BRUTALLY DEMORALISED
Malaysia no match for Test nations
DEVINDER SINGH devinder@nst.com.my
THE Malaysian Cricket Association must reconsider subjecting the national junior team, who have been bruised and demoralised, to the kind of battering they received at the ACC Under-19 Youth Asia Cup.
Malaysia have lost all 12 matches they played in four editions of the tournament with little signs of improvement after Bangladesh inflicted a record 262-run defeat on Monday.
There were mitigating factors in the national youth team's performances with coach Suresh Navaratnam forced to field a large number of 16-year-olds due to SPM examinations robbing the side of several key players.
Suresh fears that the drubbing the team received, including a 202-run loss to India and yesterday’s eight-wicket trouncing by Nepal, could mentally affect the players.
He suggested that the team avoid playing Test nations until Malaysia are strong, for the foreseeable future.
“We knew how difficult this tournament was going to be after the challenge we faced in putting up a team with eight 16year-olds,” said former national team captain Suresh yesterday.
“The standard was too high for us and it was quite difficult to ask more from the players. I think we should not have played this tournament.
“It's true the players are getting the exposure but I fear they are being demoralised. I think we should focus on beating (associate) teams like Nepal, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates before taking on the Test nations.”
Malaysia actually did not qualify for the tournament after losing to Nepal in the Eastern Region qualifiers before being handed the hosting job by the Asian Cricket Council as a late replacement for original hosts India.
Suresh said the domestic competition structure needs to be strengthened to allow players to develop.
“We are weak on the domestic front,” said Suresh.
“We need stronger local competitions to lift the standard of the players. This is where the players can develop their skills.
“We have a good batch of about 25 players with those sitting examinations coming back so the question now is what's next?”
Captain Virandeep Singh and fellow opening batsmen Syed Aziz Syed Mubarak, both with senior national team experience, carried the Under-19 side with the former hitting a half-century against India.
Bowlers Hafiz Khair and Haiqal Khair also did well by claiming five and three wickets respectively.
The tournament continues today when Bangalesh face Pakistan and surprise semi-finalists Nepal take on Afghanistan tomorrow, both at the Kinrara Oval.