Indian-origin Jason Jaskirat Singh Sangha has been selected as the captain of Australia’s Under 19 team for the World Cup to be held in New Zealand next month.
He is a middle order batsman and a right-arm leg break bowler. Last month, he made headlines across the cricket world for becoming the youngest batsman since Sachin Tendulkar to score a century against England in a first-class match while representing Cricket Australia XI in a tour match. He was 18 years and 62 days old and held his own while scoring a 226-ball 113.
Sangha, who became the youngest in Australia's history to be handed a rookie contract with New South Wales in April 2016 has been selected along with another Indian-origin cricketer Param Uppal, Austin Waugh (Steve Waugh’s son) and Will Sutherland (Cricket Australia’s chief executive James Sutherland’s son).
Jason Sangha, Will Sutherland and Param Uppal, in Australia's u 19 cricket team Source: Jason Inglis/ CA
“The captaincy is an amazing opportunity for myself and I’m privileged to be able to not only represent my country, but to lead my country with pride. It wasn’t too much of a surprise since I captained a few games earlier in the year against Sri Lanka,” Jason told .
18-tear-old Uppal, born in Chandigarh, like Sangha, is a classy right-handed batsman who scored 370 runs at this year’s under-19 championships at an impressive average of over 60. Uppal also bowls right-arm off-spin.
Australia last won the U-19 World Cup in 2010. Australia has been drawn in Pool B, and begins its World Cup campaign against India on January 14th at Tauranga’s Bay Oval.
