U19 Men's team ramp up preparations for Africa Qualifier
The Cricket Kenya Men's U-19 team has intensified training ahead of the ICC Men's U19 Cricket World Cup Africa Qualifier to be held next month in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The team has been slashed down to 18 players from the 38 who had been shortlisted earlier on.
Head Coach Josephat Irungu is hoping that the team can acclimatize before the tournament bowls off. "The Government has promised us support to travel to India and acclimatize ahead of the tournament. The high intensity training will help the boys to condition and get into a match winning mentality, since the rain curtailed our earlier training efforts" he adds.
The 18 - Man squad continues to train at Sikh Union Sports Club until the squad is further cut down to the 14 who will travel to Tanzania and two non travelling reserve players in a couple of weeks.
The tournament will run from 21st - 30th July 2023 and will feature Namibia, Uganda, Nigeria and Sierra Leone alongside the hosts.
SHORTLISTED U – 19 SQUAD
- Brian Likavu (WK) – Kenya Kongonis Cricket Club – WK/ Bat
- Darsh Panchani – Shree Cutchi Leva Patel Samaj – Bat
- Raj Manji – Sikh Union Sports Club - Bat
- Yash Gohil (WK) – Nairobi Gymkhana Sports Club – WK/ Bat
- Vishil Patel – Ruaraka Sports Club – Leg spin/ Bat
- Vaibhav Naresh – Stray Lions Cricket Club – Medium Pace/ Bat
- Dedan Omondi – Stray Lions Cricket Club – Medium Pace
- Stian Smith – Nairobi Gymkhana Sports Club - Bat
- Yuvraj Bhatyani - Nairobi Gymkhana Sports Club – Bat/ Medium Pace
- Krish Haria – Swamibapa Sports Club – Bat/ Spin
- Ken Mwangi – Obuya Cricket Academy – Medium Pace
- Allan Kibabi – Kenya Kongonis Cricket Club – Medium Pace/ Bat
- Neel Doshi - Nairobi Gymkhana Sports Club – Medium Pace/ Bat
- Saavir Karani – Obuya Cricket Academy – Medium Pace
- Arnav Patel - Nairobi Gymkhana Sports Club – Off spin
- Hitendra Sanghani – Shree Cutchi Leva Patel Samaj – Left arm spin/ Bat
- Vatsal Shah – Mombasa Sports Club – Left arm China
- Hassan Lijodi – Pirates Cricket Club – Bat /Spin