ACC Under 16 Elite Cup - Thailand Preview

Thailand under 16 team will be departing on the 6th of March for Nepal for the ACC Under 16 Elite Cup. 8 teams (Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Kuwait, Nepal, Bahrain and Hong Kong) will be taking part in the tournament which commences on the 8th of November and come to an end on the 16th of March, 2010. The teams have been divided into two groups of four, with the top two ranked teams in each group progressing to the semi finals. All matches will be 40 over’s long and will start at 10:00 AM Nepal Time ( 05:45 GMT).

Group A: Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Saudi Arabia
Group B: Kuwait, Nepal, Bahrain and Hong Kong

The under 16 squad has been preparing for this campaign for over 6 months now, in which period they attended 2 specialized camps, one in Bangkok  (December,2009), and one in Khoa Yai (February, 2010). Along with these specialized camps the squad has been engaged in weekend training sessions and games, in attempts to balance their education and cricket commitments.

Thailand’s Match Schedule

Thailand Squad: WITSANUKORN THAPTHIMTHAI (Captain), AMAN DUBEY, PHANOODATE CHALONGPHIWAN, NIKHOM PUTTAKO, SITTIPONG HONGSI, KITTIKOON TACHENAM, WITTAYA MUNGPLONGKLANG, SURASUK WANNARIT, MUKESH SARAFF, SIDDANTH ANAND, SIDDHANTHAN VARDHAMANAN, PATEL SMITKUMAR PRAVIN, KUSHAL SHAH and JAINAM SANGHAVI (Wicket Keeper).
Coach: JOHN PAUL HOTTINGER, Manager: MOHIDEEN A. KADER

The Thailand squad will be lead by a little Thai boy Witsanukorn Thapthimthai (Boo) who was also part of the recent Under 19 squad (ACC Challenge Cup 2009). Along with Boo there are a total of 8 Thai boys in the squad. Of the 8 local boys 6 are the product of CAT’s rural cricket development programme, which specifically targets improvised regions of Thailand. A couple of the boys walk 20 km on a daily basis from their home to school and back for their educational and cricketing need.

CAT is hoping to build on its recent successes, (ACC Twenty 20, Challenge Cup Championship – Runners Up and Under 19 Challenge Cup, 2009 – Runners Up) by making it to the semis and then to the finals. Thailand’s Coach John Hottinger is full of confidence, stating that the boys have enough talent to make it to the semi finals and retain their position in the elite division.

Thailand’s Match Results