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Pakistan’s Under-19 team is at the centre of debate after slowing down their run chase against Zimbabwe during the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026 in Harare. While the approach raised questions over fairness, it later emerged that the tactic was a calculated move based on tournament mathematics.

Pakistan completed a comfortable chase in their final league match on Thursday, January 22. The Men in Green secured an eight-wicket win at the Takashinga Sports Club in Harare. Opening batter Sameer Minhas scored an unbeaten 74 runs off 75 deliveries as Pakistan reached the target of 129 in just 26.2 overs.

Pakistan’s Tactics Help Zimbabwe Reach Super Six

Pakistan also helped Zimbabwe qualify for the Super Six stage. Due to the tournament’s net run rate rules, Pakistan pushed Scotland out of contention.

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Chasing 129, Pakistan started fast and reached 84 runs by the end of the 14th over. At that stage, Scotland were on course to qualify along with Pakistan. However, Pakistan then reduced the scoring pace to control the final margin and timing of the chase.

From the 16th to the 25th over, Pakistan scored only 27 runs and played 50 dot balls. There was also a long spell of 89 balls without a boundary, even though the required run rate remained under control. They completed the chase in 26.2 overs, sealing a result that sent Zimbabwe through and eliminated Scotland.

How Pakistan’s Chase Decided Scotland and Zimbabwe’s Fate

If Pakistan had reached the target before 25.2 overs, Scotland would have qualified ahead of Zimbabwe. Points and net run rate from the group stage carry into the Super Six, but only from matches played against teams that qualify.

Pakistan had beaten Zimbabwe by a bigger margin than Scotland, so Zimbabwe’s qualification gave Pakistan a stronger net run rate going forward. They had earlier defeated Scotland with 6.5 overs to spare.

Pakistan could have finished the match against Zimbabwe much earlier, but that result would not have helped them if Zimbabwe went out. By taking the chase deep and finishing in 26.2 overs, Pakistan carried forward a net run rate advantage.

England topped Group C and had boosted their net run rate with a 252-run win over Scotland. England lost that advantage for the Super Six stage after Scotland’s exit.

Under International Cricket Council Law 2.11, deliberate attempts to manipulate a match for improper tactical reasons can be a Level 2 offence.

It Was A Justifiable Tactic On Their Part - Andy Flower

Former cricketer Andy Flower said that Pakistan’s “cunning tactics” during their chase against Zimbabwe were within the rules. He stated that Pakistan focused first on securing the win before adjusting their pace.

"I thought it was a justifiable tactic on their part," Flower told ESPNcricinfo. "When they go through to the Super Sixes, they will take their net run rate, which will include the Zimbabwe game but doesn't include the Scotland game. That means their net run rate is better than if Scotland went through.

"They needed to first establish they weren't going to lose the game, and then they just slowed down to make sure Zimbabwe got through. Some people may question the ethics of that, but I personally don't."

Also read: Babar Azam’s BBL humiliation peaks as Sydney Sixers ship him back to Pakistan before finals