The next batch of the Indian Arrows has already resumed their preparatory camp for the forthcoming edition of the Hero I-League 2021-22 in Bhubaneswar. In a freewheeling interview with The Daily Guardian, Head Coach Shanmugam Venkatesh opens up with Indian Football about the current batch, target for the season, Indian Arrows as a platform, the next edition of the AFC U-19 qualifiers, support from Odisha Sports, and much more. EXCERPTS:

How is it being back with the Indian Arrows?

It feels great to be back with the young boys, especially after the stint with the Senior Men and the U23 boys. It’s a big motivation to be working together with the next generation, and I feel happy. It’s nice to be back in Bhubaneswar.

Why did you choose Bhubaneswar as the venue for the camp?

The facilities here are among the best in the country, and Odisha is an ideal place for the team’s preparation. I look forward to coming back to Odisha after the Hero I-League for our preparations for the AFC U-19 qualifiers, and other competitions.

How have you zeroed down on the boys at the camp? Will you add more boys in the coming months?

As per the pathway followed in the AIFF Academy system for the development age-group players, 6 players from the 2004 born batch which had qualified for the AFC U16 Finals (unfortunately the Championship got cancelled owing to the pandemic) under Bibiano (Fernandes) are training with us. In addition, there are some other boys from the same batch who are currently with their respective clubs in the Hero I-League. Understanding that they may not be getting the same amount of game time in their clubs as Indian Arrows, we have approached the clubs. If the clubs release them, we will have a look at them and take a call.

Looking back, what do you make of Indian Arrows as a platform for the development of Indian Football?

Indian Arrows is a great platform to address the transition phase and get them prepared for the Senior side. As we saw in the recent U23 AFC qualifiers, most of the players were a part of the Arrows setup with a lot of experience and exposure. A lot of them have also made their appearances for the senior NT and are playing regularly in professional club competitions. The Arrows allow sufficient game time, which otherwise would have forced most of the boys to warm the benches in their respective clubs.

Being a former India captain, do you believe that such a platform would have helped your batch – the likes of Bhaichung, Mahesh, Climax, Abhishek, Dipak, yourself, and many others?

Such a setup would have helped us to be even better. As everyone is aware about the number of exposures the Arrows set-up offers, it is extremely beneficial for the development of players at a young age to prepare them for Senior National Team and professional club competitions. The U-23 NT is a great example of how the Arrows structure has helped the players improve by having those exposures, and the experience at youth level. All of them are on display at the Senior, and U23 level.

How much will it help that the batch who will be playing in the A FCqualifiers will also get substantial match time in the Hero I-League?

The Hero I-League will play a vital role in our preparation as the competition is high pressure one against experienced and physically stronger players, even foreign recruits. Playing against senior team players is always a good experience leading to the AFC qualifiers.

Do you have any targets in mind for the Hero I-League?

In the previous season the players were not experienced with a proper level of competition leading to them being a part of the Arrows. But this year, with all the experience, and having kicked-off our preparations early, our target is to win as many matches as possible. At the same time, we intend to put on display a good quality performance to finish among the top teams in the League. However, our ultimate target still remains the AFC Qualifiers, and looking beyond.

The West Indies will host the 14th edition of the ICC Under 19 Men’s Cricket World Cup for the first time ever, as the event which showcases the future stars of the game will see 16 teams travelling to the Caribbean to compete in 48 matches from January 14 to February 5 across four host countries.

The sixteen teams competing will see current holders Bangladesh, England, Canada and the United Arab Emirates form Group A, with debutants Uganda placed in Group B alongside India, South Africa and Ireland. Group C comprises Pakistan, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and Papua New Guinea and Group D sees host West Indies, Australia and Sri Lanka. Scotland complete the tournament line up in Group D after New Zealand withdrew due to the extensive mandatory quarantine restrictions for minors on their return home. The four host countries have been confirmed as Antigua and Barbuda, Guyana, St Kitts and Nevis and Trinidad and Tobago with 10 venues hosting matches. The format will see the top two teams from each of the four groups advance to the Super League while the remaining teams feature in the Plate across 23 days of competition.

The 48-match schedule will begin with hosts West Indies taking on Australia, with Sri Lanka facing Scotland in Guyana on January 14. The group stage will take place across Guyana, St Kitts and Nevis and Trinidad and Tobago between January 14-22.

Trinidad and Tobago will host the Plate competition between January 25-31, with the Super League taking place in Antigua and Barbuda from January 26. The semi-finals will be played on February 1 across two venues; the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground and Coolidge Cricket Ground on February 2. The Final on February 5 will also be held at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.

ICC Head of Events, Chris Tetley said: “The ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup is such an exciting and special tournament, bringing together the future stars of the game and giving them an unrivalled experience of competing on the global stage.”

There will be 16 warm-up matches taking place between January 9-12 in St Kitts and Nevis and Guyana.ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Groupings: Group A – Bangladesh, England, Canada, United Arab Emirates; Group B – India, Ireland, South Africa, Uganda; Group C – Afghanistan, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Zimbabwe and Group D – Australia, Scotland, Sri Lanka, West Indies.

Suryakumar Yadav (62) and Rohit Sharma (48) starred with the bat as India chased down 165 to defeat New Zealand by five wickets in the first T20I of the three-match series here at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Wednesday.

