Aiden Markram to lead SA U-19s

Aiden Markram, the 19-year-old Titans batsman, has been named the captain of the South Africa Under-19 squad that will travel to Dubai for the 2014 U-19 World Cup. Markram will lead a 15-man squad for the two-week long tournament that begins on February 14.

"I was so shocked I didn't even know if I was happy or not at the time (of the announcement)," Markram said. "This is a tremendous honour and I am looking forward to the challenge of leading the side all the way to the final."

Markram represented South Africa Under-19 in the recently concluded Quadrangular Under-19 Series in India, but managed just 73 runs from five innings at 14.60. He had also played for Northern Under-19s in the CSA Under-19 competition, scoring 96 and 49 in a losing cause against Gauteng Under-19s last year.

Nonetheless, Raymond Jennings, the coach of the U-19 team was happy with the final team that was selected.

"It was a tough process picking out this side, but I'm satisfied that we've picked out the best team for this competition," Jennings said. "It's a very exciting tournament that we're going to and I'm looking forward to seeing how the guys perform against the best in the world, this is their time to prove us right or wrong."

The team will meet in Johannesburg for a training camp on February 2, and leave for Dubai on February 7. South Africa will begin their campaign against West Indies Under-19 on February 14.

Squad: Aiden Markram (capt), Bradley Bopp, Corbin Bosch, Driaan Bruwer, Kirwin Christoffels, Justin Dill, Clyde Fortuin, Dayyaan Galiem, Sibonelo Makhanya, Greg Oldfield, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Ngazi Sigwili, Jason Smith, Yaseen Valli