New learnings, life lessons on offer at Youth Asia Cup

New learnings, life lessons on offer at Youth Asia Cup

One of the most riveting aspects of sport is spotting a budding youngster who looks set to become a world beater in the years that follow. There have been stories aplenty of players who have stepped up the grade, using the Under-19 stepping stone to script themselves fairy tale careers in cricket.

The likes of Inzamam-un-Haq, Graeme Swann, Graeme Smith, Mohammad Kaif, Yuvraj Singh, Hashim Amla, Rohit Sharma, Wayne Parnell, Virat Kohli, Babar Azam and many others have made perfect use of the lower rung to become stars in international cricket. However, for every player who goes on to take the next step up, there any plenty more who fail to stay in the reckoning.

Under-19 cricket may be the ideal chance for the youngster to earmark himself for greatness, but it could also turn out to be the mean beast that could maul a youngster if he can't handle success or failure.

The ACC Under-19 Asia Cup commences Thursday (December 15) in Sri Lanka and the tournament will be keenly followed to see who could be the next big star to emerge for their country.

This would the first taste of international cricket for many young players, and it could also be the first time many of them would be crossing their country borders. The experience itself promises to be great life lessons for all the youngsters and they will be keen on picking up as much as possible to further their cricketing careers as well.

From a cricketing perspective, the pressures of playing for a country will be duly felt. As will be the disappointment when one fails to deliver. Emotions will run high and nerves will be felt, tempers may flare and new beginnings sought. Retrospection is certain to dominate players' minds, while feeding in all that can be learnt will be a priority, too.

The tournament will be a chance, as good as any, for the players to come back stronger and clearer - both in their minds and in their cricket.

History

India and Pakistan have, not very surprisingly, been the teams to dominate the Asia Cup. They have made the finals on both the occasions the tournament was held previously - in 2012 and 2013-14. While the first final ended in a tie, the second saw India take home the trophy.

The third edition, however, promises to be a more competitive affair. Bangladesh cricket has grown leaps and bounds in the last two years, and so has Afghanistan's, and the two teams will be keen on a strong showing. Sri Lanka, being the hosts, will be amongst the favourites, along with India and Pakistan.

Format

The eight participating teams will be split into two different groups. Defending champions India have been placed alongside hosts Sri Lanka, with Malaysia and Nepal completing Group A.

In Group B, a seemingly tougher group, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan will fight it out for spots in the top-two. Singapore is the other team in the group.

The top two teams from each group will progress to the next stage, where they will play the semi-finals, and eventually the finals on the December 23.

Schedule

A total of 15 matches will be played, starting December 15, with the final scheduled on December 23.

Venues

Teams in Group A will play their games in Colombo, with matches being hosted at Colombo Cricket Club, Nondescripts Cricket Club and Moratuwa Stadium.

Teams from Group B will play further down south in Galle, Matara and Surrey Village Ground.

Fixtures

December 15: India vs Malaysia; Sri Lanka vs Nepal; Pakistan vs Singapore; Afghanistan vs Bangladesh

December 16: Malaysia vs Sri Lanka; Nepal vs India; Singapore vs Bangladesh; Afghanistan vs Pakistan

December 18: India vs Sri Lanka; Malaysia vs Nepal; Pakistan vs Bangladesh; Afghanistan vs Singapore

December 20: Semifinal 1

December 21: Semifinal 2

December 23: Final