More Facts and Figures

2015 marks the 40th anniversary of the Cricket World Cup

Only 3/10 World Cup finals have been won by the chasing side in 1996, 1999 and 2011

Only West Indies and Australia have won back to back World Cups

Pakistan in 90s World Cups (Best period for Pakistan in World Cups)

1992 - Champions
1996 - Hosts
1999 - Runners Up 

There has been a ton in the last 3 World Cup finals

2003 had the most games in a World Cup

1975 was the shortest World Cup with only 15 games (like current Champions Trophy structure)

2007 involved the most teams at the World Cup with 16

Word on ICC U19 World Cup Final

For UAE residents a rare opportunity to watch an ICC World Tournament final involving major cricketing powers, not associate qualification tournaments which are usually held in the UAE. Let's hope we have a good crowd for the day/night ICC World Cup final of Under 19 Cricket.

Most of the players will be playing against South Africa for the first time. South Africa won't be an easy proposition. Two teams that haven't won a lot of ICC events compared to teams like Australia and India, will be looking to add a significant piece of tournament silverware to their trophy cabinet.

However, Pakistan are a previous holder of the Under-19 World Cup, unlike South Africa. Conditions are also more to their liking. Here's hoping from a Pakistani point of view South Africa CHOKE like their seniors.

Big 3 in a Nutshell

1) ICC Champions Trophy restored
2) Test Championship scrapped
3) Opportunity for associates to enter the Test world by winning the intercontinental cup and defeating last placed Test nation in a set of play offs
4) Promotion and relegation in Tests with the big 3 exempt from relegation because of their economic importance to the game
5) Significant redistribution of wealth with big 3 the main beneficiaries of the proposals, giving them best chance of improving their infrastructure 
6) Test fund set up for series not considered economically viable
7) ICC events only to be held by the big 3, events which are the biggest revenue generator
8) Abolition of the Future Tours Programme 

Remembering 2006

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=717378034960070&set=a.200595416638337.49651.193704260660786&type=1&stream_ref=10

https://twitter.com/maza786/status/438686955459866624

Round-Up

Afghanistan finish in 7th place
Pakistan finished in 8th place in 2012

West Indies finished in 6th place
West Indies finished in 6th place in 2012

Sri Lanka finished in 8th place
They finished even lower in 2012

On this day

South Africa at ICC World Cup

1992 = Semi Finalists
1996 = Quarter Finalists
1999 = Semi Finalists
2003 = Hosts
2007 = Semi Finalists
2011 = Quarter Finalists

CWC Top 4 by Year

1975 = West Indies. Runners up = Australia, SF = England and New Zealand
1979 = West Indies. Runners up = England. SF = New Zealand and Pakistan
1983 = India. Runners up = West Indies. SF = England and Pakistan
1987 = Australia. Runners up = England. SF = Pakistan and India.
1992 = Pakistan. Runners up = England. SF = New Zealand and South Africa
1996 = Sri Lanka. Runners up = Australia. SF = West Indies and India
1999 = Australia. Runners up = Pakistan. SF = New Zealand and South Africa
2003 = Australia. Runners up = India. SF = Sri Lanka and Kenya
2007 = Australia. Runners up = Sri Lanka. SF = New Zealand and South Africa
2011 = India. Runners up = Sri Lanka. SF = Pakistan and New Zealand

Most Semi Finals at CWC

Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand = 6
India, England = 5
Sri Lanka = 4
West Indies = 4
South Africa = 3
Kenya = 1

New Zealand in ICC World Cups

1975 = Semi Finalists
1979 = Semi Finalists
1983 = First round
1987 = First round
1992 = Semi Finalists and Hosts
1996 = Quarter Finalists
1999 = Semi Finalists
2003 = First round 
2007 = Semi Finalists
2011 = Semi Finalists
2015 = Hosts

ICC Under 19 World Cup Finals

1988 - Australia vs Pakistan
1998 - England vs New Zealand
2000 - India vs Sri Lanka
2002 - Australia vs South Africa
2004 - Pakistan vs West Indies
2006 - Pakistan vs India
2008 - India vs South Africa
2010 - Australia vs Pakistan
2012 - India vs Australia
2014 - Pakistan vs South Africa 

Verdict

5 Best Players in Side

1) Sami
2) Zafar
3) Zia
4) Imam
5) Ghulam

Definitely won't make it

Saif
Raza

Most Finals at #u19cwc.

MOST FINALS at #u19cwc.
Pak= 5
Ind and Aus= 4
South Africa= 3
Eng, NZ, WI, SL = 1

5 Coaches in 5 World T20s for Pakistan!

2007 = Geoff Lawson
2009 = Intikhab Alam
2010 = Waqar Younis
2012 = Dav Whatmore
2014 = Moin Khan 

5 different coaches in 5 World T20s. Remarkable for a tournament played every 2 years and even after 10 months in one instance with 2010.

Darren Ganga joins the team

Following Harsha and Wasim going to Bangladesh to cover the Asia Cup, the former West Indies international makes an appearance in Dubai to cover the final week of the 10th ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup. 

Pakistan's Strengths For U19CWC 2014

Strengths

Openers
Experience in tournament previously
Left arm spin
Legspin
Left arm seam
Conditions
Form Guide

Weaknesses

Over reliance on openers
Average wicket keeper batter
Not physically the strongest
Too many left handers, not enough variation in batting line up
Big hitters

Zafar Gohar's MOMs vs England

Man of the match in TV game at Derby 2013 vs England 
Man of the match in U-19 tri nations final 2013 in UAE vs England
Man of the match in U-19 World Cup Semi final 2014 vs England

My Predictions That Pakistan Will Win ICC U19CWC 2014

https://twitter.com/maza786/statuses/434555249257234433

https://twitter.com/maza786/statuses/434555392211709952

https://twitter.com/maza786/statuses/434555573825052673

https://twitter.com/maza786/statuses/433907769259737088

https://twitter.com/maza786/statuses/429698133459603456

https://twitter.com/maza786/statuses/369489578249314305

https://twitter.com/maza786/status/437187897742356480

https://twitter.com/maza786/status/437250915125710848

https://twitter.com/maza786/status/437310587685834752

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pakistan-U19-Team-For-2012-U19-World-Cup/198721366882053

