Head coach Ijaz upbeat about U19 World Cup quarter-final against Australia

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Twice former champions Pakistan take on Australia in the ICC U19 Men’s World Cup 2022 Super Series quarter-final at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua on Friday.

Pakistan led by all-rounder Qasim Akram gave a good account of their talent, skill and future potential in their three Group C matches that they won convincingly against Zimbabwe, Afghanistan and Papua New Guinea to confirm their quarter-final clash with Australia.

After finishing their group matches in Trinidad on a high with a thumping nine-wicket win over Papua New Guinea, Pakistan have trained hard in the lead-up to the match against Australia in Antigua.

In the match against Papua New Guinea, all-rounder Muhammad Shehzad took five wickets as Pakistan rolled over their opponents for 50.

In the clash against Afghanistan, all-rounder Maaz Sadaqat inspired the side to a 24-run win while opener Haseebullah’s century and pacer Awais Ali’s six-for were instrumental in the overwhelming 115-run victory.

The right-armer Awais is third on the tournament wicket-takers list (nine wickets in three matches) while Haseebullah (155 runs in three matches) is presently placed at number eleven amongst the tournament’s leading run-getters.

Pakistan, meanwhile are the third most successful side after India and Australia in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup, which was launched in 1988 before becoming a biennial event in 1998.

Pakistan have won titles in 2004 and 2006, finished runners-up thrice in 1988, 2010 and 2014, and achieved third positions in 2000, 2008, 2018 and 2020, the boys in green, featuring in the 2022 edition,  would thus enter the quarter-final with an aim of securing a semi-final spot in the tournament for a 10^th time.

Head Coach Ijaz Ahmed is happy with the team’s preparations for the big clash and feels that the team is heading in the right direction in terms of both the tournament and their long term development.

Pakistan U19 Head Coach Ijaz Ahmed: “We have gained good momentum here starting with our warm-up victories against Bangladesh and Canada. The players entered the tournament with great confidence and focus, the performance in our Group C matches is a real testament of the players’ preparation and eagerness to perform at the big stage.

“Since this event is also about learning and overcoming weaknesses, we have been working extra hard with the players to identify their shortcomings while guiding them through their game related challenges. We have emphasised on how the batters need to take responsibility and convert their starts into big scores.

“Most of the players in the side have been with us for two years, they have come through the U16 stage and we have been able to build a quality combination based on our extensive preparations despite the Covid-19 related challenges. Last year, we had a two-month long camp in Karachi which gave us an excellent opportunity to work closely with the players while focusing on individualised plans and drills this included batters, bowlers,  fielders all-rounders and wicketkeepers.”

“My message to the players for the knockout stage of the tournament is simple, they need to enjoy themselves and take minimum pressure of the big stage and play fearless cricket. The players are super fit and that is one of the reasons of the team’s outstanding fielding in the tournament which reflects our outstanding team spirit.”

Squad - Qasim Akram (captain, Central Punjab), Abdul Faseeh (Northern), Abbas Ali (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Ahmed Khan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Ali Asfand (Central Punjab), Arham Nawab (Central Punjab), Awais Ali (Central Punjab), Faisal Akram (Southern Punjab), Haseebullah (wicketkeeper, Balochistan), Irfan Khan Niazi (Central Punjab), Maaz Sadaqat (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Mehran Mumtaz (Northern), Mohammad Shehzad (Southern Punjab), Rizwan Mehmood (Sindh) and Zeeshan Zameer (Sindh)

Traveling reserves: Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper, Sindh), Mohammad Zeeshan (Central Punjab).