USA U-19 Championship Preview: North West Region confident of making the final

USA U-19 Championship Preview: North West Region confident of making the final
by DreamCricket USA
May 21, 2009

The North West Cricket Region selection panel, headed by Abrar Ahmad, is quietly confident about the region's squad, which takes in the states of Alaska, California, Idaho, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington State and Arizona. The North West Region won the U-19 title in 2006.

"We are definitely hoping to make the final and will be striving to win the championship," said Ahmad. "Given the conditions and home field for the New York Region team, I think, it (New York) has a slight edge.

"We are not over confident and we have strong batting and bowling. I am confident we have what it needs to make the final."

The North West team also will face different conditions than what most players are accustomed to. The players from the West compete on astro-turf or turf wickets and the tournament will be played on matting.

But Ahmad said the team had already made arrangements to try to schedule a practice session on matting the day before the tournament begins to get a feel for the conditions.

"Quite a few players have been exposed to matting and they will do well," said Ahmad in an interview with DreamCricket.com.

Opening batsman Vinay Suri, 18, captain Shiva Vashishat, 18, and Saqib Saleem, 18, both top order bats will head the North West Region's offense.

On the bowling side, Ahmad has high hopes for left arm quick Naseer Jamali, 18, who also has movement with the ball and an impeccable line. "We have a lot of expectations from him," he said. "I believe he has the potential to be a prospect at senior level."

He also described right arm off spinner Saad Khan, 18, as "very good with a lot of potential."

Right arm fast bowler Harmandeep Kumar, 18, is another player Ahmad believes can go a long way in the game.

"He is quick and right behind Naseer. He definitely has potential."

The North West Cricket Region selection panel has shown a lot of faith and confidence in naming 14-year-old Roshan Varadarajan to compete in the national Under 19 tournament.

Roshan, a right arm off spinner and middle order batsman, has shown a lot of potential in the matches and net sessions held as part of the selection process. According to Ahmad: "His attitude is great and he has good cricket knowledge."

"If he keeps improving and sticks to the game he can make the US national senior team."