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=345223062231882&id=198721366882053&stream_ref=10

http://khelopakistanarticles.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/verdict.html

http://khelopakistanarticles.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/re-drafted-previews-of-icc-u19-world-cup.html

http://khelopakistanarticles.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/the-charm-of-u-19-world-cup.html

http://khelopakistanarticles.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/u19-world-cup-build-up-and-predictions.html

http://www.alloutcricket.com/cricket/blogs/under-19-world-cup-preview

http://khelopakistanarticles.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/harsha-bhogle-to-commentate-at-2014-icc.html

http://pct4ever.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/2014-calls.html

http://pct4ever.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/pakistan-new-season-predictions.html

http://khelopakistanarticles.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/key-players-in-2014-u19-world-cup.html

Pakistan Targeting 5th ICC Trophy in U19 World Cup Final

Wasim Akram No Longer Commentating at 2014 ICC U19 World Cup (Semis and Final)

Wasim did 8/11 live games.

Pakistan Players Currently Playing Their Second ICC U19 World Cup

Sami Aslam
Imam ul Haq
Zafar Gohar
Zia ul Haq

Big Names Following U19CWC

On The Brink

Magnificent photo. You can see how pumped up Zafar Gohar and team are. That’s what it means to Zafar Gohar to be playing in a World Cup final. Very few get the chance to play in a World Cup final. Very few get the chance to play in a World Cup final at any capacity. He may never get to play in the official 50 over World Cup, let alone play in the final of one. For some of the players it will be the only ICC tournament final they play in and the last World Cup match they play in at any level. They have the biggest day of their lives ahead of them.

Zafar Gohar, Imam ul Haq, Sami Aslam, Zia ul Haq and others are playing the last under-19 international match of their careers and they are hoping to top it off with a World Cup triumph, a first since 2006.

They won tri nations in England last year

They won tri nations in UAE last year

They reached the Asia Cup final this year

They beat Afghanistan in a series this year

A World Cup win would be the icing on the cake

Pakistan in ICC men’s tournaments since 2007 WT20

One day cricket was predominantly designed for multinational championships. One day cricket is about building for the major events and doing well at them. Here is Pakistan’s record at ICC events since the inaugural World T20 in South Africa. This is a homeless team, yet a team which finds a way of reaching the business end of international competitions. 

2007 World T20 = Finalists 
2008 Under-19 World Cup = Semi-finalists
2009 World T20 = Winners
2009 Champions Trophy = Semi-finalists
2010 Under-19 World Cup = Finalists
2010 World T20 = Semi-finalists
2011 World Cup = Semi-finalists 
2012 Under-19 World Cup = Quarter Finalists (1 wicket loss)
2012 World T20 = Semi-finalists

2013 Champions Trophy = First round

2014 Under-19 World Cup = At least beaten finalists

4 World T20s

4 Under-19 World Cups

2 Champions Trophies

1 World Cup

9 of the last 11 ICC events Pakistan have reached the semi-final stage. They have reached 4 finals. Will they win their first final since the 2009 ICC World T20?

Nearly There

Congratulations to Pakistan youth team on reaching the World Cup final. Good to see that they did not only rely on the Captain and a guy with the surname called Ul Haq today just like the Pakistan national team! Sami Aslam or Imam ul Haq.

https://www.facebook.com/king.MUH/posts/666704556708580?stream_ref=10

We might do it in 2014 !!!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pakistan-U19-Team-For-2012-U19-World-Cup/198721366882053?ref=stream

Pakistan Enter ICC Final After 4 Years

England are beaten in a thrilling semi final at the DSC. 

Pakistan will be playing the final of a 16 team televised global ICC World tournament on Saturday against either Australia or South Africa.

1992
2004
2006
2009

A 5th major ICC tournament win for Pakistan? One win away. 

Congratulations to Sami Aslam and team.

https://www.facebook.com/PCT.Official/posts/716480808383126?stream_ref=10

Lots of verbals from the England team today in the field, despite Pakistan's dominance over them. But, Pakistan enter the World Cup final with an epic whitewash. 9-0. 

Yes, 9 consecutive wins against England Under 19. It's one of those streaks which is more mental than anything else and we saw that again today with England losing a game that was virtually in the bag for them.

https://www.facebook.com/PCT.Official/posts/716488415049032?stream_ref=10

Nicolas Pooran

West Indies 136/8 in Under 19 World Cup quarter final with a player on 85*. He's emulating one of the many sole acts of the Pakistan Captain. Standing tall as the completely lone contributor in adversity. Anyone can score runs in high scoring quick scoring games. Only the best can score runs when no one else is during matches where bowlers are on top and everyone else has struggled. These are quality runs. These are tough runs. Resurrector with team in disarray.

https://www.facebook.com/king.MUH/posts/666091483436554?stream_ref=10

Defending Champions Knocked Out

India are knocked out of the Under 19 World Cup
Sri Lanka are knocked out of the Under 19 World Cup 
Pakistan meanwhile march into the semi finals vs England

https://www.facebook.com/PCT.Official/posts/715422788488928?stream_ref=10

Pakistan defeated England on all eight occasions they met in 2013 during two triangular series for their respective under 19 sides. 4 in England and 4 in the UAE. Pakistan will therefore start as favourites in the semi final on Monday from the DSC. Next weekend, there will probably be an Under 19 World Cup final on Saturday involving Pakistan with an India-Pakistan Asia Cup match on Sunday. Mouth watering weekend of 50 over tournament cricket in prospect for followers of Pakistan Cricket.

https://www.facebook.com/PCT.Official/posts/715434751821065?stream_ref=10

Pakistan Defending Asia Cup Crown

Before March 22nd 2012.

The Asia Cup had been held 10 times.

Pakistan had just won 1/10.

Pakistan had just reached 2/10 finals.

Under Captain, they not only reached the final, but won it.

Asia Cup is a big event even though not an ICC event; because it involves teams where the market for one day games is the biggest. It is the only continental trophy in the sport. It involves teams that traditionally are the strongest in one day cricket. Add in Pakistan's poor record at the Asia Cup; the 2012 triumph was Misbah's biggest limited over success as captain. Only a World Cup or Champions Trophy could top it.

