18-year-old Jason Jaskirat Singh Sangha will be the first Indian-origin cricketer to lead the U-19 squad of Australia for the ICC Youth World Cup to be held in New Zealand next month.
The teenager has already scored a total of 559 runs in the U-17 and U-19 championships held recently. In April this year, Sangha became the youngest cricketer to be awarded with New South Wales (NSW) contract. Leading the U-19 team of Australia will add yet another feather to his cap
Sangha has been part of Australia’s under-19 team since he was 16. He would have been a part of the previous edition of the 2016 U-19 World Cup that was held in Bangladesh, if his country had not decided to opt out from the event citing security reasons. He, however, represented the U-19 team in Youth ODIs against Pakistan and New Zealand the same year.
“It is an honor to lead your country in such a tournament. It is something I had dreamt about. I could have been in the U-19 Australian team for the last World Cup in Bangladesh at 16. Hopefully, we will fare well in New Zealand as we have a balanced unit which has been playing together for a long time now,” said Sangha, reported Hindustan Times.
The teenager was recently a part of the Cricket Australia XI where he became the youngest cricketer since Sachin Tendulkar to score a first-class century against England. The English squad’s attack was spearheaded by Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali.
Sangha’s father, Kuldeep Sangha, has his roots in Bhatinda in Punjab. He moved to Australia in the 1980s to pursue higher education and aimed to make the Sangha family proud. He was a state level athlete.
Apart from Sangha, another Indian origin cricketer to play in the squad is 18-year-old Param Uppal of New South Wales. “It is wonderful to have a fine cricketer like Param in the team. His all-round abilities can turn it around. We would like to give our best and bring back the title back to Australia,” added Sangha when asked about his teammate Uppal, reported Hindustan Times.
Uppal was in news for his century in the first youth ODI for Australia U19s against Sri Lanka U19s at Kingston’s Twin Oval recently.
Former Australian legend Steven Waugh’s 17-year-old son Austin Waugh is also part of the squad that will be led by Sangha. Waugh made his debut this year. Australia won the U-19 World Cup in 2010.