CAPE TOWN - Despite enterprising knocks from Akhil Kumar (59) and Ayush Verma, as well as outstanding bowling by Rishiv Joshi, Canada’s U19’s fell just short of an unexpected win in their January 13 ICC U19 World Cup Warm Up match against former 2016 Champions West Indies. 

The Canadian team, led by manager Anil Khanna (brother of Dinesh Khanna of Khanna Banquet Hall) and Head Coach Farouk Kirmani, was playing the warm up game as part of the two teams preparation for their respective participation at the January 17 – February 9 ICC 2020 U19 World Cup being held in South Africa.

Batting first the Canadians, led by Kumar’s 76 ball 59 and Verma’s aggressive 42 not out off 38 balls, posted a challenging 271/9 off its allocated 50 overs. That total ultimately proved to be insufficient however, as the West Indies U19, thanks to Antonio Morris’ unbeaten 96, reached their 274 run victory target in 46.5 overs for the loss of seven wickets. Rishiv Joshi 4/23 (8 Overs) had scythed through the West Indies top order leaving the former champions reeling at 89/5 before Morris and Nyeem Young combined for a 113 run sixth wicket partnership to rescue the innings and provide the platform for the West Indies eventual victory by just three wickets.

The Canadian U19 – West Indies U19 encounter was the first of Canada U19’s two scheduled Official 2020 World Cup Warm Up matches. The Canadians will face powerhouse Australia on January 15 prior to their Tournament opener against the United Arab Emirates on the 18th.

Prior to its January 13 losing encounter against the West Indies, Canada’s U19’s had played two matches against South Africa’s Assupo Tuks Cricket Club on January 6 and 8. Rishiv Joshi captured 4 wickets for 9 runs as Canada’s U19 cricketers won the first but lost the second of the two unofficial warm up matches against Assupo Tuks. In the second of the two matches Canada’s captain Ashtan Deosammy’s defiant 46 was unable to prevent the Canadians from losing by 65 runs.

Canada is one of the sixteen participating teams at the ICC 2020 Under-19 World Cup which will be split into four groups for the Tournament’s Preliminary Rounds. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super League, with the bottom two from each group progressing to the Plate League. Canada will play its Preliminary Round Matches in the Tournament’s Group D. The Canadians will face the United Arab Emirates on January 18, hosts South Africa on January 22 and Afghanistan on January 24.

Canada’s 15 member ICC 2020 Under-19 World Cup playing squad consists of Ashtan Deosammy (Captain), Akhil Kumar, Arshdeep Dhaliwal, Ayush Verma, Benjamin Calitz, Eshan Sensarma, Gurjot Gosal, Mihir Patel, Muhammad Kamal, Nicholas Manohar, Randhir Sandhu, Raqib Shamsudeen, Rishiv Joshi, Udaybir Walia and Harmandeep Singh Bedi. Along with its Manager Anil Khanna and Head Coach Farouk Kirmani, the Squad will also include Assistant Coach Kulbir Jaswal, Analyst Shah Zafar and Physio Tejash Patel.