U-19 preparations underway in earnest

[CrimsonAvenger]

http://www.herald.co.zw/inside.aspx?sectid=993&cat=5

Cric technical team opens doors to upcoming players

By Innocent Ndorikanda

THE Zimbabwe Cricket Under-19 technical team has invited franchises to forward names of promising players to undergo trials as they begin preparations for the 2012 World Cup.

The next International Cricket Council Under-19 World Cup will take place in Argentina.

Zimbabwe put up a disastrous performance at this year’s World Cup in New Zealand in which they finished 13th.

The technical team, however, seemed to have learnt a harsh lesson from that experience and in efforts to avoid another embarrassment, they have embarked on a long search for talent with 18 more months before the global youth cricket showcase.

Under–19 cricket team manager Nicholas Singo yesterday said they have given themselves much time to prepare for 2012.

"Right now we are in the process of registering players who should then go for trials for the national team.

"We are going round the country in search of the right resources to work with.

"But we have since written to all the five franchises to release names of capable players for trials and they have already begun to respond to our call.

"This time the process is different from the traditional selection process in that we are going to have a longer period to assess the boys before the World Cup," he said.

He added that they were looking forward to participating in as many international tours as possible for the team before 2012.

"We had a tour to South Africa and that was part of our selection process.

"The young players who travelled to South Africa were selected when we had an inter-franchise tournament earlier this year.

"And we have seen among them those whom we think have the potential," he said.

Singo underscored the need for the youth teams to get vast international exposure before the World Cup.

He also said Zimbabwe will tour South Africa in December before returning to the same country in January next year.

Singo said they were also considering making it a prerequisite that players should at least have played franchise cricket in order to qualify for the national team.

"We have made our suggestions to franchises, but we have not agreed on anything. But very soon we hope that would be effected as a prerequisite for one to be in the national team.

"Because in most countries youngsters are exposed to county cricket before they are introduced to national teams".

Singo will be working in the selection process with the Under–19 coach Walter Chawaguta.

[aydee]

"Because in most countries youngsters are exposed to county cricket before they are introduced to national teams".

[/quote]

Simply not true (assuming that he was talking about u19 national teams). To be honest, the Zim team for the last u19 world cup were probably the most experienced in the tournament in terms of first class appearances.