Two Malayalis in India’s U-19 World Cup squad; Suryavanshi star of Mhatre’s side

Two Malayalis have made it to India's squad for the ICC Men's Under-19 World Cup to be held in Zimbabwe and Namibia in January-February next year.

Aaron George and Mohamed Enaan are in the 15-member squad, led by Ayush Mhatre, and comprising 14-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi.

Hyderabad-Malayali Aaron is a right-hand batter, while Enaan, who is a specialist leg spinner and a handy middle-order batter, hails from Thrissur district.

Aaron recently featured in India's U-19 Asia Cup in Dubai. India lost to Pakistan by 191 runs in the final. Aaron impressed in his maiden U-19 showing for India with a hat-trick of half-centuries.

Enaan was not part of the Asia Cup squad but had scored an unbeaten century in an internal tri-series featuring two national sides and Afghanistan.

The BCCI also released the India U-19 squad for a three-match one-day series against South Africa to be held in the first week of January.

Suryavanshi has been named captain of the India squad for the SA tour, while Aaron will serve as his deputy. Enaan is also part of that squad. Mhatre and Vihaan Malhotra will miss the SA tour due to wrist injuries, the BCCI said.

India squad for U-19 World Cup: Ayush Mhatre (C), Vihaan Malhotra (VC), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Aaron George, Vedant Trivedi, Abhigyan Kundu (wk), Harvansh Singh (wk), R.S. Ambrish, Kanishk Chouhan, Khilan A. Patel, Mohamed Enaan, Henil Patel, D. Deepesh, Kishan Kumar Singh, Udhav Mohan.