With much focus perhaps alt="Captain Patricio Cores batting in the nets" width="225" height="311" hspace="3" vspace="3" border="1" align="right">With much focus perhaps currently on the Argentina U19 squad currently in Canada participating in the ICC Americas U19 Championship, not to be forgotten are the next wave of youngsters coming through the ranks of the Argentine Cricket Association development program.

Despite the chilly winter weather, the Argentina Under 13 squad have been hard at work preparing for their own big challenge, the South American U13 Championship, to be played in Curitiba, Brazil, from 16 to 18 July.

This will be an historic event as it marks the first tournament of its kind at Under 13 level in South America, following on years of bi-lateral competition between Argentina and Chile. This time however, it will be a proper tournament, with hosts Brazil participating for the very first time, and naturally this is seen as the foundation from which future generations of cricketers will fly the flag of these South American cricket countries.

The tournament will be played using the T20 format of matches, with two matches a day over three days, meaning each team plays four games, including two games against each other participating team. The first matches are due to be played on Thursday 16 July, with the tournament concluded on Saturday 18 July. With Chile departing on Sunday 19th, Argentina and Brazil will play an additional one-off challenge match on that day.

The Argentina Under 13 squad will be captained by Patricio Cores of St.Alban's College, and fields twelve players representing six different schools and clubs. Especially heartening is the inclusion of two players, Martin Munton and Lucas Lukac, from the historic Buenos Aires Cricket & Rugby Club, where cricket has recently been reintroduced after a long period of absence.

Rosario Athletic Club, the only club ouside greater Buenos Aires where cricket is formally played, will be represented by Felipe Nogues and Valentin Tumusa, while other players are drawn from St.Alban's College, Club Atletico Lomas, Belgrano Athletic Club and Bede's Grammar School.

The full squad is:

• Patricio Cores (captain/SAC)
• Teo Diaz Luzzi (BGS)
• Ramiro Escobar (SAC)
• Matias Fennell (Belgrano AC)
• Gonzalo Husain (SAC)
• Lucas Lukac (BACRC)
• Martin Munton (BACRC)
• Felipe Nogues (CA Rosario)
• Martin Peralta (CA Lomas)
• Ignacio Pizzo (CA Lomas)
• Juan Schmidt (BGS)
• Valentin Tumusa (CA Rosario)

The team will be coached by Rodrigo Scioscia with assistant Hernan Fennell and managed by Esteban MacDermott.

• Thursday 16 July: AM Brazil v Chile; PM Brazil v Chile
• Friday 17 July: AM Brazil v Argentina; PM Argentina v Chile
• Saturday 18 July: AM Argentina v Chile; PM Brazil v Argentina