Oman U-17 team aim to win country's first trophy

Oman are hoping to make the most of UAE's absence to win the first first cricket trophy for the country when they compete in the Gulf Cup for Under-17 teams.

"We have a well balanced team and hope to get the trophy home," team coach Rajender Singh told Gulf News. "The boys are fit and have just played in the inter-school tournament in Oman thus their match fitness is excellent."

Rajender, who has been in Oman for nearly 20 years and is involved in coaching, feels that a balanced side has been picked for the Gulf Cup, to be held in Doha Qatar from October 18-24.

The Oman Cricket Club are blooding new players and are treating the Gulf Cup as a perfect opportunity to fine tune for the Asian Under-17 Championship to be held in India at the end of this year.

Thus seasoned campaigner like wicketkeeper Pranav Rawal, who was picked for the Asian XI for his keeping and batting abilities, is missing for the team although he qualifies.

The squad:
Imran Younus (captain), Abbas Murtadha (vice-captain), Ahmed M Mehmood (Omani), Asad Haider Khawaja, Shehbaz Nasser, Prajith Prabha, Sanjit Kanojia, Ansar Raza Ansari, Rustom Ali, Yash Thakker, Vignesh Shenoy; Akshay Srinivasan, Vivek Venkataram, Dilip Kanojia.

Reserves: Nikhil Kumar, Khurram Shezad and Hassan Kamdar.

Schedule:
October 18: Qatar vs Bahrain; October 19: Kuwait vs Oman; Saudi Arabia vs Bahrain; October 20: Oman vs Qatar; Kuwait vs Saudi Arabia; October 21: Oman vs Bahrain; October 22: Kuwait vs Bahrain; Qatar vs Saudi Arabia; October 23: Oman vs Saudi Arabia; Kuwait vs Qatar; October 24: Final.