Under-19s eyeing title

TOWNSVILLE, Australia (CMC):

The management of the West Indies Under-19 cricket team says it's doing everything possible to inspire the players and keep alive their dream of winning the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup.

Kraigg Brathwaite's side has already qualified for the last eight of the ICC U19 World Cup after successive wins against India, Papua New Guinea and Zimbabwe.

The management team of coach Roddy Estwick, assistant Stuart Williams and legend Courtney Walsh, the team manager, says the idea is to ensure the young players are comfortable.

"We're doing everything in our power to keep the young minds from being distracted and from being homesick," Estwick said.

"It's very important that they can speak to their families or whoever they want to speak to, to give them that word of encouragement or that word of advice to keep the spirits up."

Walsh has been encouraging the young West Indians to make telephone calls from his room to their families at home as part of overall efforts at keeping them relaxed.

"We try and monitor the situation and make sure they are happy,"said Estwick.