Pretoria:Pace bowling prodigy Mohammad Amir Khan is determined to make a big impression at the coveted ICC U19 Cricket World Cup. The right-armer is the latest in the assembly line of Pakistan teenage fast bowlers following in the footsteps of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Musa Khan and Mohammad Hasnain.

The Swat-born can clock the 140kmph mark on the speed gun. His pace and ability impressed the junior selection committee and the Pakistan U19 team management, who chose to induct him in the final squad for the tournament being hosted in South Africa.

Amir, who was playing tape-ball cricket on the streets and fields of Swat till only a year ago, burst on the domestic U19 scene this year with a haul of 18 wickets in five three-day matches of the National U19 championship in which he represented Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Featuring in a training camp in September last year at the National Cricket Academy, Amir found himself bowling with the likes of Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz who gave him useful tips.

After resting from Pakistan’s opening warm-up game against Nigeria, Amir bowled his full quota of 10 overs at the Irene Country Club in Pretoria taking two wickets in his second spell as Pakistan cruised to a four wicket win against Sri Lanka on Tuesday.

Amir Khan said: “I didn’t get any wicket in my first spell as I struggled a bit for control and direction. I am pleased with my performance in the second spell in which I took two wickets and also effectively used the slower delivery.

“My aim is to perform in every World Cup game and play a role in my team’s success. My pace is natural and I have worked hard on improving my run-up with the coaches. Our bowling coach Rao Iftikhar has worked with me and I have the support of the whole coaching staff.

“Attending a camp with senior players always helps. When I was at the NCA, I bowled with Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Amir. Both gave me useful tips which gave me a lot of confidence and heart. They told me to maintain my line and length and learn the slower ball.”

Amir, who first started playing cricket after watching the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 on TV, took a keen interest in tape-ball cricket where he made a name for his fast bowling before his rapid rise at the national junior level last year after he switched to the cricket ball.

The youngster wants to bowl quick like Shoaib Akhtar and admires the skills of England’s James Anderson.

The ICC U19 Cricket World Cup provides him the perfect platform of further raising his prospects of a national senior team call-up.

Pakistan now travel to Potchefstroom today (Wednesday) after a five-day stay in Pretoria, where they won both warm-up games.

Pakistan who are placed in Group C, play Scotland in their opening ICC U19 Cricket World Cup match on Sunday, 19 January.

Their second match is against Zimbabwe on Wednesday, 22 January, followed by the third and final group match against Bangladesh on Friday, 24 January. All three games will be played in Potchefstroom.

Pakistan ICC U19 Cricket World Cup squad:

Rohail Nazir (captain and wicketkeeper), Abbas Afridi (Peshawar), Abdul Wahid Bangalzai (Quetta), Amir Ali (Larkana), Amir Khan (Peshawar), Arish Ali Khan (Karachi), Fahad Munir (Lahore), Haider Ali (vice-captain), Qasim Akram (Lahore), Mohammad Haris (Peshawar), Mohammad Huraira (Sialkot), Mohammad Irfan Khan (Lahore), Mohammad Shehzad (Multan), Mohammad Wasim Jnr (North Waziristan), Tahir Hussain (Multan)

Team management – Ijaz Ahmed (head coach-cum-manager), Rao Iftikhar Anjum (bowling coach), Abdul Majeed (assistant coach), Saboor Ahmad (trainer), Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rasul (physiotherapist), Usman Hashmi (analyst), Emmad Ahmed Hameed (media manager) and Col (retd) Usman Riffat Anwari (security manager).

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Lahore-February:  The NCA is starting U-16 Advanced Coaching and Training Camp from March 12 to April 7, 2018 at Inzamam ul Haq High Performance Centre, Multan. In this regard, the junior national selection committee has selected 28 players which would train under the elite panel of NCA Coaches. The players selection for this program is based on their performance in the recently concluded Pepsi PCB Inter Regional Tournament 2017-18.

The 28 players along with their respective regions are as follows:

Saim Ayub, Mubashir Nawaz, Syed Nasim Ali Shah, Shahryar Rizvi, Aliyan Mehmood, Saad bin Yousaf (Karachi),  Muhammad Ahsan, Kh. Arham (Sialkot), Imad Afzal, Adil Naz (Abbottabad), Atif Khan, Hassan Abid Kiyani (Islamabad),  Aurangzeb, Abdul Ghaffar (Quetta), Umer Eman, Khalil ur Rehman, Bilal Munir, Hussain Ali, Kabir Khan (Lahore), Usama Afridi(Rawalpindi), Amir Khan, Haris Khan (Peshawar),  Izzatullah (FATA) ),  Sameer Saqib (Faisalabad),  Zaman Khan (AJK), Rizwan Mehmood, Salman Khan (Hyderabad),  Muhammad Ammar (Bahawalpur)

The players are instructed to report on March 11, 2018 at Inzamam ul Haq High Performance Centre, Multan.

