakes still.

The team in green are quickly down to meet their last pair, as they return to the pavilion and shake hands with the officials.

The players make their way off the field separately. A close eye on proceedings from all, as is ever the case now in these fixtures. But when will we see the like again?

The Indian players enjoyed that one, and as they come together in a huddle, a huge roar breaks out.

India seal the win with 3.4 overs to spare, as Khilan darts one past the edge to tuck up the batter.

Huzaifa b Khilan 14 (30)