The Singapore men’s cricket team have fallen from a world ranking of 19 to 36 – their lowest in a long time.
The ongoing Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, is an opportunity to start the climb back up, maybe even to the top. It may take three to four years if everything goes to plan.
As chairman of selectors, I feel cautiously optimistic about the Asian Games side. Never have we had a collection of this many talented cricketers in a squad.
Regardless of how the team finishes, this can only augur well over time.
For the first time, the Singapore Cricket Association has employed a Singaporean coach.
Chaminda Ruwan is not only an exceptional cricketer himself, but he also has the trust and respect of the players. He has a good understanding of the challenges they face and how to make optimal use of scarce resources.
In the batting department, there is experience and class in Anish Paraam, who can rank alongside any first-class cricketer. Singapore can also lean on him for his mean off-spinners.
He is ably supported by the likes of Rezza Gaznavi, Arjun Mutreja and Chetan Suryawanshi, who will likely shoulder the wicket-keeping responsibility, too.
Other young batting talents include Rohan Rangarajan and Abdul Rahman Bhadelia.
In Raoul Sharma and Navin Param, the youngest of the cricketing Param brothers, Singapore has two exciting prospects who played key roles in the SEA Games success earlier this year.
Aman Desai, who previously captained Singapore’s junior squad, is the second wicketkeeper and a promising bat.
Aryaman Uchil, Janak Prakash and Avi Dixit form Singapore’s fast-bowling trio, capable of troubling the best of batsmen when on song.
Aahan Achar and Anantha Krishna are the two spinners who on their day can turn a game on its head. They are supported by young Ishaan Sawney, who is also a promising batsman.
The team’s strength lies in its all-roundedness, giving it the ability to bat all the way down to 11.
I am not at all guaranteeing that the team is going to come back with a medal. This is the Asian Games and every powerhouse in Asian cricket will be represented by some of their greatop talents.
But our team will play its best cricket and give the opponents a run for their money.
