Pakistan Under-19 team is at the center of debate after slowing down the run chase against Zimbabwe during the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026 in Harare. While the approach raised questions about fairness, it later emerged that the strategy was a deliberate move based on the mathematics of the tournament.
Pakistan completed the chase easily in their final league match on Thursday, 22 January. The Men in Green won by eight wickets at the Takashinga Sports Club in Harare. Opener Sameer Minhas scored unbeaten 74 runs off 75 balls and Pakistan achieved the target of 129 runs in just 26.2 overs.
Pakistan’s strategy helped Zimbabwe reach Super Six
Pakistan also helped Zimbabwe qualify for the Super Six stage. Pakistan eliminated Scotland from the competition due to the tournament’s net run rate rules.
Chasing the target of 129 runs, Pakistan made a fast start and reached 84 runs by the end of the 14th over. At that stage, Scotland were on track to qualify with Pakistan. However, Pakistan reduced the scoring pace to control the final margin and time of chasing the target.
From 16th to 25th over, Pakistan scored only 27 runs and played 50 dot balls. There was also a long spell of 89 balls without any boundaries, although the required run rate remained under control. They completed the chase in 26.2 overs, leading to Zimbabwe’s victory and Scotland’s elimination.
How Pakistan’s defeat decided the fate of Scotland and Zimbabwe
Had Pakistan reached the target before 25.2 overs, Scotland would have qualified ahead of Zimbabwe. Points and net run rate from the group stage carry over to the Super Six, but only from matches played against qualifying teams.
Pakistan had defeated Zimbabwe by a larger margin than Scotland, so Zimbabwe’s qualification gave Pakistan a strong net run rate to advance. They had earlier defeated Scotland with 6.5 overs to spare.
Pakistan could have ended the match against Zimbabwe much earlier, but if Zimbabwe had gone out, they would not have benefited from that result. Chasing the target, Pakistan took advantage of the net run rate in 26.2 overs.
England topped Group C and increased their net run rate with a 252-run win over Scotland. England lost that advantage at the Super Six stage after Scotland were eliminated.
Under International Cricket Council Law 2.11, knowingly attempting to manipulate a match for unfair tactical reasons can be a Level 2 offence.
It was a reasonable strategy on their part – Andy Flower
Former cricketer Andy Flower said that Pakistan’s “clever tactics” during the chase against Zimbabwe were within the rules. He said Pakistan focused on getting the win before adjusting its pace.
“I thought it was a reasonable strategy from their side,” Flower told ESPNcricinfo. “When they go into the Super Six, they will take their net run rate, which will include the Zimbabwe game but will not include the Scotland game. That means their net run rate is better than Scotland.
“They needed to first establish that they would not lose the game, and then they slowed down to ensure that Zimbabwe won. Some people might question the morality of it, but I personally don’t.”
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