LAHORE: Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Ijaz Butt, has assured that a proper plan would be adopted to look after the budding cricketers of the Pakistan Under-19 team, which played well to seize the second spot in the recently-concluded Junior World Cup in New Zealand.

Addressing a reception held in honour of the Pakistan U-19 team at the NCA here on Friday, the chairman said that sadly several cricketers had been wasted due to a lack of proper planning at this level in the past.

“Our Juniors have been performing well at this level but it was bad luck for them to not be able to reach the national team as they were lost somewhere on the way in the absence of a proper plan or programme for them. But I will now advise the selectors to keep a vigilant eye on this fresh lot,” the chairman said.

He said that although Pakistan lost the final to Australia, all the boys did a good job and were deserving of appreciation.

He urged the media to provide its full support to the national and junior teams as it was necessary to boost the morale of the players.

Giving the example of Australias former great Test captain Greg Chappell, who asked for the coaching assignment of their national Under-19 team for the World Cup, which ultimately won the title, the chairman said that we too need someone with that kind of spirit to groom our upcoming talent.

Ijaz’s appreciation of Chappell made it seem like he was hitting at Pakistans former Test cricketers, who only wanted the assignment of coaching the senior team. If not that then he is thinking of hiring the services of an Australian coach for the job.

“Chappell loves to work with upcoming talent as he did when he joined the Indian national team as coach but his emphasis was more on juniors,” he added.

Meanwhile, Pakistan junior coach, former Test batsman Ijaz Ahmad said that the boys did very well in the World Cup. He said that they were very excited about the match against India and earned a creditable win against them.

He said the fielding department looked like it needed improvement. He mentioned Usman Qadir, Raza Hasan, Hammad Azam and Babar Azam as good future prospects for Pakistan.

Manager and former Test cricketer Shafqat Rana said that Pakistan was not a favourite before the start of the World Cup as the media there was declaring India, South Africa or New Zealand as the winners. But our boys changed all that.