The Under-19 teams of India and Pakistan played their Super Eight match at the 2026 U-19 World Cup on Sunday, February 1, 2023, at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. The match held vital importance for both teams because Pakistan required a considerable victory to continue their tournament participation while India needed to win in order to secure their place in the semi-finals.

The competitive match created a situation that resulted in an off-field dispute which involved Pakistan U-19 team mentor Sarfaraz Ahmed. Broadcast cameras showed the Pakistan dressing room after the 25th over of India’s innings where they found Sarfaraz Ahmed using his mobile phone. The International Cricket Council prohibits all communication devices inside the Player and Match Officials Area (PMOA) which created immediate public interest in the video footage.

The ICC bans all mobile phones laptops and communication devices from the PMOA during match times because these items give teams an unfair edge while violating the essential rules of the sport. The match referee will examine the case together with the ICC body which will decide how to handle the situation involving Sarfaraz.

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ICC regulations to decide Sarfaraz Ahmed’s fate

The ICC rules contain specific exceptions which allow certain situations to bypass normal requirements. Team managers are allowed to bring one mobile phone into the PMOA area which they must use for official cricket work or essential personal activities while being watched by others. The outcome of this clause will decide whether Sarfaraz receives punishment because it determines the reason for which he used his phone.

The U-19 World Cup produces knockout matches which have created a public debate about this incident because of the long-standing competition between the India Under-19 cricket team and the Pakistan Under-19 cricket team. The ICC plans to review the video evidence because no one has submitted an official complaint yet. 

The ongoing tournament reaches its final stage while the ongoing controversy shows how ICC events maintain strict monitoring of all participant activitiesespecially during their most crucial competitive moments.