As the Under-18 teams of India and Pakistan gear up for the Asia Cup Under-18 tournament semifinals in Japan, a Pakistan team official has acknowledged India as the likely favorite for the upcoming match. The archrivals are set to clash after Pakistan secured a spot in the semis with a 5-2 victory in their last group game, while India dominated their group with significant wins against Kazakhstan and South Korea.
Japan, the host and defending champions, also progressed strongly with wins over India, Chinese Taipei, and South Korea. The official highlighted the contrasting preparations of the two teams, emphasizing India’s extensive training regime, including matches with Australian juniors and a European tour, compared to Pakistan’s less experienced squad.
Despite the disparity in resources, the official expressed confidence in Pakistan’s players, noting their passion and determination to deliver a strong performance. The historical dominance of India over Pakistan in junior events was also mentioned, with India having won seven of the last eight matches between the two teams at the junior level.
The semifinal match between India and Pakistan is scheduled for June 5, with the final and third-place playoff set to take place on June 6.
