Stiff competition beckons ahead of U-19 Qualifier camp

Cricket Kenya has completed the Men’s U-19 trials with 38 players selected to proceed to camp ahead of the U – 19 Men’s World Cup Africa Division 1 Qualifier in Tanzania from 23^rd – 29^th July 2023. The national training camp will begin on 9^th May 2023 at Sikh Union Sports Club and proceed until the final squad is named.

Kenya qualified for the tournament by virtue of winning the Africa Division 2 Qualifier, unbeaten, in Nigeria in September/ October 2022.

The tournament will feature six teams, Nigeria and Sierra Leone joining Kenya from last year’s Qualifier while Uganda, Namibia and the hosts automatically slot in after topping the ICC Africa Division 1 Qualifier in Rwanda in September/ October 2021.  Uganda was the sole African representative, progressing to the 2022 U – 19 Men’s World Cup in West Indies. 

Mombasa and Nakuru Counties picked three boys – a – piece out of a total of 19 and 20 participants, respectively while Nairobi will be represented by 32 players out of the 51 who showed up from various Clubs to complete the trials over the Labour Day weekend.

The shortlisted squad will now proceed to train under the tutelage of U-19 head coach Josephat Irungu who continues being in charge of the team after his success in Lagos with Cricket Kenya Development Director Thomas Odoyo and the Chairperson of the selection committee, Alfred Njuguna overseeing the process.

Cricket Kenya’s Development Director Thomas Odoyo is optimistic about the crop of players that have come together from the trials and believes that there will be healthy competition in camp.

“All the players who went to Nigeria last year have been retained in the current squad of 38, meaning that there will be more competition and pressure for them to retain their positions come Dar es Salaam. We are planning on reducing the squad by the end of the month to 20 players and eventually end up with a final squad of 16.”

There will be a uniform programme for all the players with those in Nakuru being coached by ex - Kenya international Peter Ongondo while the Mombasa team will have former Cricket Kenya captain Maurice Odumbe.

“Since only three players made the shortlist in each of the two Counties, they will team up with the U-15 sides in readiness for the next Qualifier before they join up the final squad, if selected,” added Odoyo.

On his part, U – 19 Head Coach Josephat Irungu is only too happy to bowl off the training camp with the pool of players assembled with a focus on batting depth as well as getting the players to understand their opponents.

“The team is technically apt since we have the advantage of seasoned players plying the Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association (NPCA) Super League such as Vishil, Arnav, Vaibhav, Darsh and Yash with the rest from Nairobi playing in Division I and II. This also makes it easier to improve on their fitness as much as they have to work extra hard given the timelines.”

He reiterated that everyone had an opportunity to make it into the team and hopes that they can acclimatize in Mombasa two weeks prior to the tournament to mimic the weather and playing conditions.

SHORTLISTED SQUAD FOR CAMP

1. Brian Likavu (WK) – Kenya Kongonis Cricket Club
2. Darsh Panchani – Shree Cutchi Leva Patel Samaj
3. Raj Manji – Sikh Union Sports Club
4. Yash Gohil (WK) – Nairobi Gymkhana Sports Club
5. Vishil Patel – Ruaraka Sports Club
6. Vaibhav Naresh – Stray Lions Cricket Club
7. Dedan Omondi – Stray Lions Cricket Club
8. Stian Smith – Nairobi Gymkhana Sports Club
9. Yuvraj Bhatyani - Nairobi Gymkhana Sports Club
10. Duncan Muchenditsi – Kenya Kongonis Cricket Club
11. Rayan Kassam - Nairobi Gymkhana Sports Club
12. Manveer Singh – Sikh Union Sports Club
13. Krish Haria – Swamibapa Sports Club
14. Peter Ngure – Obuya Cricket Academy
15. Ken Mwangi – Obuya Cricket Academy
16. Allan Kibabi – Kenya Kongonis Cricket Club
17. Jiyan Patel – Nairobi Gymkhana Sports Club
18. Kelvin Mutembei – Stray Wolves Cricket Club
19. Ankit Ashani – Shree Cutchi Leva Patel Samaj
20. Rohit Varsani – Shree Cutchi Leva Patel Samaj
21. Neel Doshi - Nairobi Gymkhana Sports Club
22. Saavir Karani – Obuya Cricket Academy
23. Darshil Suthar – Goan Institute
24. Kelvin Nganga – Kenya Kongonis Cricket Club
25. Ashdeep Kundi – Sikh Union Sports Club
26. Simon Mburu – Kenya Kongonis Cricket Club
27. Arnav Patel - Nairobi Gymkhana Sports Club
28. Akshith Sekar - Nairobi Gymkhana Sports Club
29. Yug Kerai – Shree Cutchi Leva Patel Samaj
30. Garv Galaiya – Stray Leopards Cricket Club
31. Aditya Vekaria – Shree Cutchi Leva Patel Samaj
32. Sajeeth Chidmbaram – Stray Lions Cricket Club
33. Hitendra Sanghani – Shree Cutchi Leva Patel Samaj
34. Vatsal Shah – Mombasa Sports Club
35. Manav Devani – Mombasa Sports Club
36. Hassan Lijodi – Pirates Cricket Club
37. Yusuf Khamala - Pirates Cricket Club
38. Joseph Macharia - Pirates Cricket Club