Bachelor of Commerce student-athlete and Melbourne University Cricket Club (MUCC) member Janak Prakash has put his talent on display once again, cementing himself as one of cricket’s most promising young players in the group stage of the Asia Cup Qualifiers last month.
Fresh off July’s T20 World Cup Qualifiers, Janak has been balancing his studies with representation in Singapore’s national team and MUCC’s First XI. Janak’s devotion to both his studies and athletic pursuits is not uncommon amongst the tournament’s teams; as he explained,
“Most players in this competition are not full-time cricketers. We either have to manage work, university, or in Singapore’s case, National Service as well”
With Singapore currently ranked 27th for T20 Internationals, they entered the three-match tournament as underdogs, with Hong Kong, UAE, and Kuwait ranked 20th, 13th, and 24th respectively.
Singapore begun the tournament against Hong Kong, pushing the game to the last inning before falling short of their 148 target by 8 runs. Janak showcased his offensive skillset, scoring an impressive 31 off of 32 balls.
Taking on tournament favourites UAE in their second match, Janak backed up his previous offensive showing with a defensive masterclass, recording three wickets in the loss including a spectacular catch off his own bowling.
After Kuwait’s shock win over UAE earlier in the tournament, Singapore looked to record an upset of their own; Janak led his squad with 29 runs, but Kuwait’s batting prowess proved too much too handle, surpassing the 104 target in 7.5 overs.
Despite a disappointing Asia Cup campaign, Janak’s efforts continued to solidify his status as one of Singapore’s most talented players and strengthened his resume as a rising star in International Cricket. Finishing the tournament 8th in runs scored and 5th in wickets against some of Asia’s strongest squads, Janak has now turned his focus to his 2022-23 season with the University's Cricket Club. Already having dove back into preseason training, Janak discussed how “great it was to be back at training with the guys at the Club, with everyone working hard in preseason”.
As a member of the University’s Elite Athlete Program, Janak is adamant the program’s academic support has been integral to his recent athletic successes. Having returned to Singapore earlier this semester to prepare for a string of international tournaments throughout the year, Janak has continued his Bachelor of Commerce studies throughout his training; “it would have been unquestionably challenging for me to commit to my academic and sporting ambitions fully without the EAP’s support”.
MUCC’s Victorian Premier Cricket League season kicks off on 1 October against Casey-South, with their first home match taking place on the 15 and 22 October against Essendon.
