UAE Under-19s train sights on Asia Cup qualifiers

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UAE Under-19s train sights on Asia Cup qualifiers
The UAE Under-19 celebrate after topping the ICC Asia Division 1 qualifiers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. - Twitter file

Published: Wed 24 Apr 2019, 9:04 PM

Last updated: Wed 24 Apr 2019, 11:10 PM

After coming up with a superlative performance to qualify for the Under-19 World Cup in South Africa, the UAE colts have now trained their sights on the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Under-19 Asia Cup to be held in Sri Lanka.
The UAE lads, who won all five matches in the ICC Asia Division 1 qualifiers held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, earlier this month, will be competing in the ACC Under-19 Western Region Tournament.
The tournament, which runs from April 26 to May 3 will be hosted by the UAE and will be played across three venues - the ICC Cricket Academy at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, The Sevens Stadium's Sir Maurice Flanagan Oval and the Eden Garden in Ajman.
Seven teams -Oman, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Iran, Maldives, apart from the hosts, will be taking part in the competition.
The UAE UAE have been drawn in Pool A alongside Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Iran with Pool B consists of Oman, Qatar, Maldives and Kuwait.
The captaincy changes hands with Fahad Choudhry set to led in place of the highly-successful Aryan Lakra, who was adjudged the Player of the Tournament at the ICC Asia Division 1 qualifiers, after scoring 120 runs and taking 13 wickets.
The Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), have picked a 14-man squad for the tournament.
"We are very grateful to the Asian Cricket Council for awarding us hosts of the 2019 ACC U19 (Western Region) tournament," Zayed Abbas, Emirates Cricket Board Member and Spokesperson, said on Wednesday.
 "UAE offers numerous world-renowned cricket stadia, ovals and practice facilities, this combined with our proven experience in organizing and hosting regional and international world class tournaments continues to see the Emirates Cricket Board be recognised and utilised. We look forward to welcoming our neighbouring unions and wish all teams a rewarding series," he added.
Sri Lanka will host the eight-nation Under-19 Asia Cup in July and August. The winners of the Western Region and the top two nations from the ACC Under-19 Eastern Region Tournament will join India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
The Eastern Region consists of Nepal, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Bhutan, China and Myanmar.
The previous edition of the Asia Cup was held in Bangladesh with six-time champions India going on to beat Sri Lanka by 144 runs in the final.
SQUAD: Fahad Choudhry (C), Vriitya Aravind, Aaron Benjamin, Brandon Martis, Osama Hassan, Niel Lobo, Alishan Sharafu, Syed Haider Shah, Mohammed Faraazuddin, Akasha Tahir, Karthik Meiyappan, Muhammad Mirza, Aryan Lakra, Ansh Tandon.
james@khaleejtimes.com

By James Jose

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