Rohail Nazir, who scored a century on his first-class debut this season, has been appointed as Pakistan Under-19 captain for next month's series against Sri Lanka, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced on Tuesday. Mohammad Taha, who was also part of the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup 2018 squad, has been appointed as vice-captain. Taha, a left-handed top-order batsman, scored 54 runs in five matches in New Zealand and is yet to make his first-class debut.
Wicketkeeper/batsman Rohail scored 130 and four for Islamabad against Habib Bank Limited in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy in September. He played three more first-class matches in his debut season and finished with 300 runs besides dismissing 13 batsmen behind the wickets. Rohail was Hassan Khan's vice-captain in the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup 2018 in New Zealand where Pakistan finished third after their third-fourth place play-off against Afghanistan was abandoned without a ball being bowled. Rohail finished the tournament with 140 runs and 14 dismissals, and later went on to captain Pakistan U-19 in the ACC U-19 Asia Cup in September/October 2018.
Faisalabad's wrist spinner Suleman Shafqat is the other member from the World Cup squad to retain a place in the Sri Lanka touring party. He took three wickets in New Zealand. Apart from Rohail, the only other first-class cricketer in the 15-player squad is FATA's fast bowler Abbas Afridi, who has played two matches and taken four wickets. Saim Ayub is the other notable cricketer to find a place in the side. The left-hander had previously captained Pakistan U16 on the tour to Australia in April 2018 and was also part of the side that featured in the ACC U-19 Asia Cup last year in Bangladesh.
Keeping in mind the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup 2020 in South Africa, the junior selection committee headed by Basit Ali has selected players who were born on or after 1 September 2000 so that they remain eligible for next year's global event to be played from 17 January to 9 February 2020. Pakistan U-19 will play two four-day matches against Sri Lanka U19 in Galle (3-6 May) and Hambantota (9-12 May), before taking on Sri Lanka U19 in three 50-over matches in Hambantota (15 and 17 May) and Galle (20 May).
SQUAD: Rohail Nazir (captain, wicket-keeper); Mohammad Taha (vice-captain); Abbas Afridi; Akhtar Shah; Basit Ali; Haider Ali; Khayyam Khan (wicket- keeper); Mohammad Haris; Mohammad Junaid; Mohammad Wasim; Niaz Khan; Saim Ayub; Shiraz Khan; Suleman Shafqat; Qasim Akram. Reserves: Amir Ali; Irfan Niazi; Mohammad Amir; Nadir Shah; Said Nazir. Team management: Azam Khan (coach-cum-manager), Mohtashim Rasheed (assistant coach), Faheem Shah (physiotherapist), Saboor Ahmed (trainer), Usman Hashmi (analyst).
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