ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup Day 13 Preview
So controversial has been West Indies’s entry into the quarterfinal after Keemo Paul Mankaded Zimbabwe’s Richard Ngarava to seal a two-run win in a do-or-die clash, that most eyes were trained on the protagonist at the nets. But the team has closed ranks and Dwain Gill, the manager, made it clear that even if Paul was made available for an interaction, he would not be talking about thatdismissal.
West Indies, however, has more to it than being at the centre of one of the controversies in what has otherwise been a fantastic tournament. Alzarri Joseph has led the charge with eight wickets that have come through some menacing pace bowling. Having already bowled one delivery at 147 kmh in the Zimbabwe game, Joseph will be a subject of much discussion in the knockout encounter.
While he has taken the pitch out of the equation with his pace, the teams will be mentally prepared for a run-feast on one of the flattest surfaces in the tournament.
That would excite Shamar Springer, one of seven centurions in the tournament, and Gidron Pope, the best two batsmen for West Indies. Pope has been crucial to West Indies’ fortunes and has also picked up seven wickets to lend Joseph adequate support.
Pakistan’s Zeeshan Malik too will to be happy with the track on offer, as it will give him a chance to get back to scoring runs after a minor blip against Sri Lanka. That Pakistan won against Sri Lanka in a close game was largely because of the manner in which Malik, who was standing-in for an injured Gauhar Hafeez, handled his spinners. Of particular interest was the way he and Shadab Khan, the legspinner, changed the field placement to get Charith Asalanka, Sri Lanka’s captain and best batsman, out.
Pakistan also have with it Hasan Mohsin, an attractive all-rounder who swings the new ball and hits good shots from No. 5. He is the glue of this side as he offers the think-tank an option to build the playing XI around him.
On paper, a West Indies-Pakistan clash is quite exciting, but it remains to be seen how West Indies, which beat Zimbabwe and Fiji but lost to England in the group stages, will tackle the young Asian spinners.
No matter which way the wind drifts, the likes of Joseph, Springer, Pope, Zeeshan, Shadab and Mohsin have a chance to carry the temperamental nature of a Pakistan-West Indies contest to the next generation.
Teams (from):
Pakistan: Gohar Hafeez (capt), Muhammad Asad, Saif Ali, Saif Badar, Sameen Gul, Salman Fayyaz, Shadab Khan, Hasan Khan, Irfan Liaqat, Hasan Mohsin, Umair Masood, Zeeshan Malik, Arsal Sheikh, Ahmad Shafiq. Mohammad Umar.
**West Indies:**Shimron Hetmyer (capt), Shahid Crooks, Keacy Carty, Michael Frew, Jyd Goolie, Tevin Imlach, Alzarri Joseph, Ryan John, Kirstan Kallicharan, Obed McCoy, Gidron Pope, Keemo Paul, Odean Smith, Shamar Springer, Emmanuel Stewart.
South Africa U19 v Zimbabwe U19, 9th-place play-off semi-final
Sheikh Kamal International Stadium, Cox’s Bazar
An African derby will be played out in a little beach town in Bangladesh as South Africa U19 and Zimbabwe U19 go head to head in the semifinal for the ninth-place play-off. Both teams head in on the back of comprehensive victories in the quarterfinals, against associate nations, and both will want to do well here, with each side having had a miserable time in the league stages.
South Africa hasn’t quite hit the highs this campaign and in its victory over Ireland, it seemed particularly cautious chasing the 186-run target, doing so in 46 very carefully managed overs. Zimbabwe chased a similar target – 187 – against Canada in just 31.4 overs, but it lost four wickets on the way and it was something its captain, Brandon Mavuta, was displeased about. In their own ways, both teams showed signs of nerves there, against sides whose bowlers weren’t always threatening.
For both sides, this clash will be a significantly higher challenge than what they have faced so far in the Plate Championship. Win this, and a place in the top ten is assured. Lose, and they could finish as low as 12th.
Teams (from):
**South Africa:**Tony de Zorzi (capt), Ziyaad Abrahams, Dean Foxcroft, Dayyaan Galiem, Willie Ludick, Wandile Makwethu, Conner McKerr, Rivaldo Moonsamy, Wiaan Mulder, Luke Philander, Farhaan Sayanvala, Lutho Sipamla, Liam Smith, Kyle Verreynne and Sean Whitehead.
**Zimbabwe:**Brandon Mavuta (capt), Trevvor Chibvongodze, Jeremy Ives, Adam Keefe, Kundai Matigimu, William Mashinge, Wessly Madhevere, Rugare Magarira, Sydney Murombo, Ryan Murray, Richard Ngarava, Akshay Patel, Brendan Sly, Shaun Snyder, Milton Shumba.
Fiji U19 v Scotland U19, 13th-place play-off semi-finalSheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium Academy Ground, Cox's Bazar
Scotland U19 will be confident of claiming its first win of the competition when it faces Fiji U19 in the semifinal for the right to play for the 13th spot. Fiji has struggled in its maiden appearance in the tournament, and it was more of the same in the quarterfinal against Afghanistan, when it conceded 340 runs and was reduced to 18 for 5. However, it showed grit and pluck thereafter to end up posting 114 – its first three-figure score in the tournament.
Despite that, Scotland, which is winless so far in the tournament, is expected to have a little too much experience and firepower for Fiji. Its batting and bowling departments haven’t done much of note so far, but that could change against Fiji.
Teams (from):
**Fiji:**Saimoni Tuitoga (capt), Josaia Baleicikoibia, Malakai Cokovaki, Petero Cabebula, Jack Charters, Jordan Dunham, Vaibhav Kapadia, Delaimatuku Maraiwai, Ledua Qionivoka, Samuel Saunokonoko, Cakacaka Tikoisuva, Peni Vuniwaqa, Sosiceni Weleilakeba, Tuwai Yabaki.
**Scotland:**Neil Flack (capt), Haris Aslam, Ryan Brown, Scott Cameron, Harris Carnegie, Mohammad Azeem Dar, Mohammad Ghaffar, Rory Johnston, Ihtisham Malik, Finlay McCreath, Mitchell Rao, Owais Shah, Simon Whait, Jack Waller, Ben Wilkinson.