Cricket U19 World Cup - India to meet Pak in QF - Sandhu, Who ?

The U19 World Cup is on – Quarter Finalists have been spotted and India is to play arch-rival Pakistan in one of the Quarter Finals matches. The ninth edition of the tournament is being staged in the Australian state of Queensland, with matches being shared between the cities of Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and Townsville.  Besides the 10 full ICC members – Scotland, Nepal, Ireland, Afghan, Papua New Guinea and Namibia are also participating.    16 teams were in the fray in Four Groups.  How well would Gurinder Sandhu perform ?-  Gurinder Sandhu would certainly not play in the match between India -  Pakistan, nor did he play in any of the group matches.

Group A had : Australia, England, Ireland, Nepal.  Group B : Pakistan, New Zealand, Afghanistan, Scotland.  Group C : West Indies, India, Zimbabwe, Papua New Guinea. Group D : South Africa, Sri Lanka,  Bangladesh, Namibia.

India lost their group match to West Indies and hence stood 2nd in Group C and are meeting Pakistan who topped Group B.  The format is – the teams with most wins in Group matches proceed to QF.  If there are teams with equal points and equal wins in the Group matches then in such case the team with the higher net run rate in the Group matches will be placed in the higher position. If still equal, the team which was the winner of the head to head match played between them will be placed in the higher position. In the highly unlikely event that teams cannot be separated by the above this will be done by drawing lots.

If a quarter-final is tied, the teams shall compete in a one over per side eliminator to determine which team progresses to the semi-final. If following a tie, weather conditions prevent the one over per side eliminator from being completed, or if the match is a no result, then the team that finished in the higher position in the Group stage shall proceed to the semi-finals.

In their match against WI India made 166 with good contribution from keeper Smit Patel who made 51. The keeper was quite noisy and did a wonderful stumping as well.   Harmeet bowled well.  West Indies' fast bowlers made best use of the early morning conditions in Townsville to give their team an advantage that India failed to bridge as the day wore on.  

The Indian team had been together for sometime in conditioning camps and went through - "trust walk", a team-building exercise that involved a leader, who wasn't allowed to speak, guiding a group of blindfolded people through a forest track in Nagarhole, a jungle reserve in Karnataka.  The Indian captain is Unmukt Chand who had a limited exposure in the recent edition of IPL as well. 

Gurinder Singh Sandhu

photo courtesy : www.cricinfo.com

If you remember the Q in the first para – Gurinder Singh Sandhu  will not play, for he is not playing for India but selected for Australia U19.  Born in 1993, this right arm seamer who bats left handed, plays for New South Wales.  He excelled in the win against Scotland overshadowing the century of Jimmy Perison, by taking 5 wickets, which included a hat-trick.  

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

17th Aug 2012.