The Qatar Cricket Association (QCA) has shortlisted 19 probables for the national under-19 team and intensified its preparations for the upcoming ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup Asia Division 2 qualifiers.
Qatar will compete in the qualifiers, which will be held in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, Thailand, from December 5 to 16.
The QCA had initially picked 35 players from various schools through its under-19 and under-16 tournaments. The players then underwent rigorous coaching for a few months to improve their physical fitness and skills before shortlisting the number to 19, including five reserves.
The players were selected by a committee, which was appointed by QCA president Yousef Jeham al-Kuwari and comprises Qatar’s senior players. National team captain Inam-ul Haq is the chief selector, and he was assisted by Tamoor Sajjad and Zaheeruddeen Ibrahim. The committee attended various training sessions and practice matches before finalising the squad.
QCA Operations manager Manzoor Ahmad announced the squad on October 10 in the presence of parents, coaches Aruna De Silve, Amjad Baig, Shamsuddin, and Mohamed Jehangir, and Schools Cricket head Amin-ul Islam.
All the players are undergoing the final phase of preparations and the QCA officials are optimistic about good performance from the team.
Al-Kuwari congratulated all the selected players and urged them to put in their best efforts in practice so that they could be ready to fly Qatar’s flag high in the Asian Division 2 qualifiers. “Qatar is rapidly rising in international cricket and we’re proud that we’re sending our young team to the Asian Under-19 Division 2 qualifiers in Thailand in December. I feel all players would brace themselves well for the upcoming challenge.
“We always take all possible measures to prepare our national teams and we hope the Qatar under-19 team would try to do its best and make the country proud,” al-Kuwari added.
Ahmad thanked all the coaches and trainers involved in building a competitive team for the Asian event. “I want to say thanks to all the coaches and trainers involved in getting the team ready. The preps have gone well so far and they have now entered the final phase. We hope that we would be able to present a highly competitive side in the Asian qualifiers.”
He also thanked senior curator Shakeel for refurbishing the turf wickets and preparing additional six practice wickets for the national team.
Ten teams are competing in the Division 2 qualifiers and they have been divided into two groups. Top team from each group would join Nepal, Malaysia, and Singapore in the Division 1 qualifiers and fight for a single spot in the Under-19 World Cup from Asia.
Group 1 has Hong Kong, the Maldives, Bahrain, China and Kuwait, while Group 2 consists of Saudi Arabia, Bhutan, Thailand, Qatar and Oman.
SQUAD: Hussain Khan, Ahmed Mushtaq, Shubh Agarwal, Samil Valiyapurayil Sadiq, Patrick Romelo Akmeemana Kumarage, Aditya Piyush Makadia, Solaiman Mohamed, Kalith Charitha Anthony Amarasinghe, Afsarullah, Dhanitha Sandesh Gallu Hettiarrachchige, Fateen Suhail Hakim, Nivid Rakeshbhai Patel, Bismillah Khan, Syed Yousef Tameem. Reserve players: Sheikh Jassim Mohamed Asam, Mohamed Azam Zaheed, Mohamed Ismath Zayan, Saud Kamal, Suyash Sudhir Kumar Patel.
QCA president Yousef Jeham al-Kuwari.
