3 from UP in Indian squad for tri-series

KOLKATA: As many as three cricketers from Uttar Pradesh, including Lucknow’s Zeeshan Ansari have been chosen in the 18-member Indian Under-19 squad, which is scheduled to play in a tri-series in Sri Lanka from December 2 to 21. Other two are Sarfaraz Khan and Shubham Mavi.

Ricky Bhui, who led the India team yesterday to U-19 tri-series title by beating Bangladesh in the final, would continue to captain the side in next month’s tri-series as well, also involving England. The junior selectors have left out Pradeep Pramanik, Shubham Nayak, Izhan Sayeed from the team that won the title on Sunday.

There are three experienced players in the squad -- Bhui, Sarfaraz Khan and Avesh Khan -- all of whom played the last 2014 World Cup in Dubai.

Delhi left-hander and opening batsman, Rishabh Pant, who topped the chart with 282 runs from four matches, will be India’s batting mainstay.

Elegant Chennai batsman Washington Sundar will be another batsman to look out for.

Attacking batsman Sarfaraz, who struck a 59 not out from 27 balls, to be awarded the man-ofthe-match in India’s win in the final will be a key player.

Lower down the order, the likes of Virat Singh, Ishan Kishan, Anmolpreet Singh and Amandeep Khare are expected to take charge.

Indore pacer Avesh will lead the pace battery, which will also have the leftarm duo of Kanishk Seth and Khaleel Ahmed along with utility seamer Shubham Mavi. Spin department has leftarm spinner Mayank Dagar, leg-spinner Zeeshan Ansari, all-rounder Mahipal Lomror and even Washington can come in handy with his offbreaks.