’Fear factor’ stumbling block for progress
THE national cricket youth team must overcome the fear factor when facing Test-playing nations at the ACC Under-19 Asia Cup which will be held in Kuala Lumpur next week.
Malaysia will compete in the tournament for a fourth time but have yet to win a match after losing a total of nine games in the previous three editions.
Being overawed by the occasion has been identified as one factor affecting the national players as evidenced by the 235-run hammering by India at the 2016 tournament in Sri Lanka.
“Last year, when we played India in our first game, the huge scoreboard at the ground flashed the names of our players and they were shocked because it’s something they have never seen before,” said Malaysian Cricket Ass o c i a t i o n ( M CA) p r e s i d e n t Mahinda Vallipuram in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
“So even before stepping on the field they were already in a daze and this is why they need to be mentally ready. The players have the talent but they need to have the confidence to show that talent and recognise that they are playing as equals.”
Malaysia, who also hosted the inaugural edition in 2012, face India on Nov 9 in the first Group A match at the Kinrara Oval before taking on Bangladesh on Nov 13 and Nepal the next day, both at the Bayuemas Oval in Klang.
However, Vallipuram said Malaysia may have to field a depleted squad as 17 players from the national talent pool are sitting for the SPM examination at the same time.
“The exams have affected our preparation but it is a great opportunity for those selected to gain experience playing against some of the best youth teams in the world,” he said.
However, the squad will have the services of Virandeep Singh and Hafiz Khair, who both played for the senior national team.
MCA selectors are in the midst of finalising the 15-man squad for the tournament, which acts as a warm-up for India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan ahead of the ICC Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand next January. Devinder Singh