Analysing Pace

Mitchell Johnson has been stealing the headlines over the last 4 months with some thrilling exhibitions of fast bowling on fast and bouncy wickets. From a neutral perspective, the sight of genuinely quick pace is a refreshing one. Johnson superstitiously has maintained his 'Movember' moustache as a menacing figure with ball in hand, who could blame him? He has been experiencing destructive success of the highest magnitude. The Barmy Army were left chewing their words following their chants about Johnson's awkwardness in previous Ashes. 

 

Pace can do funny things to the best of players. Pace can make a significant difference; even a difference of 5 KPH can make a world of a difference, what might seem minor as KP tweeted during the past week. Michael Atherton pointed at the difficulty for broadcasters to showcase the pace of the game in top level sport across to the viewers, often wondering of potential solutions. Piers Morgan’s attempt to challenge Brett Lee was a demonstration of the difficulty for amateurs to appreciate the speed of top level sport, still now, but definitely in the past given the illustrious pacers of the 80s. I’m not suggesting everyone was as foolish as him by any means, but just pointing out how difficult it can be for non professionals to appreciate the speed of the game. Would Piers have really done it again? Doubt it. 

 

Genuine pace requires a batter to make decisions and judgements fractions quicker, quick decisions often result in rash decisions, making a batter more vulnerable to committing an error. It forces you to play balls that you could have left as Durham University Cricket Coach and former England Test Cricketer; Graeme Flower tweeted during the Ashes; almost due to blurred eyesight created by pace zipping past at a rate of knots. In some cases one is virtually guessing and merely hoping. 

 

As Michael Holding commented during the highly recommendable “Fire in Babylon” pace causes a batter to think about self preservation rather than focussing on the task at hand, making them more vulnerable of losing focus and perhaps even secretly wanting to get out!

 

When you have the opposite figure feared of you're capabilities, half the battle is won already. You already are a beneficiary of a distinct advantage before the arm has reached the perpendicular. The fear is one of getting hurt.  

 

The best players of pace as Michael Atherton said during "Sky’s Ashes Zone" demonstrations during the Northern summer Ashes, are the ones who play with the mentality of my body is important, but I am willing to take blows on the body as it’s not as important as my wicket which is like a mini death. Athers of course took on the likes of Donald, Wasim, Walsh and fought fire with fire as an admirable dogged determined top order fighter through sheer grittiness and gutsiness. 

 

Look no further than Andrew Strauss’s masterclass during the same series at Old Trafford where he attempted to take on high speeds courtesy of a bowling machine. He managed to do it and do it well and as a young-ish club cricketer I learnt plenty. But he could only do it as a recent retiree in the Sky commentary box. Others had been disconnected with the playing side of the game for a lengthy time and simply would not have the eyes or reflexes for it by any stretch; even those who departed within this century. Facing genuinely quick pace requires frequent practice and that's what makes players more vulnerable if they are not fed high speeds with any regularity, for them to suddenly face the likes of Johnson bowling at the peak of his powers. 

 

The signs for Johnson were there in the back end of the English summer, the Champions League and the ODIs Australia played in the same country afterwards, that he may have turned a corner in all fairness and might be a changed bowler for the forthcoming Ashes. He was left out of a deciding ODI on the tour to fly back in preparation for the Ashes despite being so important in that series and bowling brilliantly. But he saved his optimum rightly for where it mattered most in the whites for an Ashes and away tour against the number 1 ranked test opposition. Chief destroyer would be an understatement, such has been the quality on show. The rarity of a fast bowler with genuinely nasty pace, made him all the more of a threatening force. The 80s batters at least had wider global exposure to such opponents.

 

Speed gives you the opportunity to drop short, the margin for error is significantly greater in order to avoid being punished from the backfoot. One can show aggression without the risk of getting punished. 

 

You can rev up bowling machines as much as you want, a benefit of the modern age, but it will never quite be the same visual experience of a bowler running in at you at a speed of light. 

World T20 2014 - The 16 Squads

Squads:
 
Afghanistan: Mohammad Nabi (captain), Asghar Stanikzai, Dawlat Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Hamid Hassan, Hamza Hotak, Karim Sadiq, Mirwais Ashraf, Najibullah Taraki, Najibullah Zadran, Nawroz Mangal, Samiullah Shenwari, Mohammad Shahzad, Shafiqullah, Shapoor Zadran
 
Australia: George Bailey (captain), Daniel Christian, Nathan Coulter-Nile, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin, Brad Hodge, Brad Hogg, Mitchell Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, James Muirhead, Mitchell Starc, David Warner, Shane Watson, Cameron White
 
Bangladesh: Mushfiqur Rahim (captain), Al-Amin Hossain, Anamul Haque, Farhad Reza, Mahmudullah, Mashrafe Mortaza, Mominul Haque, Nasir Hossain, Abdur Razzak, Rubel Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Shamsur Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan, Sohag Gazi, Tamim Iqbal
 
England: Stuart Broad (captain), Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Jos Buttler, Jade Dernbach, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Michael Lumb, Moeen Ali, Eoin Morgan, Stephen Parry, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, James Tredwell, Luke Wright
 
Hong Kong: Jamie Atkinson (captain), Aizaz Khan, Mark Chapman, Ehsan Nawaz, Haseeb Amjad, Babar Hayat, Irfan Ahmed, Roy Lamsam, Munir Dar, Nadeem Ahmed, Najeeb Amar, Nizakat Khan, Kinchit Shah, Tanwir Afzal, Waqas Barkat
 
India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Varun Aaron, Stuart Binny, Shikhar Dhawan, Ravindra Jadeja, Virat Kohli, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Amit Mishra, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravichandran Ashwin, Suresh Raina, Mohammad Shami, Mohit Sharma, Rohit Sharma, Yuvraj Singh
 
Ireland: William Porterfield (captain), Alex Cusack, George Dockrell, Ed Joyce, Andy McBrine, Tim Murtagh, Kevin O’Brien, Niall O’Brien, Andrew Poynter, James Shannon, Max Sorensen, Paul Stirling, Stuart Thompson, Gary Wilson, Craig Young
 
Nepal: Paras Khadka (captain), Pradeep Airee, Prithu Baskota, Binod Bhandari, Naresh Budhaayer, Shakti Gauchan, Sompal Kami, Avinash Karn, Subash Khakurel, Gyanendra Malla, Jitendra Mukhiya, Sagar Pun, Basant Regmi, Sharad Vesawkar, Rahul Vishwakarma
 
