KARACHI, Feb 21: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday announced cash incentives for the national squad which retained the ICC Under-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka at the weekend.
Shaharyar M. Khan, the PCB chairman, said that the 14 players and three officials (manager Aftab Baloch, coach Mansoor Rana and trainer Grant Compton) would be rewarded with Rs200,000 each.
The squad which arrived in the city from Colombo via Dubai was warmly welcomed at the National Stadium where the PCB had hosted a luncheon in their honour.
Pakistan, led by wicket-keeper/batsman Sarfraz Ahmed beat arch-rivals India in a low-scoring final by 38 runs on Sunday to become the first country to retain the title.
In a brief speech on the occasion, the PCB chief lauded Pakistan’s outstanding achievement and said that sheer hard work paid dividends in the face of adversity.
“We must say that the team exhibited unity, discipline and hard work. We are extremely proud of what these youngsters have achieved and brought laurels for their country,” he remarked.
The chairman singled out Anwar Ali, the paceman who played a pivotal role in the final, for special praise.
“Anwar’s superb performance vindicated our decision to hold a national Inter-school tournament for the first time last year where this boy came into prominence while playing for Karachi’s GBSS Metroville.”
He said the PCB would advise the regions taking part in the forthcoming Twenty20 Cup to include the youngsters in their teams.
“That would enable the boys to get experience of playing in front of large crowds. In addition, they would also learn the finer points of the game from the senior players.”
The PCB chief added the cricket board was working on the idea of fielding a team of youngsters in next season’s Quaid-i-Azam Trophy.
Pakistan, led by Khalid Latif, won the previous edition of the World Cup in Bangladesh two year ago when they beat West Indies in the final at Dhaka’s former Test ground Bangabandu Stadium.
Australia is the only other side to win the U-19 World Cup twice — in 1987-88 and 2001-02.
