BCCI-NCA could develop ‘19 plus’ team to stop young talent from going off radar

New Delhi, Feb 7: Kamal Passi played a few matches for Punjab some seasons ago, Ravikant Singh is nowhere near the system now and four years since his glory days, Manjot Kalra’s career hasn’t got a head-start.
They were all once U-19 World Cup winners but have fallen off the radar, which is an issue that the BCCI will have to address. That’s why there could be a ‘19 plus’ level added to the pathways structure with the National Cricket Academy (NCA) ensuring that talented U-19 players who have just crossed the age-group remain firmly in the system and their progress is monitored.
Such a concept was in place during N Srinivasan’s regime and when Sanjay Jagdale was the secretary and it seems that there are discussions to revive that structure.
“There is a five-tier pathways structure that National Cricket Academy could be looking at in future for developing players for the senior India team. It starts with U-16, followed by U-19, the Emerging (national U-23) and A team.
“In this there is a plan to add a ’19 plus’ level where all these boys could be integrated,” a senior BCCI official privy to discussions told PTI on the condition of anonymity. (PTI)