Samson back in U-19 squad for Asia Cup
Sanju Samson, the Kerala wicketkeeper-batsman, has returned to India’s Under-19 squad and will be the vice-captain for the ACC U-19 Asia Cup scheduled to be held in December-January 2013-14 in the United Arab Emirates.
Samson had missed the U-19 side’s last tournament, a quadrangular series in Visakhapatnam that started in September, because he was playing for Rajasthan Royals in the Champions League Twenty20 2013.
The 15-man squad for the Asia Cup will be led by Vijay Zol, who has enjoyed a great run as the skipper and primary batsman of the U-19 side, with triumphs in the quadrangular series preceded by victory in a tri-nation series in Australia in July and a bilateral one-day series win in Sri Lanka.
Eight teams are divided into two groups for the Asia Cup, with India in Group A along with Pakistan, UAE and Nepal. Group B has Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Malaysia.
Several members of the India sides that have won tournaments this year are part of the squad, including Akhil Herwadkar, Ankush Bains, Ricky Bhui, Shreyas Iyer, Sarfaraz Khan, Deepak Hooda, Kuldeep Yadav, Amir Gani and CV Milind.
The tournament will run from December 28 to January 4 and follow a round-robin format with the top two teams from each group advancing to the knockout semifinals.
Squad: Vijay Zol (capt), Sanju Samson (vice-capt, wk), Akhil Herwadkar, Ankush Bains, Ricky Bhui, Shreyas Iyer, Sarfaraz Khan, Deepak Hooda, Kuldeep Yadav, Amir Gani, Karan Kaila, CV Milind, Avesh Khan, Rishi Arothe, Monu Kumar Singh.
Schedule:
December 28 (Saturday): India vs UAE, Sharjah Cricket Stadium; Pakistan vs Nepal, ICC Global Cricket Academy Ground 1; Bangladesh vs Malaysia, Abu Dhabi Oval 1; Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, Abu Dhabi Oval 2.
December 29 (Sunday): India vs Nepal, ICC Global Cricket Academy Ground 1; Pakistan vs UAE, Sharjah Cricket Stadium; Bangladesh vs Afghanistan, Abu Dhabi Oval 1; Sri Lanka vs Malaysia, Abu Dhabi Oval 2.
December 30 (Monday): Rest day.
December 31 (Tuesday): India vs Pakistan, Dubai International Stadium; Nepal vs UAE, Sharjah Cricket Stadium; Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka, Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi; Afghanistan vs Malaysia, Abu Dhabi Oval 1.
January 1 (Wednesday): Rest day.
January 2 (Thursday): First semifinal (1A vs 2B), Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Second semifinal (2A vs 1B), ICC Global Cricket Academy Ground 1.
January 3 (Friday): Rest day.
January 4 (Saturday): Final, Sharjah Cricket Stadium.