The 3rd edition of the U19 Youth Asia Cup is set to begin tomorrow (15th December) in Sri Lanka with the participation of 8 teams.
Visit the U19 Youth Asia Cup Hub
With the theme of ‘Strengthening Asian Youth for Global Power’, the tournament was officially launched today at Galadari Hotel by the presence of all teams, officials and distinguished dignitaries led by Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara and Sri Lanka Cricket President Thilanga Sumathipala.
India and Pakistan were crowned joint champions in the first Youth Asia Cup in 2012 after the final was tied in Malaysia while India comfortably won the 2013/14 tournament held in UAE beating Pakistan by 40 runs in the final.
‘All cricketers who take part in this tournament should take note that they toil hard not for the sake of the ribbon coat or fame but for the sake of their noble countries. This is great opportunity to all these youngsters and I wish them all the very best.’ Dayasiri Jayasekara said at the official opening ceremony.
WATCH LIVE: SRI LANKA V NEPAL – U19 YOUTH ASIA CUP
The host country, Sri Lanka led by Kamindu Mendis will be competing against former champions, India, Nepal and Malaysia in group A while the strong Pakistan team will battle it out with Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Singapore in group B. Two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals. The knockout stage matches are scheduled to be played at R. Premadasa International Stadium under lights.
Photo Album: U19 Youth Asia Cup 2016 – Opening Ceremony
This is incidentally the first international tournament to be held in Sri Lanka after the establishment of the Asian Cricket Council headquarters in Colombo in August this year, ‘One of the ACC’s mandates is developing skills of cricket playing youth in the region in order to ensure that the sport has access to a steady pool of talent. By playing Day/Night cricket, these youngsters get exposure in order to play for their national team in the future. I wish all the teams, good luck and may the best team win.’ Thilanga Sumathipala who is also the Chairman of ACC Developing Committee shared his views.
Kamindu Mendis to lead Sri Lanka U19s in Youth Asia Cup
Kamindu Mendis of Richmond College, Galle has been named Sri Lanka U19 captain for the upcoming U19 Youth Asia Cup.
Group A teams will be playing their round-robin matches in Colombo with three venues, NCC, CCC and De Zoysa Stadium, Moratuwa hosting the six matches while the countries in group B will be playing their matches at Galle International Stadium, Matara Uyanwaththa Stadium and Surrey Village Grounds, Maggona.
Squads
Afghanistan
Naveen-Ul-Haq Murid (Captain), Wafadar Momand, Rahman Wali Khalil, Parwiz Malikzai, Ikram Ali Khil, Naveen Obaid, Zahir Khan Pakten, Ibrahim Zadran, Nisarul-Haq Wahdat, Yousuf Zazai, Tariq Stanikzai, Zahidullah Kotwal, Qais Ahmed Kamawal, Darwish Abdulrasool, M U Rahman, Dawlat Ahmadzai (Coach).
Bangladesh
Mohammed Saif Hassan (Captain), Sozib Hosen, Nazmul Alam, Afif Hossain, Aminul Islam Biplob, Rayan Rafsan Rahman, Habibur Rahman, Md Rakib, Mahidul Islam Bhuiyan, Nayeem Hasan, Shakhawat Hossain, Qazi Onik Islam, Yeasin Arafat, Mukidul Islam, Mohammad Abdul Halim, Abdul Karim (Coach).
India
Abhishek Sharma (Captain), Prithvi Shaw, Sandeep K Tomar, Digvijay Birender Rangi, Chandan Sahani, Shubman Gill, Priyam Garg, Daryl S Ferrario, Ayush Jamwal, Kamlesh Singh Nagarkoti, Rahul Deshraj Chahar, Rishabh Bhagat, Izhaan Ashfaque Sayed, Simarjeet Singh, Shiva Singh, Rahul Dravid (Coach).
Malaysia
Virandeep Singh (Captain), Syed Aziz Syed Mubarak (Vice Captain), Mohomad Hasif Norhaizan, Mohomad Khair, Saif Ullah Malik, Naim Nazley, Arjoon Thillanathan, Mohommad Hashim, Muhamad Haziq, Ainool Haqiem Muhamed Yatim, Mohommad Mahathir Razali, Zubaidi Zulkifle, Abdul Rahman, Islah Zol, Asnawi Osman, Suresh Nawarathnam (Coach).
Nepal
Sandeep Lamichhane (Captain), Mohammed Asif Sheikh, Dipendra Singh Airee, Sandeep Sunar, Rabindra Jung Shahi, Aadil Khan, Bhim Sarki, Anil Kumar Sah, Pawan Sarraf, Suwarnakar Uraw, Kamal Singh Airee, Nandan Yadav, Prakash KC Abhinash Karn, Rohit Kumar Paudel, Binod Kumar Das (Coach).
Pakistan
Nasir Nawaz (Captain), Mohsin Khan, Abdullah Shafiq, Ali Zaryab, Zahid Alam, Muhammad Arif, Waqar Ahmed, Saad Khan, Azam Khan, Shaheen Shah, Muhammad Husnain, Moosa Khan, Ibrar Zaman, Umar Khan, Mansoor Ali, Mansoor Rana (Coach).
Singapore
Shardul Anand Dorwat (Captain), Aahan Gopinath Achar, Sidhanth, Ansh Bhargava, Sean Aggarwal, Rohan Ranagarajan, Krishan Chalapathy, Aman Desai, Janak Prakash, Hanshul Deep Singhania, Avi Dixit, Aryan Badhe Kiran, Bikram Biswasaray, Aryaman Uchil, Iyer Brigu, Mohomed Shoib Abdul Razak (Coach).
Sri Lanka
Kamindu Mendis (Captain), Ashen Bandara, Ravindu Sanjana, Hareen Buddhila, Jehan Daniel, Revan Kelly, Hasitha Boyagoda, Thisaru Rashmika Dilshan, Praveen Jayawickrema, Vishva Chathuranga, Lasith Croospulle, Wanitha Wanninayake, Thilan Prasan, Krishan Sanjula, Nipun Ranshika, Roy Dias (Coach).
Photo Album: Sri Lanka U19 Cricket Team for Youth Asia Cup 2016
 in Sri Lanka with the participation of 8 teams.){kind=link}