New coach Mubarak optimistic as Sri Lanka youth embark on English tour

A new chapter is set to commence for the Sri Lanka Under-19 cricket team as they embark on a journey under the guidance of the newly appointed head coach Jehan Mubarak. His tenure will begin with a challenging tour to England.

Mubarak, who comes in with a wealth of experience as a coach at school level, believes that the squad that is selected has the ability to do well in England. The 18-member squad that has been selected for the tour comprises of a mixture of seniors who have represented the Under-19 World Cup this year.

The former left-handed batter was pleased with the fact that most players who have been selected in this squad have overseas experience, so they know what to expect. Another encouraging sign is that almost all players have made their debuts in first class cricket. Despite having started to play first class cricket, none of them have played in England, which Mubarak described as one of the major challenges during his first tour as head coach.

“The biggest challenge for us is to prepare for the conditions in England,” Mubarak said, before their departure.

He went on to explain the importance of adapting their game plan according to the format and the conditions. The Sri Lankans will play two Youth Tests and three Youth ODIs during their month-long tour. Their coach stressed about the need of adapting to the four-day format, especially considering the fact that they had been prioritising white-ball cricket.

Mubarak went on to say that they will look to include three fast bowlers as they consider it is the best way to challenge the Englishmen on their home soil. The team management hopes to give all 18 players in the squad a chance to shine. Especially considering the fact that this tour will be their last for most players in the squad.

He also noted that there are a few players who will be eligible to play the Under-19 World Cup in 2024. The squad also consists with two wicketkeeper batters who can adapt to game plans and the required format.

However Mubarak stated that the players might not get the opportunity to play in the position that they have been used to play, while turning out for their respecting clubs. Instead they will have to adapt according to the team’s requirements.

According to Mubarak one of the positives that they carry forward is that the players are keen to learn from their mistakes. The former Sri Lankan southpaw had mixed feelings about the fact that the most players will not be eligible to play in the next World Cup.

Despite being non-eligible, the purpose of this tour is to prepare the players as they progress towards the next level and ultimately represent the national team in the near future. There are about five debutants in the squad, interestingly, all from outstation.

“Technically all are very good players. They all performed in the recently concluded provincial tournament. Fitness levels are also improved and our fielding standards have to be maintained. We should not be intimidated by the opposition and that should bring the mental strength. It will enable us to win major tournaments in the near future,” Mubarak explained.

Normally when a team from a sub-continent tours England, they always find it difficult to acclimatise to the weather conditions. However this time Mubarak expects the weather to be different, as the team tours at the latter part of the English summer.

“Hopefully the summer will be a little bit warmer due to a heat wave and it will be easier to acclimatize,” he noted.

Statistically Sri Lankan batters have struggled for consistency at all levels. However the Under-19 head coach thinks that their batting performances are getting better. At the same time he admitted that there is always room for improvement.

He also felt that the impact of the shorter formats have changed the manner in which the younger generation play the game. That’s where the coaches has to teach them the mental discipline.

“Our aim is to beat England in their own country and we know it’s a difficult task. But we are confident,” the newly appointed head coach said optimistically.

England are the current runners-up in the ICC Under-19 World Cup, which will be their strength. On their previous visit to Sri Lanka, England lost the ODI series (3-2), but Mubarak feels this will be an entirely different series. He expects his brigade to be competitive and fight to the end.