In an exclusive interview with Newsday, West Indies Rising Stars Under-19 captain Stephan Pascal expresses his pride in leading the maroon brigade to the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup, highlighting the importance of unity and preparation for success.
Trinidad, November 21, 2023 – As the countdown to the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup in Sri Lanka begins, West Indies Rising Stars Under-19 captain Stephan Pascal, is gearing up to lead his team into battle against the world’s top U19 cricketing nations.
Currently in Trinidad with his teammates for a two-week training camp, Pascal emphasizes the significance of building a competitive mindset ahead of the January 2024 tournament.
The right-handed batsman from Dominica is no stranger to leadership responsibilities, having captained the squad in a three-match One-Day International U19 series against Sri Lanka in August. Despite losing the series 2-1, Pascal remains motivated to improve and develop his skills.
“I just want to improve and keep on growing from strength to strength. Hitting the ground running in the World Cup is the main goal. We want to win it. From a personal standpoint, I just want to contribute as much as possible. Be it in the field, with the bat, or with my leadership,” Pascal said.
The training camp in Trinidad features five 50-over matches, providing crucial match practice against TT’s U23s and USA’s U19 squad, both of whom will also compete in the World Cup.
Pascal sees this as an opportunity for the team to get to know each other better and collaboratively build on their strengths.
“I have a strong mentality, and I’ll just try to bring that to the team as much as possible and ensure the team has that same mentality”.
”Any preparation we can get together is essential. Coming from different territories, working together and staying motivated is tough. I feel us coming together is important,” he added.
After the Trinidad camp, the team will regroup in Antigua from December 10-20 for another round of training sessions before parting ways for the Christmas season.
They will reunite for their trip to Sri Lanka, where they kick off their World Cup campaign against Scotland at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo on January 17.
Reflecting on the team’s goals, Pascal acknowledged the challenges but expressed confidence in the unit’s cohesion and progression.
“We are at a higher level, with gelling and bonding as a unit. The team is a family. We just have to keep building on that and getting closer and getting to know each other’s strengths as we get closer to the World Cup,” he said.
West Indies U19s last clinched the World Cup in 2016 but have yet to return to the final. Pascal, however, remains optimistic, aiming to lead by example and instil a strong mentality in his team.
With their eyes on victory, the Rising Stars are determined to leave an indelible mark on the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2024.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
