KARACHI, Jan 30: A 17-member Pakistan U-19 squad was to leave for Colombo (Sri Lanka) on Monday night to take part in the Junior Cricket World Cup being staged there from Feb. 5 to 19.
Sarfraz Ahmed of Karachi is leading the team while left handed opener Nasir Jamshed of Lahore is his deputy.
Defending champion Pakistan is drawn in pool “A” with New Zealand, Bangladesh and Uganda.
2004 Junior World Cup runners-up West Indies, South Africa, Australia and USA are drawn in group “B”. Group “C” consist of India, Sri Lanka, Scotland, Namibia and England. Zimbabwe, Ireland and Nepal are drawn in pool “D”.
Pakistan would launch their title defence campaign when they take on Uganda on Feb.6 at P. Saravanamuttu Stadium, Colombo. They would be up against Bangladesh on Feb.8 at Nondescript Cricket Club ground, Colombo, and plays last league match against New Zealand at Sinhalese Sports Club ground, Colombo, on Feb. 10.
Top two teams from each group will advance in Super League quarterfinals which will be played on Feb. 11 and 14, followed by super league semifinals on Feb.16 and final on Feb. 19 with Feb. 20 being a reserve day.
Squad:
Sarfraz Ahmed (Captain), Ali Khan, Muhammad Fahim, Ali Asad, Riaz Kail, Nasir Jamshed, Muhammad Ibrahim, Muhammad Laeeq, Ramiz Raja, Syed Imad Wasim, Usman Malik, Jamshed Ahmed, Anwar Ali and Akhtar Ayub.—APP