Assam cricketer Riyan Parag on Sunday was picked in the 16-member India U-19 squad for the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup which will be held in New Zealand between January 13 and February 3.
The Guwahati lad will be a part of a preparatory camp in Bangalore, between December 8 to 22, for the ICC tournament.
Riyan has already proved his mettle by scoring three fifties in four innings during the tour of England in July this year. Riyan, who was appreciated for his batting style, scored 8, 52, 68 and 50 in two four-day matches at Worcester and Chesterfield under tough batting conditions.
Former Assam pace spearhead Javed Zaman said that under 19 tournaments are the best platform to attract the selectors. “We are hopeful of Riyan. I have seen him batting. He’s extremely talented and technically sound. To get the selection from Duleep Trophy or Ranji Trophy is a bit lengthy but if he plays well here, I’m sure in the next two or three years of time, we can see him wearing the team India cap,” Zaman who represented India A told The News Mill.
Syed Zakaria Zuffri, one of the most successful cricketers from Assam who currently coaches the Ranji team also sees Riyan as a bright prospect for the state. “As he (Riyan) also started to bowl, it can be a very good all round potential for any team. It’s good news for the state,” said Zuffri.
The Indian team, with former India captain Rahul Dravid as coach, finished as runners-up in the previous edition when they lost to West Indies at the final Bangladesh in 2016.
Riyan Parag hit a century for India Red in the Under-19 Challenger Trophy in Mumbai last week and will look to continue the form in the coming opportunities.
Squad: Prithvi Shaw (Captain), Shubman Gill (vice-captain), Manjot Kalra, Himanshu Rana, Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag, Aryan Juyal (wicket-keeper), Harvik Desai (wicket-keeper), Shivam Mavi, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Ishan Porel, Arshdeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Shiva Singh, Pankaj Yadav
Standby Players: Om Bhosle, Rahul Chahar, Ninad Rathva, Urvil Patel, Aditya Thakare