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LONDON: Amir Khan threw water over Phil Lo Greco after being taunted by the Canadian at a press conference to promote the British boxer’s return to the ring after almost two years away.

Khan’s comeback, which comes after a period of marital difficulties and a spell in the I’m a Celebrity reality TV jungle, will see him take on Canadian Lo Greco in Liverpool on April 21.

Lo Greco, who has won 28 of his 31 fights, mocked Khan by insisting he had been on a “losing streak” in and out of the ring since losing his last fight against Saul Alvarez in May 2016.

Khan responded to the jibes by throwing water towards Lo Greco at the press conference in Liverpool, prompting security to intervene before Khan insisted he would take the bout as seriously as ever.

“I will train like it’s a world-title fight. Greco says maybe I’m past my best. I’m 31 and at the peak of my career,” Khan said.

“For me, boxing is the way forward. Boxing put me here and I am going to finish on a high.”

Cynics may suggest Khan’s antics were designed to reignite his public interest in him since signing with promoter Eddie Hearn, who has made no secret of his desire to make a domestic super-fight against welterweight rival Kell Brook happen.

Brook returns to the ring for the first time since he lost his IBF welterweight title to Errol Spence last year when he faces Sergey Rabchenko in Sheffield next month.

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The 31-year-old former world champion will end an absence of almost two years when he returns to the ring at The Echo Arena, Liverpool, on April 21, with an opponent to be announced.

Khan has linked up with promoter Eddie Hearn on a three-fight deal and is targeting another world title.

Amir Khan Khan said: “I’m thrilled to be teaming up with Matchroom. This decision is not one I’ve taken lightly, as I’m at a hugely important time in my career, but having spoken to Eddie at length, it was clear he and I were on the same page in terms of what I want to be doing and what I still want to achieve.

Amir Khan is back on Sky Sports with Matchroom

“I’m determined to win another world championship and I’m confident I’ve got the right team behind me to help me do so.

“Just as important a factor was the opportunity to fight in the UK for the first time in five years, and to do so with the support of the British fans and Sky Sports behind me. British boxing is in such a good place and I genuinely can’t wait to get back in that ring with the incredible home support behind me.

“I’ve been out of the ring for too long, and I’m desperate to make up for lost time, starting in April.

Khan previously held the WBA and IBF belts during a successful spell at super-welterweight, including wins over Paulie Malignaggi, Zab Judah and Marcos Maidana.

He spent time away from the sport, including appearing on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, after suffering defeat in an audacious attempt to defeat Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez for the WBC middleweight title in May 2016, but is expected to drop down to welterweight for his return to the ring.

Headlining in Liverpool will see Khan back British soil for the first time since he boxed in Kell Brook’s hometown, Sheffield, in April 2013.

Khan will move back down after facing Saul Alvarez at middleweight

Hearn said: “I am delighted to welcome former unified world champion Amir Khan to the Matchroom Boxing and Sky Sports Boxing team. Amir is one of the biggest names in the sport of boxing and his return on April 21 in Liverpool will be the first time he has boxed in the UK in five years.

“The plan is to box in April and then again in August or September in preparation for a super fight in winter 2018. The target is to provide him with the biggest fights possible, of course a British mega-fight with Kell Brook is top of that list along with the likes of Manny Pacquiao, Keith Thurman and Errol Spence Jr. I’m excited to get started and looking forward to a huge night of boxing on April 21 in Liverpool.”

Eddie Hearn has the Brook-Khan ‘mega-fight’ on his list of targets

Adam Smith, Sky Sports’ Head of Boxing said: “It’s great news to have Amir back on our screens. He is one of those sports stars that grabs a wider audience than others and we all know he’s always in exciting fights.

“There’ll be even more eyes on him following his stint in the jungle and it is not only wonderful having him back on Sky Sports, but seeing him box back in Britain for the first time in five years, will be special.

“Will King Khan rule the world again? We’ll find out!”

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