Pak U-19 team to draw inspiration from past WC glories: Hasan Khan

Hasan Khan, who is all set to lead Pakistan in the upcoming ICC Under-19 World Cup 2018, has said that his side would look to draw inspiration from their previous victories in the prestigious tournament.

The 19-year-old, who made his first-class debut for Karachi Whites in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy this season, insisted that Pakistan's current U-19 squad was quite capable of emulating their past performances and that they would surely make the country proud.

"Indeed, the achievements of Pakistan's Under 19 squads in the past are for all of us to see and admire. We have won this tournament twice in 2004 and 2006 and my team and I will look to draw inspiration from these victories," Pakpassion.net quoted Hasan Khan, as saying.

"The current squad we have is fully capable of emulating the performances of the past and God willing, we will give a good account of ourselves in the upcoming World Cup which will make our nation proud," he added.

Hasan Khan, who led Pakistan to the finals of the ACC U-19 Asia Cup in his first stint as captain, further said that the upcoming prestigious tournament would be a good test of his leadership abilities and that he was looking forward to the challenge ahead.

"I wouldn't say that it is pressure. Instead, I would like to look at it as a challenge and quite frankly, I am quite enjoying this as a good test of my leadership abilities. I am not feeling any tension at all as I have some great support from the team management as well as my team and that has really given me a lot of confidence in my own abilities," he said.

Hasan further said that he would aim to lead his team from the front in the ICC event and would bring in all the experience that he has gained so far.

Talking about the squad, Hasan believes this is the best group of players that they have in Pakistan at the moment while also expressing confidence that this team would surely emerge out victorious in the World Cup.

"These are all very hard-working players who have shown exceptional skills with bat and ball and I am proud to be leading this group. We have some brilliant fast bowlers as well and this is a well-balanced squad. I feel that with a squad of such abilities, we have a great chance to take on the best teams and also win the World Cup," he said.

The ICC U-19 World Cup is slated to be played in New Zealand from January13 till February 3 next year.