Punjab-origin Sangha to lead Australia at U-19 World Cup

Tribune news service

Chandigarh, December 15

Jason Sangha, whose father migrated from Punjab to Australia, will lead Australia at the Under-19 World Cup to be held in New Zealand from January 13 to February 3. The 18-year-old right-handed batsman and leg-break bowler will be the first cricketer of Indian origin to lead an Australian team. 

His father Kuldeep Sangha, who was a resident of Bathinda, moved to Australia in the 1980s to pursue higher education, and eventually settled there. 

Last month, Sangha struck 133 for Cricket Australia XI in a tour game against England in Townsville to become the youngest Australian cricketer to notch a first class ton. In April 2016, Sangha also became the youngest Australian to bag a rookie contract with New South Wales.

Former World Cup-winning captain Steve Waugh’s son Austin has also been included in the Australian squad. The side includes Will Sutherland, son of Cricket Australia’s (CA) chief executive James Sutherland. Sutherland Jr is the vice-captain of the side. In 2016, Waugh had hit an unbeaten hundred in the final of the Under-17 National Championships, and earlier this year represented Australia U-19s in a One-day series against Sri Lanka’s youth side.