Netherlands: Peter Borren (captain), Wesley Barresi, Logan van Beek, Mudassar Bukhari, Ben Cooper, Tim Gruijters, Timm van der Gugten, Tom Heggelman, Vivian Kingma, Ahsan Malik, Stephan Myburgh, Michael Rippon, Pieter Seelaar, Michael Swart, Eric Szwarczynski
 
New Zealand: Brendon McCullum (captain), Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Anton Devcich, Martin Guptill, Ronnie Hira, Mitchell McClenaghan, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Colin Munro, James Neesham, Luke Ronchi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Kane Williamson
 
Pakistan: Mohammad Hafeez (captain), Ahmed Shehzad, Bilawal Bhatti, Junaid Khan, Kamran Akmal, Saeed Ajmal, Shahid Afridi, Sharjeel Khan, Shoaib Malik, Sohaib Maqsood, Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Talha, Umar Akmal, Umar Gul, Zulfiqar Babar
 
South Africa: Francois du Plessis (captain), Quinton de Kock, AB de Villiers, Farhaan Behardien, Hashim Amla, JP Duminy, Beuran Hendricks, Imran Tahir, David Miller, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Aaron Phangiso, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe
 
Sri Lanka: Dinesh Chandimal (captain), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Rangana Herath, Mahela Jayawardena, Nuwan Kulasekara, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Malinga, Angelo Mathews, Ajantha Mendis, Kusal Perera, Thisara Perera, Seekkuge Prasanna, Kumar Sangakkara, Sachithra Senanayake, Lahiru Thirimanne
 
United Arab Emirates: Khurram Khan (captain), Ahmed Raza, Amjad Ali, Amjad Javed, Asadullah Shareef, Faizan Asif, Kamran Shahzad, Manjula Guruge, Moaaz Qazi, Rohan Mustafa, Swapnil Patil, Rohit Singh, Shadeep Silva, Shaiman Anwar, Vikrant Shetty
 
West Indies: Darren Sammy (captain), Samuel Badree, Dwayne Bravo, Johnson Charles, Sheldon Cottrell, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Sunil Narine, Denesh Ramdin, Ravi Rampaul, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Krishmar Santokie, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith

High Praise For Sami Aslam

Sami Aslam’s 64

Sami Aslam notched up 64 against India at the Under 19 World Cup in Dubai today. Pakistan were chasing a record target in Under 19 World Cup history against the arch rivals which no side had chased against them before in the competition’s long history given the frequency of the event as one held every 2 years. A lot of hopes were pinned on their star performer at the under 19 international level over the last 3 years.

Aslam started watchfully and at one stage was 4 from 24 deliveries, but imperatively this showed his ability to withstand pressure when runs were not flowing, when bowlers were on top, when he was put under a stranglehold in terms of scoring and his refusal to panic in difficulty; knowing he can battle through an examining patch and safely escape unharmed, with an opportunity to cash in more favourably later on.

Sami drove gloriously soon after which was just the confidence booster he needed to get his innings going after circumspect play following impressive new ball bowling from the Indians.

Not the most muscular of players, Sami swept to good effect against the spinners and chipped balls into vacant spaces.

He was controlling the innings and appeared to be the difference between the two closely matched sides before an unfortunate run out cost his team dearly as Sami departed in frustrating fashion given how calmly he had played and his importance to the team. India knew the significance of the wicket, celebrating ecstatically. Sami known to be on the reserved side in demeanour; gave his batting partner who sold him a stern piece of his mind as he began to trudge off.

India Continue Dominance Over Pakistan

On the day where India beat Pakistan yet again in an ICC event and on the day which next year sees the mammoth neighbourhood clash at the World Cup prompts me to touch on the following issues:

There are 5 consistently held global cricketing events nowadays:

ICC World Cup

ICC World T20

ICC Champions Trophy (restored again)

ICC U-19 World Cup

Asia Cup

Pakistan has historically beaten India more times in head to heads in Tests and ODIs. Bilaterally they have a stronger record, even winning the last one day series between the two 14 months ago in the resumption of ties. However, Pakistan have never beaten India at a World Cup or World T20, with India having an 8-0 aggregate across the two. Currently Pakistan, have lost their last 7 tournament games against India when they have played each other after a time gap in one offs, where the cricketing world comes together with several teams competing across different days. 

Below are the defeats:

19^th June 2010 – Asia Cup in Sri Lanka

30^th March 2011 – World Cup in India

18^th March 2012 – Asia Cup in Bangladesh

20^th August 2012 – ICC Under 19 World Cup in Australia

30^th September – ICC World T20 in Sri Lanka

15 June 2013 – ICC Champions Trophy in England

15^th February 2014 – ICC Under 19 World Cup in UAE

(not including Under-19 Asia Cup final 2014, was not on TV etc)

It’s becoming an all too familiar sight and a slightly embarrassing state of affairs. They did beat India in a TV warm up match at the ICC World T20 in Sri Lanka as a very minor consolation. But when it really matters, they have come unstuck. As many as seven consecutive tournament defeats speak for itself. There have been some very one sided games in those seven defeats with the team simply failing to turn up in metaphorical terms. Nonetheless, India have been the standout tournament team over the years and therefore these defeats are respectable from this point of view. They have relished the big stage. They are holders of the treble with the World Cup, World Cup u19 and Champions Trophy as well as being a recent winner of the Asia Cup in 2010 and one of the past 4 winners of the World T20. In many of the meetings therefore in the above illustrated evidence, India have gone on to win the championship.

Talking of Pakistan and India:

Never played each other in a World Cup final

Never played each other in a Champions Trophy final

Never played each other in an Asia Cup final

Played each other once in Under 19 World Cup final (Pakistan won)

Played each other once in World T20 final (India won)

Worth mentioning that next year India-Pakistan World Cup game will be the first between the two sides in an opening match for each side in a World Cup and the first time Pakistan will be playing them in a World Cup when they are defending champions. It will be Pakistan's second successive match against India in a World Cup after Mohali which was one of the biggest sporting events ever witnessed. Funnily, the ICC like scheduling India-Pakistan clashes on the 15th in an ICC ODI championship.

