BENONI: Pakistan end their ICC U-19 World Cup campaign with their third position play-off against New Zealand at the Willowmoore Park in Benoni on Saturday.

The Rohail Nazir-led Pakistan were defeated by India in the Super League semi-final at the JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom on Tuesday which ended their hopes of winning the title for the third time.

However, there will be a lot at stake when Pakistan on New Zealand who lost their Super League semi-final to Bangladesh in Potchefstroom on Thursday. The boys in green are eager to end their campaign at the mega event with a positive result by sealing the third spot.

Finishing third will help Pakistan U-19s improve on their fourth spot in the 2018 ICC U-19 World Cup staged in New Zealand.

Head coach Ijaz Ahmed confirmed at least one change in the playing eleven for the third-position playoff as left-arm-pacer Tahir Hussain was ruled out of the match due to a back injury.

Ijaz said: “The third place play-off is a very important for us as we want to finish the tournament on a high. We are practising the same way we had for every game. We want to finish third.

“We have told the players that it is another game and they should concentrate on their daily processes rather than worrying too much. This phase is also a part of the development of the players and a lesson that should come in handy for them in their careers ahead.

“I strongly feel these players have the potential to progress to a bigger stage. This bunch of players is very capable and some of them will surely represent Pakistan, play the Pakistan Super League and first-class cricket in the days ahead. As a coach it gives me great pleasure to work on the players full of potential, the World Cup was part of their development and they have done fairly well in that aspect,” Ijaz concluded.

Published in Dawn, February 8th, 2020