SEA Games coach eyes men's gold on cricket pitch
PUCHONG, Selangor: National men’s cricket coach Bilal Asad Muhammad Tariq Asad has targetted the gold medal in the 2017 SEA Games from Aug 19 to 31.
The former Pakistan cricketer is confident that the squad under his charge can clinch both gold medals in the 50 overs and T20 events in the biennial games.
“We are aiming for gold and we are going for it. The players are perfectly fine, the commitment level, performance and fitness are very good. For now, we have 32 players but we will trim the squad to 25 next month and they will be used for both (50 overs and T20),” he said.
He said after a visit by the national contingent chef- demission Datuk Marina Chin to the national cricket training ground at Kinrara Oval here Thursday.
Bilal believes the squad can achieve the goal but reminded the players in the national squad, currently 22nd in the world, to be ready for stiff competition from 23rd-ranked Singapore. As preparations for the SEA Games and the International Cricket Council ( ICC) Division 3 World Cricket League in Uganda, the team will hold a series of matches in South Africa and Papua New Guinea in May.
Apart from Singapore, the cricket teams of Thai land, Indonesia and Myanmar have also confirmed participation in the SEA Games.
Meanwhile, the women’s T20 squad want to use the SEA Games as a stepping stone to bigger successes after managing ninth placing in the Incheon Asian Games in 2014.
“Our target is the gold medal and after that we want to focus on higher achievements,” said team captain Winnie Anne Duraisingam.
The squad under coach Thushara Kodikara will be holding a series of matches in Thailand, Singapore and Bhutan for playing experience. Marina said cricket has a good medal chance as the squads had begun training last year.
“However, I am not setting any target for the players since it would only give them more pressure. I want to give them motivation,” she said. — Bernama