The Broad of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), when named India U-19 squad for the forthcoming, International Cricket Council’s (ICC’s), first-ever, Women’s Under-19 World Cup that’ll be hosted early next year by Cricket South Africa (CSA) saw a couple of shocking inclusions in Shafali Verma and Richa Ghosh who from the senior squad made it to the squad of 15+3 that’ll be touring South Africa.
Not many were impressed with BCCI’s move on the inclusion of a couple of teenage batters in the U-19 squad, but Australia’s stand-in skipper, Alyssa Healy when was addressing the media on the eve of Australia’s 5-match Twenty20 International (T20I) series against India and her asked her view on the same said, she believes that the experience of leading India’s U-19 team for the World Cup in South Africa will help Shafali Verma improve her game.
Quoting Alyssa Healy, “Some of these young players will get opportunities to rub shoulders with these players who have already played the international games at the top level.
“If you are stacking your U-19 side with your full-strength international side, then that might be an issue, but from my point of view, having Shafali and Richa Ghosh will only going to do wonders for those young players coming through and they can pick their brains in what works well, what does not in international cricket and it’s a great thing.
“Shafali has been named the captain, which I think will be a great learning for her and a great experience for her. I only hope that it improves her cricket maybe when she comes back for the World Cup in South Africa. I don’t mind it. I think it’s great.”
While the remaining in the U-19 squad were roped in following their success across BCCI-organized domestic tournaments, the duo of Shafali Verma and Richa Ghosh were picked on their reputation and international team experience and hence haven’t yet spent time with the Under-19 bunch. For the same reasons, the BCCI has asked the duo to attend the U-19 camp in Bengaluru from December 19, before the team flies out to South Africa on December 25.
Captain Alyssa Healy believes that Shafali Verma’s experience of leading India’s U-19 team for the World Cup will eventually help her improve her game. #CricketTwitter Source: Sportstar 📸PTI pic.twitter.com/Rm6wST8kYQ
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) December 8, 2022
The historic, first-ever, ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup is scheduled to take place early next year in South Africa from the 14th to the 29th of January and the inaugural edition of the World Cup that’ll take place in Benoni and Potchefstroom will see a total of 41 matches played across 15 days.
At the upcoming ICC Women’s U-19 T20 World Cup, India placed in group D is scheduled to play South Africa in their opener on the 14th of January, the United Arab Emirates on the 16th of January, and Scotland on the 18th of January in their league stage fixtures.
(Quote sourced from Sportstar)