15th June 2013 - CT13
15th Feb 2014 - U19CWC14
15th Feb 2015 - CWC15

NZ 2015

https://twitter.com/maza786/statuses/434261748607361024

Commentators at 2014 ICC U-19 World Cup

Wasim Akram
Harsha Bhogle
Allan Wilkins
Sanjay
Danny Morrison
Damien Martyn
Johnty Rhodes

Player of the Tournament

1992 = Martin Crowe
1996 = Sanath Jayasuria
1999 = Lance Klusner
2003 = Sachin Tendulkar
2007 = Glen McGrath
2011 = Yuvraj Singh 

MOMs in World Cup Finals

1975 = Clive Lloyd
1979 = Viv Richards
1983 = Mohinder Amarnath
1987 = David Boon
1992 = Wasim Akram
1996 = De Silva
1999 = Shane Warne
2003 = Ricky Ponting
2007 = Adam Gilchrist
2011 = MS Dhoni 

365 Days Countdown

On this day next year the 11th ICC World Cup will start. Tickets are on sale to the general public, starting from today. Pakistan will play India in their opening match on the 15th of Feb. Of course, never beaten them in a World Cup in 5 meetings but this time they will be defending champions unlike previous 5 occasions when they met Pakistan at a World Cup. Also, South Africa in the same group who we have lost to 3/3 times at the World Cup event, but not met since 1999. West Indies are also in our group who Pakistan tend to lose against in World Cups. Ireland are also in Pakistan's group and they have a 100% record against Pakistan at the World Cup!

It should be an open World Cup and in terms of quality play has every chance of being the best World Cup there has been. But you would think given the conditions teams such as England, South Africa and New Zealand have their best chance of finally winning a World Cup here, teams yet to win one. I personally don't think an Asian team will win it.

Of course, it is a dream to see Misbah as a World Cup winning captain along with Imran, Dhoni, Kapil Dev, Arjuna as other Asian World Cup winning captains. I don't have any doubts that Misbah will deliver extremely impressively, assuredly and consistently as ever as a batter, but I don't think he has the team quality which Imran had to repeat the story last time it was held in that part of the world. They will have their moments and win games, but hard to see them winning it; they will probably crush in a crunch game somewhere like a quarter final. But Misbah's leadership and Misbah's batting are key areas of strength when analysing the team strengths which provide hope.

In Oceania again after 23 years/5 editions, ageing Niazi leading, same PM, but not going to happen this time.

I feel the conditions in New Zealand will suit Pakistan more and they play 2 of their big 3 group matches here as well as a potential quarter final and semi final.  

We will have a lot of activity on this page when the mega event is happening just like we did when Misbah led at the international competitions of the Champions Trophy and Champions League in 2013, in both events batting spectacularly. 

Misbah was on the brink of captaining Pakistan at the 2011 World Cup when the squad during a 6 match ODI series in New Zealand prior to the showpiece event was announced without a captain and there was a lot of educated speculation that the PCB heads were in favour of Misbah captaining as the already Test Captain and now vice captain of the ODI side for the series in New Zealand. Misbah had drawn a test series against the number 2 ranked South African side and won a drought breaking test series in New Zealand which gave Pakistan their first series win after 5 captains, after being named Test captain 4 months before the World Cup with Afridi retired from Test captaincy and Salman Butt suspended. Younis was coming back from serving a ban and Yousuf was also slowly coming back after serving a ban and therefore were unsuitable options at the time for the Test captaincy.

Misbah also won 2 domestic titles as captain in the previous domestic season with Sui Gas to strengthen his case for being the 2011 World Cup captain to go along with his initial Test achievements. He had captained in 2 limited over internationals as stand in 2008 and 2009 respectively, winning both matches. As far as form was concerned, scored 6 consecutive test half centuries in his first two 2-match test series as captain, a record of consistency not bettered by a captain. Also, where reintroduced into the ODI side, scored 2 half centuries in 4 innings during the tour of New Zealand. He was known as one of the smarter men in the team. He was known for his tactical nous.

Afridi on the other hand had lost 6 consecutive T20 internationals, lost 2 ODI series as well as being eliminated from the Asia Cup in the first round. He also ran away from test captaincy, was struggling for form and violated players code of conduct repeatedly as captain despite many warnings. Thanks to commercial pressure and Misbah's performances in the ODI series in New Zealand to give Pakistan victory under Afridi's captaincy, the board reluctantly confirmed Afridi captain for 2011 World Cup at the 11th hour, but he didn't last long. It was less than 2 months after the World Cup when Afridi was sacked as captain following another embarrassing violation in conduct, resulting in Misbah being appointed full time ODI captain. 

I was one of the very few who wanted Misbah leading at the 2011 World Cup instead of Afridi. I can provide evidence by searching through archives. I was desperate that Misbah was appointed captain for the showpiece event and promoted from vice captaincy to captaincy. He was blatantly the better and more assuring leadership option. I applauded Ijaz Butt's decision to turn to Misbah. 

4 years on Misbah is leading at the age of 40 at a World Cup that he himself perhaps thought he would never have played in 4 years ago given the knee jerk reactions in Pakistan's culture with age. That time in 2011 he was vice skipper at age of 36. What a remarkable story it has been for the elder statesmen of Pakistan Cricket. 

Nearly achieved captaincy in 2011 for what seemed at the time was going to be his first and only World Cup and was vice captain instead. But 4 years later, he is playing a second World Cup and as captain this time. 

