Kuala Lumpur: UAE prospect Yodhin Punja has targeted a call-up to the senior team after being named the best bowler at the Asian Cricket Council Under-19 Premier League event here on Thursday.
The 16-year-old vice-captain took five for 38 from 10 overs as the UAE finished on a high by bowling Kuwait out for 60 and winning by nine wickets with more than 42 overs to spare. Ahsan Ali Khan also impressed with figures of five wickets for just 10 runs.
Punja’s effort rounded off a successful tournament for him personally, when he took 14 wickets in five matches as UAE ended up fourth in the six-team league. The medium pacer also claimed four for 36 in the 165-run win against Saudi Arabia and four for 31 in the five-wicket loss against hosts Malaysia.
Punja attended the UAE coaching camp ahead of the 2015 ICC World Cup, but missed out on the final squad for Australia and New Zealand. But after Thursday’s match, the aspiring all-rounder told Gulf News: “I am in good form and I feel it is the perfect time for me to exhibit my form as this may pave the way to a place in the UAE senior team. I have been in the senior team as a reserve player for two tournaments.
“I am now hoping that this performance may fetch me a place among the 15 for the World Cricket League match against Hong Kong next month. My aim is to be a consistent member of the UAE senior national team.
“I am consistently bowling in good areas and most of the runs scored off me were edges as batsmen could not counter my deliveries. I feel now very confident to take up the challenge of playing for the senior team.”
The UAE under-19s team could not pull off victories against higher-ranked teams like Afghanistan and Nepal and Punja felt that happened due to the team’s batting. They were bowled out for 50 against Nepal, 88 against Afghanistan and 53 against Malaysia.
“Our specialist batsmen could not strike form, even though they had the potential. Unfortunately we could not get off to good starts. We always looked for a win but could not manage it and it has been a lesson for everyone.
“The wickets aren’t similar to those in the UAE. There wasn’t any help for the pacers, but it did assist spinners at times.”
Punja, who trained hard with the seniors in a bid to be as fit as them, added: “I worked a lot on my fitness and it yielded results on this tour. I do a lot of jogging and work hard at the gym. I know that if I am to bowl consistently, I need to be stronger. To play top level cricket, one has to be at his best when it comes to stamina and fitness.”
But Punja is not willing to rest on this successful series. “I want to work more on my action so that I can add more rhythm to my bowling. The present rhythm I have gained came through working very hard on it,” he said.
