KARACHI, Nov 17: Pakistan junior talent will come under scrutiny as they take on Sri Lanka in the opening encounter of five-match under-19 cricket one-day series at National Stadium Sunday.
The series will show how much talent Pakistan possesses after exposure against a genuine international side.
Sri Lanka is known for their strong setup at the school and junior level. Pakistani teenagers have to produce their best to offer them real challenge.
Sri Lanka won the inaugural under-17 Asia Cup in Karachi last year beating Pakistan. Two members of that squad are in the current tour party, skipper Dhammika Niroshan and Jeevan Mendis.
In the under-19 World Cup final, hosts Sri Lankan lost to India and the current series is part of two team’s preparations for next year’s Junior World Cup in New Zealand.
Left handed opening batsman Salman Butt is leading Pakistan team and he had shown good temperament and will be country’s main batting stay in the series.
The home team will also be relying on Khaqan Arsal, who made highest number of runs in the U-19 championship. Other batsmen in the line-up are Asim Munir and Muhammad Fayyaz.
Kamran Younis and Kamran Sajid are good all-rounders while Karachi’s spinners duo of Irfanuddin and Azam Hussain will come under the spotlight,
Off-spinner Irfan took 44 wickets and Azam finished with 38 with his left-arm slow bowling in the national junior championship.
Left-arm pacer Najaf Shah is expected to spearhead Pakistan bowling with another talented pacer Umer Gul from Peshawar.
Umpires Islam Khan and Afzaal Ahmed will supervise 50-overs-a-side match while Anwar Khan will be the match referee.
Entry in the match will be free for general public.
TEAMS (from):
PAKISTAN: Salman Butt (captain) Khaqan Arsal, Asim Munir, Mohammad Fayyaz, Kamran Younis, Saqib Zia, Kamran Sajid, Irfanuddin, Azam Hussain, Azhar Ali, Junaid Zia, Umer Gul, Najaf Shah and Zulqarnain Haider.
SRI LANKA: Dhammika Niroshan (captain) Amith Mendis, Upul Tharanga, Charith Fernando, Sumalka Perera, Sahan Wijeratne Mendis, Mevan Dunusinghe, Amila Wettansinghe, Dhammika Prasad, Enadulade, Wijeeratne Mendis, Mohomed Farveez Mahroof, Prasad Ratawake, N.C.Momasaru and Lasith Fernando.—APP