CSA announce South Africa U19 squad for West Indies tour, Junior World Cup

Cricket South Africa, on November 17 (Wednesday), announced the team squad for the upcoming ICC Under-19 World Cup, scheduled to be played in the West Indies in January-February 2022.  In the lead-up to the big tournament, the Protea Under-19 team will face hosts West Indies in a bilateral series, the squad for which have also been named. The team will be led by George van Heerden.

Head coach Shukri Conrad expressed excitement about the upcoming tournament and emphasized the importance of following the “philosophy that we have set out”.

“I am certain they [the team] will be well-led by George van Heerden. I want us to have the courage of our convictions. Have the courage to play the way we have practised, to follow the philosophy that we have set out and, hopefully, we can adapt, depending on what conditions are prevalent in the West Indies, both on the tour and the World Cup.” Conrad was quoted as saying by a CSA release.

Conrad stated that despite the World Cup approaching, the team’s immediate attention is to win the series against West Indies.

“The World Cup is the priority, but we also have a series to the West Indies that we’d like to win. It is also great preparation for the boys. I would like to see our boys continue the work; we still have a little bit of work to do before we get there and once there, to go out and have the courage to play the way we want to play.

“Ultimately, I believe if we do that enough, then we will be victorious. We are certainly not going there as a side who wants to just compete, or a side just thrilled to be there, we want to not only give a good account of ourselves but also get into the play-off stages and win tournaments. That’s a long way away, but if we follow the building blocks, we will be alright,” Conrad concluded.

SA U19s convenor of selectors, Patrick Moroney said: “The process of putting this group of players together is only the pinnacle of the work that started as far back as three years ago when some of these players were exposed to the CSA Talent Acceleration Programme (TAP) for the first time.”

“All these players played in the CSA Cubs week hosted in January earlier this year. Covid has played a big part in things being different, especially taking into account the schools cricket programme where schools play each other on a week-to-week basis that could not take place because of Covid. But taking all into account I believe that we have managed to select a team that will be competitive at the World Cup in the West Indies.

“We are blessed in the country with some exceptional talent, and I trust that these young men will use this as a platform to propel themselves into the cricketing world.

“Unfortunately, we can only select 15 players and three travelling reserves to the showpiece, but it was no easy task with an abundance of talent in the country. Some less fortunate players did not make these teams but no doubt that we will see them in the future plying their trade in the provincial and even national teams. I wish the team and staff well in their final preparation and wish them all of the very best,” Moroney concluded.

South Africa Under-19 Squad for West Indies series:

George van Heerden (C), Liam Alder, Matthew Boast, Dewald Brevis, Michael Copeland, Ethan Cunningham, Valentine Kitime, Kwena Maphaka, Gerhard Maree, Aphiwe Mnyanda, Andile Simelane, Jade Smith, Kaden Solomons, Joshua Stephenson, Asakhe Tshaka

South Africa Under-19 Squad for 2022 ICC U19 World Cup:

George van Heerden (C), Liam Alder, Matthew Boast, Dewald Brevis, Michael Copeland, Ethan Cunningham, Valentine Kitime, Kwena Maphak, Gerhard Maree, Aphiwe Mnyanda, Andile Simelane, Jade Smith, Kaden Solomons, Joshua Stephenson, Asakhe Tshaka

Travelling reserves: Hardus Coetzer, Ronan Hermann, Caleb Seleka