by Abhai Sawkar The ICC Under-19 World Cup is about four months away - sixteen teams from around the world, with the brightest talents in the business, are getting ready to shine in South Africa next year. Two months ago, the Americas Regional Qualifier completed. Five teams were in the mix during this event in King City, Ontario: Canada, USA, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, and Argentina. It may have only lasted a week, but the intensity, rigor, and the urge to make it over the line were all quite strong. It’s the usual feeling, especially when the top team, and the top team only, moves on to compete at center stage. In the penultimate game, Canada and the USA faced off in the fate-determining game - both teams were undefeated through three games, and it was time to battle it out for the higher honors. The hosts routed the Americans, first bowling them out for 112 and completing a comfortable 5-wicket win in clinical fashion. Not only was this the tournament victory, but it was a breakthrough moment for Canadian cricket, as the U19 team would compete in their third consecutive U19 World Cup. Potential is abundant among the Canadian team; each player brings something special to the table. Benjamin Calitz, a stylish left-handed top-order batsman and occasional wicketkeeper, was one of 14 promising youngsters selected to take part. His ascent to the top is quite the inspirational story. Born in Canada, Calitz has spent much of his life in South Africa, where his family hails from. Leading up to the Regional Qualifier, it was all about putting in the hard yards and getting primed for the big games. “My preparation started in South Africa, and that’s where I prepared myself physically and mentally,” says Calitz. “In addition to normal club practices, my dad and I went at 4:45 in the morning to the Boland indoor facilities to hit balls before school started. When I arrived in Canada I also played a couple of club games to get used to the conditions.” Calitz’s journey from training in South Africa to finally representing Canada was a pretty interesting ride - it’s involved making tough decisions as well as balancing priorities, both of which he’s handled to great effect. “I was fortunate to work as a liaison officer for the Canadian senior men’s team when they were in Namibia last year. Their manager invited me to come and play at his club in Victoria during their summer. I was 15 years old and all on my own, halfway across the globe for 6 weeks,” recounts Calitz. “During that time I also played for the British Columbia Under-17 team and got selected for the Canada Under-19 development tour to the West Indies.” “So for a second time I had to fly across the globe. It was an unforgettable experience to play in the Caribbean. This year I went to Toronto to play at Ontario Cricket Academy. After a set of trials, I got selected again. The only setbacks were the fact that I had to catch up on a lot of school work I missed and the financial implication on my family.” Juggling several responsibilities, the 17-year-old has demonstrated impressive levels of maturity as well as readiness to take on tougher assignments in the future. His secret to success is simple but powerful: “I believe one of my biggest strengths is to always work hard and never give up until it is over.” The Regional Qualifier may have been a relatively quiet tournament for Calitz, but it’s created several moments to remember. “Winning the qualifiers was my favorite moment, but also our team scoring 441 against Cayman Islands and breaking the Under-19 Associate record for highest team total was also memorable.” The 391-win against Cayman Islands was a record, too. It served as the perfect confidence boost for the decider against the USA. It may not have been that difficult to make it over the line, but the qualification is a reward for tireless efforts and improvement. Interestingly enough, this is the third consecutive U19 World Cup for the Canadians - they featured last year in New Zealand, and three years ago in Bangladesh. “I think Canada’s youth cricket is consistently improving. It was an amazing feeling. The last deciding game against USA was something I had never experienced before.” Not only is the U19 World Cup a much bigger event, it is also a great initiative for young cricketers from around the world longing to make a positive first impression at the highest level. For over two decades, the U19 World Cup has been the eye-opener for what lies in the future for the sport. There’s the youthful passion, the urge to transcend the boundaries, and the motivation to adjust to the toughness of international cricket. Countless standout performers at U19 level have been able to make it big when they entered their respective senior national sides. Calitz strongly values the upcoming opportunity, with regards to both experience and competition. “I’m really looking forward to competing against and alongside the best Under-19 players in the world,” says Calitz. “I would love to do well at the World Cup and then be recognized by someone and hopefully take my dream further to become a professional cricket player. In conjunction with my cricket, I would also like to obtain a professional qualification.” The excitement to compete in a worldly tournament is palpable, and the drive to achieve is boundless. Next year’s event is also very much a homecoming for Calitz, too. Considering the fact that he’s trained and gone to school in South Africa, it’s safe to say that conditions and the atmosphere will all be very familiar. In the last two World Cups, Canada couldn’t make it beyond the group stage, but this is now a new team, brimming with energy, willpower, and confidence. The challenges will not be few - especially the step up from regional to global level and contending with stronger sides. The undefeated campaign from earlier this year has set the tone for an important preparation period leading up to January. Practice makes perfect, and with every game comes a precious learning opportunity.
2 Comments
Hanno van Zyl
9/21/2019 11:58:53 am
Well written article, enjoyed reading it
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Abhai Sawkar
9/21/2019 02:34:33 pm
Appreciate it man!
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