WI youths must cross final hurdle

West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) director, Richard DeSouza is very confident that the West Indies Under-19 cricket team will win the Under-19 World Cup final  against Pakistan tomorrow in Bangladesh. “Success breeds success and I am very optimistic that this West Indies team will win the world title. They seem to have a very good chemistry between the players and I think there is no stopping them now,” the former hard-hitting Trinidad and Tobago batsman said.

Former West Indies wicketkeeper and senior World Cup winner Deryck Murray agreed with DeSouza. “All of us in the Caribbean are hoping they can get over the final hurdle and win the Cup. I am really wishing for a win on Friday and I am not perturbed by the fact that Pakistan beat us in the preliminary. That is now through the window and the guys have to focus on just one more match  and try to win it,” Murray said. National team manager Omar Khan believes that the way the players are playing it is going to be very hard for Pakistan to stop them. “This team has showed a lot of fight and will be very hard to stop. Ravi Rampaul is now back to full fitness and I could see him being the major weapon in the finals,” Khan said. Baldath Mahabir of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) believes that skipper Dinesh Ramdin could again play a major role bringing home the crown. “I was very impressed with the leadership of Dinesh Ramdin. He batted very well, kept wicket purposefully and captained the team really well,” Mahabir said. Rangy Nanan thinks likewise and suggests that Ramdin’s use of Rampaul on Friday will be critical.

“Dinesh has handled his main bowling weapon Ravi Rampaul very well and come Friday, he can be the match-winner, once used properly. I am very proud of the youngsters in the team and I think they will bring the title back home with them,” the former top off-spinner said. First vice-president of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB), Dudnath Ramkeesoon said every day is a new one and the West Indies youngsters  have to forget their earlier loss to Pakistan. “The boys have to forget the loss to Pakistan and buckle down to the task of beating them in the final. The loss can affect them psychologically so it is important that they forget that match and play the finals as just one new match,” the former WI youth captain said. TTCB executive member Patrick Rampersad said he hoped that the lads from the Caribbean win the title because in the context of West Indies cricket, it will be great. “It will show that the development programmes are working and will give us tremendous optimism for the future,” Rampersad said.