Originally posted here https://www.facebook.com/king.MUH/posts/662058107173225

Issues with World Cup Tournament Format

1) Too Long
2) Over half the teams progress to the next round
3) Groups are not balanced
4) Long qualification process for a 3 match knockout effectively
5) Does not necessarily reward consistency
6) Only a World Cup in name
7) Trying to ensure India and Pakistan reach business end after 2007 shambles
8) Too many formalities
9) Too many games a team can afford to lose
10) Opens up higher risk of fixed matches due to matches team can afford to lose

World Cup Hosts

1975 = England
1979 = England
1983 = England
1987 = India and Pakistan
1992 = Australia and New Zealand
1996 = Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka
1999 = England
2003 = South Africa and Zimbabwe
2007 = West Indies
2011 = India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh

2015 = Australia and New Zealand
2019 = England
2023 = India 

Key Players in 2014 U19 World Cup

Sami Aslam - Captain of Pakistan

There are many impressive performers in the Pakistan team worth highlighting let it be Zia ul Haq or Zafar Gohar but if you had to single out one; tough to look beyond the leader of the ship. Sami has the highest number of runs and centuries in U-19 one day internationals. He is an experienced member in the camp having already played a handful of first class games with impressive success. He was also a member of the 2012 U-19 World Cup team. The standout feature about Sami is his ability to deliver in the big games. He was player of the tournament during his first tour with the Pakistan U-19s in South Africa 2012. Later that year he was joint player of the final and player of the tournament at the U-19 Asia Cup. Last summer during his first tour of England he was player of the U-19 tri nations final at Trent Bridge. At the beginning of last month, Sami was named batsman of the tournament at the U-19 Asia Cup. Countless awards to his credit at the youth level. 

As a captain, he has led Pakistan to two tri nation competition wins and also led them to the final of the U-19 Asia Cup last month. He is not the most talkative type, but has a mature head on his shoulders, has performed outstandingly and with his experience, you can understand why the PCB heads opted to have him as captain. He's an attacking left handed opening batsman who has an appetite for big runs. He manages to command the respect of his team as captain by leading from the front and thriving with responsibility. Having scored productively in England and South Africa; never an easy proposition for a sub continental player and commenced his first class career with impressive numbers; the Pakistan Captain will be one to keep a close eye on. There is every chance he will join his countrymen Khalid Latif and Safraz Ahmed as U-19 World Cup winning captains. 

Ben Duckett - England

Like Sami, Ben also has previous U-19 World Cup experience which will come in handy, having been part of the 2012 edition in Queensland, Australia. In a recent interview, the Northamptonshire prospect mentioned how he was advising other members of the team about his experiences of playing in an U-19 World Cup such as playing in front of the cameras. Duckett is an innovative and inventive left handed batsman who is not the easiest to set a field against. There is a touch of Eoin Morgan to his play with his ability to score all around the field and hit the ball in unusual areas. He can also fulfill the wicket keeping duties. 

Ben was part of the Northants side which triumphed as underdogs on the Friends Life Twenty20 finals day at Edgbaston last year. Recently, Ben lost captaincy of the England U-19 side having led them last summer and was dropped from the team for the recent tour of the UAE on fitness grounds. Nonetheless, he mentioned how this made him more determined and it was perhaps just the wake up call he needed in his work ethic. Given the recent events surrounding him, Ben will have a point or two to prove in the Emirates.

Sanju Samson - India

Sanju is well known to followers of the IPL. He certainly proved his credentials and showcased his talent during the Champions League, especially in the final where he played thrillingly against the Mumbai Indians for an explosive 60 from 33 deliveries. More recently, he notched up a century in the final of the U-19 Asia Cup in a closely contested neighbourhood rivalry. Given his experience of playing against big players in well watched tournaments and his performances in those; Samson will undoubtedly be a pivotal member of the Indian side as they look to defend their world title. 

Samson has played first class cricket and registered 4 centuries to his credit. He comes across as someone who can adapt to the demands of the 3 different formats. Yet another precociously gifted top class batter from India? Who's to put it past him? 

Verdict

The tournament historically has been played 4 times in Asian conditions before with Pakistan and India sharing two titles each during the 4 held in Asia. Both of these sides have what it takes to go the distance and both can deservedly hold the tag of favourites going into the 10^th edition of the biggest teen sporting event or under age sporting event. Their form guide and familiarity with conditions make them the powerhouses. Pakistan have won 19 of their last 21 U-19 fixtures including defeating their England counterparts in all eight games they contested in 2013 and played a tri nations tournament and U-19 Asia Cup in these UAE conditions in the not too distant past. India are the defending champions, have the joint highest tally of title wins at the U-19 World Cup and recently triumphed in the U-19 Asia Cup. There is not much to choose between them and luckily for fans they lock horns on the second day of the competition in a televised fixture in what promises to be a mouth watering contest. 

The Impact of the ICC U-19 World Cup

Current international players have hailed the significant impact the championship had on their careers. Yuvraj Singh commented “Doing well at ICC U19 CWC gave me the confidence to shine at senior ICC events” when looking back on the experience. Even those who did not get an opportunity to participate have acknowledged the quality of the competition. Kumar Sangakkara stated "The competition has gone on to produce cricketers of exceptional quality and this time will be no different" when previewing the upcoming edition.

Re-drafted Previews of ICC U19 World Cup

Article

The U-19 World Cup has been one of the most enjoyable underrated ICC events. It's come around again; the 10th edition is upon us with UAE making their debut in hosting an ICC event (outside qualification tournaments for associates) this month. 

The competition is held every alternate year since 1998 in order to give maximum chance for young cricketers flourishing through the ranks to play in the event during their ages of U-19 eligibility. It’s been a launching pad for some of the biggest names in the international game.

Virat Kohli skippered the 2008 Indian winning team in the U-19 World Cup in Malaysia and not long after was a member of the Indian national side. Michael Clarke played in the 2000 edition of the tournament and soon after made the transition to the top level. Recently, Ben Stokes represented England in the 2010 edition. Quinton De Kock was a graduate from the 2012 edition in Australia.

Current international players have hailed the significant impact the championship had on their careers. Yuvraj Singh commented “Doing well at ICC U19 CWC gave me the confidence to shine at senior ICC events” when looking back on the experience. Even those who did not get an opportunity to participate have acknowledged the quality of the competition. Kumar Sangakkara stated "The competition has gone on to produce cricketers of exceptional quality and this time will be no different" when previewing the upcoming edition.

What Makes the U-19 World Cup Unique From Other ICC Events?

1)    Many teams, yet a brief tournament. It’s an appealing format in helping maintain the interest levels throughout despite 16 teams being involved which other ICC events could take a leaf out of. 

2)    The vast majority of the players are playing in front of the cameras for the first time. How they handle the pressures that come with it is intriguing viewing. Illustrious names are present in the commentary box. Wasim Akram commentated in the 2010 and 2012 edition. This is an incentive for the players in the knowledge that big names are observing them.

3)    Many of the players will not make it to international cricket. The U-19 World Cup will be the biggest stage they will reach in terms of national representation.

