'We must learn from our seniors' - Bhuwan

Just Nepali Cricket/December 25

Nepal is gearing up for the second edition of the U19 Asia Cup 2014 to be held in UAE from 28 December 2013 to 4 January 2014. Asian Cricket Council (ACC) constructed the U19 Asia Cup to offer a fair prospect to youth of the associates' nation to play competitive cricket and it has been great success so far. Four test playing nation along with four associate countries will participate in this tournament.

Members of the U19 Cricket team is talking to each other after the Farewell program, organized by CAN in Kathmandu on Wednesday. The team is heading toward UAE on December 26 to participate in the U19 Asia Cup. Photo: Just Nepali Cricket

This tournament will carry plenty of worth for Nepal even though they missed the Youth World Cup. The team is under experienced Bhuwan Karki did not have the proper opportunity to prepare for the tournament. He said , ' We have to accept that the entire concentration is on senior team for the big tournament, and we have got only 75 percent preparation because of ground inaccessibility and other factors, yet we are happy with it and really built up our confident for Asia Cup'.

Nepal was strong in age level cricket and awarded the title of giant killer when they defeated test nations like Pakistan, South Africa, New Zealand and Bangladesh. Now the label is under great threat as they missed to reach the world cup and finished fourth in the ACC U19 Elite Cup. Yet captain is confident of defeating test nation. He said, 'We must learn from our senior that if we give our 100% that we can achieve anything'.  Bhuwan highlighted the importance of this tournament for the players 'Youth are backbone of senior cricket team and this tournament is ladder for youths to reach the national squad.'

The coach Jung Bahadur Thapa thinks the team is balanced with talented youth despite the fact that they will miss the service of Som Pal Kami. Som Pal was selected for senior team and Sushil Kandel got injury. Therefore Rahul Pratap Singh and Susan Bhari found chance to be within the team.  The coach indicated that Nepal's batting is in good shape. He added a point, ' Amrit Shrestha and Sunil Dhamala are very good batsmen but they need to deliver for the team'. Coach hinted that lack of experience may cause quandary but he is happy with preparation with limited time and resources. He said, 'we played lots of matches with senior players who are not in the national team which has booted up our strength'.

The team will depart UAE on December 26 and will play the first match against Pakistan on December 28 and second match against India on December 29. Likewise, Nepal and UAE will meet on 31 December. Semi final matches will be played on January 2 and Final of the U19 Asia Cup 2014 will be on January 4.