Final U19 cricket team for World Cup qualifiers named

Kenya men’s U19 cricket team head coach Josephat Irungu has named a final squad of 14 players expected to represent the country in the ICC U19 World Cup Qualifiers set for 23-29 July in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

The announcement comes after the team - initially composed of eighteen players -jetted back into the country from India on Monday afternoon, before embarking on a mini-Kenyan camp before taking part in the championships.

Mozzart Sport reported earlier this month that the entire squad plus coaches, traveled to the Omtex ICWC Cricket Institute based in Saphale, Palghar district, Maharashtra for a 10-day high quality training session in India, where they were expected to have a taste of the world's largest indoor cricket training facility, equipped with a gym, presentation room and physio room, all set to improve their overall improvement of cricketing skills.

The trip had been sponsored by the Kenyan Government to a tune of Ksh. 2.6 million.

Given an opportunity to gauge his players for the first time since the team preparations began in May, Irungu has gone on to drop four players including; Saavir Karani, Hassan Lijodi, Manav Devani and Yuvraj Bhatyani from the final team now holding their training at the Moi International Sports Centre - Kasarani Grounds.

After trials conducted by head coach Irungu with help from his two assistants; Lameck Onyango and Thomas Odongo, an initial squad of 32 players was slashed to 18 players last month, culminating to the final 14 expected to fly Kenya’s flag high.

Kenya will be joined by five other nations, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Namibia, Uganda and hosts Tanzania for the sole ticket to the World Cup finals in Sri Lanka next year.

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Uganda and Namibia got their place after topping Africa Division One qualifiers in Rwanda last September, while Kenya got their place following their win in the Africa Division Two qualifiers in Nigeria.

Kenya defeated Nigeria by 11 runs at the MKO Cricket grounds and are one of the main favorites in the tournament.

FULL SQUAD: Brian Likavu (WK), Darsh Panchani (Bat), Raj Manji (Bat), Yash Gohil (WK), Vishil Patel (Bat), Vaibhav Naresh (Medium pace), Dean Omondi (Medium pace), Stian Smith (Bat), Krish Haria (Bat), Ken Mwangi (Medium pace), Allan Kibabi (Bat), Neel Doshi (Medium pace), Hitendra Sanghani (Left arm spin), Vatsal Shah (Left arm spin).