4)    Minnows have their chance. Nepal concluded the 2006 tournament as 3^rd place winners. 5^th place and 9th place encounters take place once a side has been eliminated; providing opportunity for minor sides to make their mark.

Key Players in 2014

Sami Aslam - Captain of Pakistan

Sami has the highest number of centuries in U-19 one day internationals. He is an experienced member in the camp having already played a handful of first class games. He was player of the tournament during his first tour with the Pakistan U-19s in South Africa 2012. Later that year he was joint player of the final and player of the tournament at the U-19 Asia Cup. Last summer during his first tour of England he was player of the U-19 tri nations final at Trent Bridge. At the beginning of last month, Sami was named batsman of the tournament at the U-19 Asia Cup.

As captain, he led Pakistan to two tri nation competition wins and led them to the final of the U-19 Asia Cup. He's an attacking left handed opening batsman who has an appetite for big runs. Having scored productively in England and South Africa; never an easy proposition for a sub continental player and commenced his first class career with impressive numbers; the Pakistan Captain will be one to keep a close eye on.

Ben Duckett - England

Like Sami, Ben has previous U-19 World Cup experience which will come in handy, having been part of the 2012 edition in Queensland, Australia. Duckett is an innovative and inventive left handed batsman who is not the easiest to set a field against. There is a touch of Eoin Morgan to his play with his ability to score all around the field and hit the ball in unusual areas. He can also fulfil the wicket keeping duties. 

Ben lost captaincy of the England U-19 side having led them last summer and was dropped from the team for the recent tour of the UAE on fitness grounds. Nonetheless, he mentioned how this made him more determined and it was perhaps just the wakeup call he needed in his work ethic. Given recent events surrounding him, Ben will have a point or two to prove in the Emirates.

Sanju Samson - India

Sanju is well known to followers of the IPL. He certainly proved his credentials and showcased his talent during the Champions League, especially in the final where he played thrillingly. Recently, he notched up a century in the final of the U-19 Asia Cup in a closely contested neighbourhood rivalry. Given his experience of playing against big players in well watched tournaments and his performances in those; Samson will undoubtedly be a pivotal member of the Indian side as they look to defend their world title. 

Group of Death

Group D, appropriately for "group of death" is a killer pool. England, New Zealand, the hosts and Sri Lanka form it. There will be two very disappointed teams eliminated. No game is a straightforward formality. New Zealand reached the semi final in the last U-19 World Cup, England's recent form has been worrisome, UAE as hosts should reach the quarter finals and Sri Lanka failed to make the quarter finals in the last U-19 World Cup but given the strength of their school cricket system and conditions more to their liking; you wouldn't expect a repeat of the 2012 shambles for the Islanders.

Favourites?

The tournament has been played 4 times in Asian conditions before with Pakistan and India sharing two titles each during the 4 held in Asia. Both of these sides have what it takes to go the distance and both can deservedly hold the tag of favourites going into the 10^th edition of the underage sporting event. Their form guide and familiarity with conditions make them the powerhouses.

Pakistan have won 19 of their last 21 U-19 fixtures including defeating their England counterparts in all eight games they contested in 2013 and played a tri nations tournament and U-19 Asia Cup in these UAE conditions in the not too distant past. India are the defending champions, have the joint highest tally of title wins at the U-19 World Cup and recently triumphed in the U-19 Asia Cup. There is not much to choose between them and luckily for fans they lock horns on the second day of the competition for a televised fixture in what promises to be a mouth-watering contest. 

OR

16 days, 16 teams, 4 venues, 11 televised games, 240 squad players.

The U-19 World Cup has been one of the most enjoyable underrated ICC events. It's come around again, the 10th edition is upon us with UAE making their debut in hosting an ICC event (outside qualification tournaments for associates) this month. 

The competition has been held every alternate year since 1998 in order to give maximum chance for young cricketers flourishing through the ranks to play in the event during their ages of U-19 eligibility. It has clearly been a fast launching pad for some of the biggest names in the international game. Endless cricketers have gone on to play for their countries by initially participating or performing in the Youth World Cup. This will inevitably continue in the foreseeable future. 

Virat Kohli skippered the 2008 Indian winning team in the U-19 World Cup in Malaysia that year and not long after was a permanent member of the Indian national side in the coloured uniform, as the most famous contemporary example. Michael Clarke played in the 2000 edition of the tournament as did Shane Watson and soon after made the transition to the top level. Yuvraj Singh was a leading name of the Indian team in the same tournament. Hashim Amla captained the South African side in the 2002 edition. Alastair Cook captained the England side in the 2004 edition and was awarded a Test cap 2 years later. Pujara and Rohit Sharma both featured in the Indian team in 2006 as did Ravi Jadeja. More recently, Ben Stokes and Joe Root represented England in the 2010 edition. Quinton De Kock was a graduate from the 2012 edition in Australia as was Ashton Agar.

Current international players have hailed the significant impact the championship had on their careers. Yuvraj Singh commented “Doing well at ICC U19 CWC gave me the confidence to shine at senior ICC events” when looking back on the experience. Even those who did not get an opportunity to participate have acknowledged the quality of the competition. Kumar Sangakkara stated "The competition has gone on to produce cricketers of exceptional quality and this time will be no different" when previewing the upcoming edition.

What Makes the U-19 World Cup Unique From Other ICC Events?

Many teams, yet still a short tournament with minimal venues utilised. This is what makes this event appealing, even if many of the players are unknown to you as a result of virtually any U-19 international coverage being shown outside this. But, on the plus side of that, quantity brings quality. The fact that we only get to see U-19 teams play after 2 years creates greater interest. It's a well thought out attractive tournament format in helping maintain the interest levels throughout despite 16 teams being involved which other ICC events could take a leaf out of. 

Additionally, the vast majority of the players are playing in front of the cameras for the first time and how they handle the challenges and pressures that come with it is intriguing viewing. Illustrious names are present in the commentary box, too. Wasim Akram has commentated in the 2010 and 2012 edition. This can only be an incentive to perform for the players in the knowledge that big names are following them and will potentially sing their praises. It's most fascinating in assessing players we see for the first time and how far they may go in terms of a potential international career right up to Test level by first impressions judgement. This is a unique experience for the viewer or indeed the commentator. 

