Junior probables named

NEW DELHI, Dec 15: Thirty probables have been selected for the MTN World Cup (under-19) tournament to be held in South Africa from January ...

NEW DELHI, Dec 15: Thirty probables have been selected for the MTN World Cup (under-19) tournament to be held in South Africa from January 11 to February 1. The probables will under a short camp at PCA Stadium in Mohali from December 18 to 24 under the supervision of national junior coach K Srikkanth. The final list of 14 is likely to be named on December 28 during the CK Nayudu inter-zonal (one-dayers) tournament to be held here.

Releasing the list of probables, Jyoti Bajpai, joint secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said, the Indian team will

leave for Johannesburg on January 6. India will take on hosts South Africa in the tournament opener at the Wanderers on January 11.

The top two teams from each group will make the super league, with the top two finishers making the final at the Wanderers. The eight teams that do not make it to the super league will figure in the Plate League, with the top two making it to the Plate final.

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The last World Youth Cup (under-19) was held in 1988, Australia beat Pakistan in the final, at the Oval, Adelaide.

The importance of the tournament is immense as some of the biggest names in international cricket today earned their spurs in the 1988 edition. They include Brian Lara, Sanath Jayasuriya, Michael Atherton and Inzamam-ul Haq.

While former skipper K Srikkanth is coach of the Indian team, it is interesting to note that many big and prominent personalities will be the coaches of some of the other teams that are participating in the South Africa tournament. They include Allan Border (Australia), Gordon Greenidge (Bangaldesh), Gus Logie (West Indies), Micky Stewart (England), Vincent Barnes (South Africa) and Anton Ferrera also of South Africa.