Dubai. Fahad Nawaz will lead UAE Under-19 team in the Western Region Under-19 Asia Cup qualifier tournament to be held in Malaysia from October 31. Nawaz earned the honour of leading the UAE team through a string of brilliant performances in domestic cricket.

The tournament is of great importance to the youngsters as winner of the qualifier can progress to Asia Cricket Council’s U19 Asia Cup that will commence from November 10.

Almost all the players who got selected have been performing consistently in domestic cricket. In 2015, Fahad Nawaz had cracked a whirlwind unbeaten 174 off just 78 balls in the Under-13 Ramada Gulf Cup cricket tournament for GM Cricket Academy Green team. Last year, Nawaz, playing for Kricket’s Spero Academy in the final of the fourth Shyam Bhatia Cricket for Care U-16 Inter Academy Tournament, hit 101 runs to ensure the academy a victory.

Jonathan Figy too has been consistent and was instrument in Zayed Cricket Academy winning the National Academies tournament in May this year. Left arm spinner and all-rounder Rahul Bhatia, who bagged five wickets against Papua New Guinea (PNG) team in their warm-up match before the ICC World Cricket League championship will make his debut for UAE Under-19 team.

Speaking to Gulf News, Bhatia who got the call when he was bowling at the nets for the Pakistan-Sri Lanka team at the ICC Academy, said: “I had worked harder each time I got rejected. In fact, I realised rejection is the first step towards success.”

Bhatia had gone on to emerge the highest wicket taker in the inter-academy and produced a good all-round show in the Inter Emirates tournaments.

Aryan Lakra. who even played for Indian Junior Premier League is another top consistent player.

Announcing the team, Waleed Bukhatir, Emirates Cricket Board member and chief selector said: “Our Under-19 boys have been preparing for this qualifying tournament throughout the summer months. Our coaching team are very encouraged by the development and progress they have seen, and are confident this team will achieve our goal of winning the tournament, and participating in the Asia Cricket Council’s U19 Asia Cup.”

Team: Fahad Nawaz (C), Jonathan Figy, Karthik Meiyappan, Mohammad Ali Mirza. Hrithik Bhatia, Aryan Lakra, Rahul Bhatia, Syed Haider Shah, Ansh Tandon. Niel Lobo, Brandon Martis, Shah Faisal Khan, Marlon Malcolm and Ehtesham Siddiqui.