Alternatively, many of the players will not make it to international cricket or even a stable career plying their trade within domestic scenes and the U-19 World Cup will be the biggest stage they will play on in terms of national representation. The 2 week tournament might be the most memorable of their lives. Tariq Mahmood was being touted as ‘the next big thing’ in Pakistan’s spin bowling department after winning the 2004 U-19 World Cup in Bangladesh, but for a variety of reasons his career did not materialise as an unorthodox off spinner. Therefore, it is the biggest platform they will reach in some cases and that gives the tournament added significance for the players. It means a lot to the players and that’s most evident with Unmukt Chand recently writing a book on his journey to U-19 World Cup glory in Townsville.

Minnows also have their chance at this level. Nepal instrumentally managed to finish the 2006 tournament as 3^rd place winners. Bangladesh finished in 7^th position in the 2012 edition, ahead of Pakistan. The fact that 5^th place and 9th place encounters take place once a side has been eliminated much like Hockey tournaments give it greater opportunity for the less well known sides to make their mark. They have more to play for as opposed to just filling the numbers. Minnows are also strengthened with the fact that age limit is extended to 20 years of age for non ICC full members. We consequently saw George Dockrell lead the Irish side in Australia 2012.

Another charm which this multinational carnival brings is low scoring games and low scoring thrillers. Purists tend to prefer games where ball has dominance over bat. Seeing 180 all out play 140 all out as opposed to 320 being chased with 4 overs to spare. Seeing 220 chased in the final over rather than a team racking up 280 and the chasing side falling 10 short. Bowlers are not seen as servants and not anyone can make runs for fun. Why are the games low scoring at U-19? 50 overs of batting is an art and a long time at this level for first generation T20 cricketers. 

Key Players in 2014

Sami Aslam - Captain of Pakistan

There are many impressive performers in the Pakistan team worth highlighting let it be Zia ul Haq or Zafar Gohar but if you had to single out one; tough to look beyond the leader of the ship. Sami has the highest number of runs and centuries in U-19 one day internationals. He is an experienced member in the camp having already played a handful of first class games with impressive success. He was also a member of the 2012 U-19 World Cup team. The standout feature about Sami is his ability to deliver in the big games. He was player of the tournament during his first tour with the Pakistan U-19s in South Africa 2012. Later that year he was joint player of the final and player of the tournament at the U-19 Asia Cup. Last summer during his first tour of England he was player of the U-19 tri nations final at Trent Bridge. At the beginning of last month, Sami was named batsman of the tournament at the U-19 Asia Cup. Countless awards to his credit at the youth level. 

As a captain, he has led Pakistan to two tri nation competition wins and also led them to the final of the U-19 Asia Cup last month. He is not the most talkative type, but has a mature head on his shoulders, has performed outstandingly and with his experience, you can understand why the PCB heads opted to have him as captain. He's an attacking left handed opening batsman who has an appetite for big runs. He manages to command the respect of his team as captain by leading from the front and thriving with responsibility. Having scored productively in England and South Africa; never an easy proposition for a sub continental player and commenced his first class career with impressive numbers; the Pakistan Captain will be one to keep a close eye on. There is every chance he will join his countrymen Khalid Latif and Safraz Ahmed as U-19 World Cup winning captains. 

Ben Duckett - England

Like Sami, Ben also has previous U-19 World Cup experience which will come in handy, having been part of the 2012 edition in Queensland, Australia. In a recent interview, the Northamptonshire prospect mentioned how he was advising other members of the team about his experiences of playing in an U-19 World Cup such as playing in front of the cameras. Duckett is an innovative and inventive left handed batsman who is not the easiest to set a field against. There is a touch of Eoin Morgan to his play with his ability to score all around the field and hit the ball in unusual areas. He can also fulfill the wicket keeping duties. 

Ben was part of the Northants side which triumphed as underdogs on the Friends Life Twenty20 finals day at Edgbaston last year. Recently, Ben lost captaincy of the England U-19 side having led them last summer and was dropped from the team for the recent tour of the UAE on fitness grounds. Nonetheless, he mentioned how this made him more determined and it was perhaps just the wake up call he needed in his work ethic. Given the recent events surrounding him, Ben will have a point or two to prove in the Emirates.

Sanju Samson - India

Sanju is well known to followers of the IPL. He certainly proved his credentials and showcased his talent during the Champions League, especially in the final where he played thrillingly against the Mumbai Indians for an explosive 60 from 33 deliveries. More recently, he notched up a century in the final of the U-19 Asia Cup in a closely contested neighbourhood rivalry. Given his experience of playing against big players in well watched tournaments and his performances in those; Samson will undoubtedly be a pivotal member of the Indian side as they look to defend their world title. 

Samson has played first class cricket and registered 4 centuries to his credit. He comes across as someone who can adapt to the demands of the 3 different formats. Yet another precociously gifted top class batter from India? Who's to put it past him? 

Group of Death

Group D, appropriately for "group of death" is a killer group and one to follow closely. England, New Zealand, the hosts and Sri Lanka form it. There will be two very disappointed teams eliminated. No game will be a walkover or straightforward formality. New Zealand reached the semi final in the last U-19 World Cup, England's recent form has been worrisome, UAE as hosts should reach the quarter finals and Sri Lanka failed to make the quarter finals in the last U-19 World Cup but given the strength of their school cricket system and conditions more to their liking; you wouldn't expect a repeat of the 2012 shambles. 

Favourites?

The tournament historically has been played 4 times in Asian conditions before with Pakistan and India sharing two titles each during the 4 held in Asia. Both of these sides have what it takes to go the distance and both can deservedly hold the tag of favourites going into the 10^th edition of the biggest teen sporting event or under age sporting event. Their form guide and familiarity with conditions make them the powerhouses. Pakistan have won 19 of their last 21 U-19 fixtures including defeating their England counterparts in all eight games they contested in 2013 and played a tri nations tournament and U-19 Asia Cup in these UAE conditions in the not too distant past. India are the defending champions, have the joint highest tally of title wins at the U-19 World Cup and recently triumphed in the U-19 Asia Cup. There is not much to choose between them and luckily for fans they lock horns on the second day of the competition in a televised fixture in what promises to be a mouth watering contest.