Zol to captain India U-19s in ACC Asia Cup

New Delhi: Maharashtra batsman Vijay Zol has been named captain of the India Under-19 squad for the ACC Asia Cup in the UAE, which will begin on December 28.

Kerala wicketkeeper Sanju Vishwanadh, who was part of the Under-19 team for the Asia Cup in 2012, has been appointed Zol's deputy.

"The All-India Junior Selection Committee met in Delhi on 27th November to pick the Indian team for the ACC U-19 Asia Cup to be played in the UAE in December 2013–January 2014," said a statement from Anurag Thakur, Joint Secreatry, BCCI.

Zol shot into limelight when he scored an unbeaten 451 during a domestic U-19 match in 2011. During the U-19 World Cup last year, he scored 151 runs in six matches at an average of 25.16.

The tournament will also feature teams from India, Pakistan, UAE, Nepal (Group A) and Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Malaysia (Group B).

India will open their campaign against the hosts (UAE) on December 28 while the much awaited contest against the arch-rivals Pakistan will take place on December 31.

Squad: Vijay Zol (captain), Sanju Vishwanadh (v-c), Akhil Herwadkar, Ankush Bains, Ricky Bhui, Shreyas Iyer, Sarfaraz Khan, Deepak Hooda, Kuldeep Yadav, Amir Gani, Karan Kaila, C V Milind, Avesh Khan, Rishi Arothe and Monu Kumar Singh.

The match-schedule is as follows:

28th Dec: India vs UAE (Sharjah Cricket Stadium)

Pakistan vs Nepal (ICC GCA 1)

Bangladesh vs Malaysia (Abu Dhabi Oval 1)

Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi Oval 2)

29th Dec: India vs Nepal (ICC GCA 1)

Pakistan vs UAE (Sharjah Cricket Stadium)

Bangladesh vs Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi Oval 1)

Sri Lanka vs Malaysia (Abu Dhabi Oval 2)

31st Dec: India vs Pakistan (Dubai International Stadium)

Nepal vs UAE (Sharjah Cricket Stadium)

Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka (Sheikh Zayed Stadium)

Afghanistan vs Malaysia (Abu Dhabi Oval 1)

2nd Jan: 1A vs 2B (SF1) (Sharjah Cricket Stadium)

1B vs 2A (SF2) (ICC GCA 1)

4th Jan: Final (Sharjah Cricket Stadium).