Two players of Indian origin, Aryan Sharma and John James, have been included in Australia’s 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s U-19 World Cup, scheduled in Namibia and Zimbabwe from January 15 to February 6.
Aryan, a versatile batter and slow left-arm spinner, and John, a right-arm medium pace all-rounder, were both part of the Australian squad that faced India in youth Tests and one-dayers in September.
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The squad also features players of diverse heritage, including two of Sri Lankan origin, Naden Cooray and Nitesh Samuel and one of Chinese origin, Alex Lee Young. Australia enters the tournament as defending champions under captain Oliver Peake.
“We’re delighted to announce a strong and well-balanced squad for the ICC Under-19 World Cup,” head coach Tim Nielsen said. “Our focus has been on selecting players with complementary skills to give the team the best chance of success. The selected players have impressed during the U19 series against India and at the recent National U19 Championship in Perth. Some have already trained in senior environments, while others are rapidly progressing through our pathway.”
Australia is placed in Group A alongside Ireland, Japan, and Sri Lanka. The team will arrive in Namibia in early January and play warm-up matches from January 9–14.
“The World Cup is a fantastic opportunity for these young cricketers to showcase their talent and test themselves against the best in the world,” Nielsen added.
Australia Men’s U19 Squad: Oliver Peake (c), Kasey Barton, Naden Cooray, Jayden Draper, Ben Gordon, Steven Hogan, Thomas Hogan, John James, Charles Lachmund, Will Malajczuk, Nitesh Samuel, Hayden Schiller, Aryan Sharma, William Taylor, Alex Lee Young.
(By PTI Inputs)
