India, Pak favourites to progress to Super League in U-19 WC

KARACHI: Holders India and two time former champions Pakistan are favourites to progress to the Super League quarter finals from Group A in the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup starting across the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from February 14.

India to be led by stylish top order batsman Vijay Zol along with Australia is the most successful side at this level having won the tournament three times.

Mohammad Kaif inspired India to the title in Sri Lanka in 2000 while Virat Kohli led from the front in Malaysia when India regained the title in 2008, said an ICC statement issued on Thursday.

However, Pakistan remains the only country to have won the tournament back to back.

Khalid Latif led Pakistan to the title in 2004 in Bangladesh while Sarfraz Ahmed’s boys retained the crown when the event was staged in Sri Lanka in 2006.

This month Pakistan will be led by Lahore’s opener Sami Aslam as the green shirts will join India and Australia in their quest to reclaim the title and become the only sides to have won the tournament three times each.

The two sides will go head to head at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Feb 15 in a match that is expected to decide which side tops the group.

Also in Group A are Scotland and Papua New Guinea. (APP)