MUSCAT: Oman Cricket will host a strong Hong Kong under-19 team for a four-match 50-over-a-side bilateral series at the Oman Cricket Academy ground in Al Amerat from February 15.
Aditya Gurumukhi has been named the skipper of Oman squad with Tanuj Sivakumar appointed his deputy for the series that will conclude on February 21.
The bilateral series is part of OC’s endeavour to provide greater exposure to national U19 cricketers with coach Adeel Shafique hoping that his boys would gain experience and build on their match temperament by playing against stronger opposition.
It may be mentioned that Oman U19 lads had missed out on a place in the Asia Regional Qualifier after going out in the semifinals of the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup Division 2 – Asia Qualifier at home last October. On the other hand, Hong Kong went on to reach the final before losing to Singapore.
Both Singapore and Hong Kong along with Kuwait, Malaysia, Nepal and hosts UAE will fight for the lone spot in the final qualification event - Asia Regional Qualifier - for the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2024 in Sri Lanka. The Asia Regional Qualifier will be held in the UAE from February 24-March 2 and Hong Kong’s tour of Oman is expected to give them good preparations ahead of the regional qualifier.
The 14-member Oman squad, supported by Majees Technical Services, will include few new faces since the national team played in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup Division 2 – Asia Qualifier. Among the new faces are Wajih Abbas Farista, Adarsh Srinivasan, and Mustaqeem Sayed.
The first of the four-match 50-over series will begin on February 15 while the second match will be played the next day. The third and fourth match of the series will be held on February 19 and 21.
According to Shafique, talks are underway with Hong Kong Cricket officials on enhancing the bilateral relations and making the series into an annual affair.
Oman U19 squad: Aditya Gurumukhi (captain), Tanuj Sivakumar (vice-captain), Aryan Bisht, Mohammad Arafat Islam, Lakshmi Narayana, Glen Menezes, Wajih Abbas Farista, Devansh Loya, Prateish Ramesh, Mustaqeem Sayed, Rahul Habibulla (wk), Aleem Matto, Adharsh Srinivasan, Ahmed al Zadjali (Omani). Manager: Sher Mohammad. Coach: Adeel Shafique.
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