Chasing 165, India got off to an excellent start as openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul put on 50 runs inside the first five overs. However, the introduction of Mitchell Santner paid off as he dismissed Rahul (15) on the first delivery of the sixth over. Suryakumar Yadav then joined Rohit in the middle and the duo took the hosts’ score to 85/1 at the halfway mark, still, 80 runs away from the target. Rohit and Suryakumar kept on chipping away at runs, and the hosts were in firm control of the game. New Zealand got the much-needed breakthrough in the 14th over as Trent Boult got the better of India skipper Rohit (48). Suryakumar kept on going on his merry way and he brought up his half-century off just 34 balls.

India was in a comfortable position but the quick wickets of Suryakumar (62) and Shreyas Iyer (5), saw the hosts needing 10 runs to win off the final over. Daryl Mitchell was chosen to bowl the final over, and in the end, Rishabh Pant (17*) and Axar Patel (1*) managed to take India over the line.

Earlier, Martin Guptill and Mark Chapman played knocks of 70 and 63 respectively as New Zealand posted a total of 164/6. Asked to bat first, New Zealand got off to the worst start possible as on just the third ball of the innings, Daryl Mitchell (0) was clean bowled by Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Mark Chapman then joined Martin Guptill in the middle and the duo took New Zealand’s score to 41/1 after the end of the powerplay.

Chapman and Guptill kept on moving the scoreboard slowly and steadily, and at the halfway mark, the Kiwis score read 65/1. In the 11th over bowled by Mohammed Siraj, Guptill changed the tempo as he smashed 16 runs, giving the much-needed momentum to the Kiwis. Chapman also went on to register his half-century and the visitors were looking in firm control.

Chapman finally departed after playing a knock of 63 and he was sent back to the pavilion by Ravichandran Ashwin. In the very same over, Ashwin sent Glenn Phillips (0) back to the pavilion, reducing Kiwis to 110/3 in the 14th over. In the final four overs, New Zealand managed to add 34 more runs, taking the score past the 160-run mark.

Brief Scores: New Zealand 164/6 (Martin Guptill 70, Mark Chapman 63; Ravichandran Ashwin 2-23) vs India 166/5 (Suryakumar Yadav 62, Rohit Sharma 48; Trent Boult 2-31).

Serbia stunned Portugal 2-1 in Lisbon on Sunday night as they qualified for the next year’s FIFA World Cup.

Spain and Croatia also secured their places for Qatar 2022 after their 1-0 wins over Sweden and Russia respectively.

Portugal enjoyed a dream start as the home team opened the scoring after just two minutes through Renato Sanches.

However, Serbia bounced back and levelled with Dusan Tadic’s strike.

Aleksandar Mitrovic then grabbed the vital goal as stoppage time approached and gave the visitors a memorable win as Portugal will now have to go through playoffs for the place in the next year’s showpiece.

In Seville, Spain made sure they avoided the playoffs as Alvaro Morata’s goal four minutes from time ended Sweden’s resistance.

Elsewhere, 2018 finalists Croatia also needed a late winner as an own goal from Fedor Kudryashov booked their place in Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup.

New Zealand coach Gary Stead on Monday admitted that his side faces a hectic schedule although he hopes for a good performance in the upcoming series against India.

New Zealand came up short in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final against Australia on Sunday and the side now gets ready to lock horns against India in the three-match T20I series, beginning Wednesday in Jaipur. “It’s the first time that I can remember that we’re so quickly into another series immediately at the back end of the T20 World Cup. It’s definitely tough and challenging but it is what is in front of us. We’ve got nine-ten guys in India already who are preparing for those Test matches, and hopefully, we can get up and have a really great performance against India,” ESPNcricinfo quoted Stead as saying.

Giving a fitness update on pacer Lockie Ferguson, Stead said: “In terms of Lockie, I think he is pretty close. We will just make sure we get over there, travel okay and there are no issues like seizing up on the flight or anything like that. But I’d expect that he’s going to be available for selection, which will be fantastic.”

“With all the guys that are going to prepare for the Test matches, we just have to make that call over there — whether we think it’s in the best interests of them and also in the best interests of the team being that the Test matches are more of our priority, I think, in the next month than what the T20 matches will be,” he added.Mitchell Marsh’s power-packed unbeaten 77 and a superb spell from Josh Hazlewood fired Australia to their first T20 World Cup title on Sunday against New Zealand at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

India T20I deputy KL Rahul on Monday said that the long-term focus of his side will be the next World Cup but every series from this point is equally point.India and New Zealand will be squaring off in a three-match T20I series, beginning Wednesday in Jaipur. Rohit will be leading the side with Rahul acting as deputy. “The long-term goal is to focus on the World Cup but we will focus on the process and every series from now on is important. We will try to see what combinations are perfect for us and can be used for the world cup but right now we will be focusing on one series at a time,” said Rahul during a virtual press conference on Monday.

Rahul also praised batter Rohit Sharma and said that his tactics and understanding of a game are really commendable. “There is no new thing is Rohit’s captaincy. We have been seeing him leading the Mumbai Indians for a long time now and his stats are so great. He has a good understanding of the game and his tactic is really good. We all enjoy watching Rohit bat. He is a great guy to be around and all of us are excited about the New Zealand series,” said Rahul.

Speaking about his role in the team, Rahul said, “I think it’s a collective effort whatever happens in a team’s sport like cricket. Everybody should be clear about their roles. All the players in the team, have been together for a very long time, we get along really well. It will be fun to go out and play.” New Zealand will play a T20I series and then follow it up with two Test matches. The T20Is will be played on November 17 in Jaipur, November 19 in Ranchi and November 21 in Kolkata. The two Tests will be played in Kanpur (November 25-29) and Mumbai (December 3-7).

Rahul said, “I think it’s a collective effort whatever happens in a team’s sport like cricket. Everybody should be clear about their roles. All the players in the team, have been together for a very long time, we get along really well.”