Kenya starts preparations for Under-19 World Cup qualifiers

Kenya men’s junior cricket team coach Josephat Irungu has urged his charges to give their best in training, as no one is guaranteed a place in the final squad for the Under-19 Men’s World Cup Africa Division One qualifiers in Tanzania from July 23 to 29.

The provisional squad of 38 players drawn from Nairobi, Mombasa and Nakuru started preparing for the upcoming competition Tuesday evening.

Nairobi has contributed the highest number of players to the squad at 32 while Nakuru and Mombasa counties have produced three players each.

Host Tanzania, Sierra Leone, Namibia, Uganda and Nigeria are the other countries Kenya will face in the battle for the sole ticket to the 2024 Under-19 Men’s World Cup that will be held in Sri Lanka. Irungu said the provisional squad will be cut down to around 18 players, with only those who impress making the cut.

“We want to have the best players, so will only remain with only those who deserve,” said Irungu. 

Kenya clinched a ticket to the World Cup Africa Division One qualifiers by virtue of winning the World Cup Africa Division Two qualifiers that was held in Nigeria in October last year. Nigeria and Sierra Leone also progressed by virtue of being first and second runners up respectively.

In preparing the team for the tournament in Tanzania, Irungu will be assisted by former national team players Peter Ongondo and Maurice Odumbe. 

Irungu will be in charge of the Nairobi-based players while those in Mombasa and Nakuru will be trained by Ongondo and Odumbe respectively. 

They are also being assisted by Cricket Kenya Development Director Thomas Odoyo and the chairperson for the selection committee Alfred Njuguna. 

For now, the players will train after school and during weekends.

They are expected to enter a residential camp in early July.

Provisional squad

Brian Likavu (WK) – Kenya Kongonis Cricket Club, Darsh Panchani – Shree Cutchi Leva Patel Samaj, Raj Manji – Sikh Union Sports Club, Yash Gohil (WK) – Nairobi Gymkhana Sports Club, Vishil Patel – Ruaraka Sports Club, Vaibhav Naresh – Stray Lions Cricket Club, Dedan Omondi – Stray Lions Cricket Club, Stian Smith – Nairobi Gymkhana Sports Club, Yuvraj Bhatyani – Nairobi Gymkhana Sports Club, Duncan Muchenditsi – Kenya Kongonis Cricket Club, Rayan Kassam – Nairobi Gymkhana Sports Club, Manveer Singh – Sikh Union Sports Club, Krish Haria – Swamibapa Sports Club, Peter Ngure – Obuya Cricket Academy, Ken Mwangi – Obuya Cricket Academy, Allan Kibabi – Kenya Kongonis Cricket Club, Jiyan Patel – Nairobi Gymkhana Sports Club, Kelvin Mutembei – Stray Wolves Cricket Club, Ankit Ashani – Shree Cutchi Leva Patel Samaj, Rohit Varsani – Shree Cutchi Leva Patel Samaj, Neel Doshi – Nairobi Gymkhana Sports Club, Saavir Karani – Obuya Cricket Academy, Darshil Suthar – Goan Institute, Kelvin Nganga – Kenya Kongonis Cricket Club, Ashdeep Kundi – Sikh Union Sports Club, Simon Mburu – Kenya Kongonis Cricket Club, Arnav Patel – Nairobi Gymkhana Sports Club, Akshith Sekar – Nairobi Gymkhana Sports Club, Yug Kerai – Shree Cutchi Leva Patel Samaj, Garv Galaiya – Stray Leopards Cricket Club, Aditya Vekaria – Shree Cutchi Leva Patel Samaj, Sajeeth Chidmbaram – Stray Lions Cricket Club, Hitendra Sanghani – Shree Cutchi Leva Patel Samaj, Vatsal Shah – Mombasa Sports Club, Manav Devani – Mombasa Sports Club, Hassan Lijodi – Pirates Cricket Club, Yusuf Khamala – Pirates Cricket Club and Joseph Macharia – Pirates Cricket Club