Basel, Switzerland – December 2025 – Cricket Switzerland successfully held its combined U19 and Youth National Squad training weekend on 6–7 December 2025 at St Jakobshalle, Basel. The event brought together eligible players for evaluation as part of the selection process for the U19 Swiss National Squad (born on or after 1 September 2008) and the Youth Swiss National Squad (born between 1 September 2006 and 31 August 2008).
The weekend focused on assessing technical skills, and overall potential. Players had previously applied by 14 November 2025, with eligibility verified according to nationality, age, and compliance with international representation rules.
The training was led by two highly experienced UK-based coaches, supported by domestic coaches:
- Russell Cobb, former professional cricketer who played over 150 matches for Leicestershire (England) and Northern Transvaal (South Africa), currently Head of Cricket at Loughborough University, a recognised Centre of Cricketing Excellence. Cobb is an ECB Level IV certified coach and recipient of ECB Coach of the Year and Outstanding Coaching Achievement awards.
- Anish Kirtesh Patel, former first-class cricketer for Loughborough MCCU and Minor Counties player for Lincolnshire, former captain of England at the 2017 Indoor Cricket World Cup, and founder of a specialist indoor cricket sports centre in Birmingham.
Separately, individual player evaluations were conducted by the CS Selection Committee, composed of Jonty Acton, Head Coach U19 (ICC Level 2), and Baljit Singh, Head Coach Youth squad (former Danish international cricketer), supported by Miran Rechter, Team Manager. Final squad decisions are scheduled to be finalised shortly after a second selection session on 8 February 2026 at St Jakobshalle, Basel.
Following this, the selected U19 and Youth Swiss squads will convene for a training day on 28 February 2026, again at St Jakobshalle. This session will place a specific focus on overall fitness and fielding abilities, preparing players for upcoming national and international competitions.
The U19 squad selection is particularly significant, as it will form the core player pool for the Swiss team, who will participate for the first time in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup European Qualifying 1 tournament, scheduled in Guernsey in late July 2026. This process underscores Cricket Switzerland’s commitment to developing young talent and preparing players for international competition.
For more information: Cricket Switzerland | Home of Cricket Switzerland
