Azeem Ghumman will be leading the Pakistan side in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup this year in New Zealand.

Eighteen-year-old Azeem led the Pakistani side during its tri-nations tournament with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in December last year.

The top-order batsman took his team to the final on 8 December against Sri Lanka. However, the Lankans managed to win the match against his team in a thriller.

"It's always great to play for Pakistan and I'd like to thank the selectors who have made me captain of the side for the ICC under-19 Cricket World Cup. It's a great honour to play for your country and to be captain is even greater," Azeem was quoted saying in the ICC website.

"As a team we don't feel pressure having twice won the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup. We're going to New Zealand with the confidence to win."

He believes that New Zealand will provide good conditions for his team: "I think it's going to be good pitches for our seam bowlers in New Zealand but having said that I think the batsmen will do well there too, as long as they take their time at the wicket and don't rush themselves.

"I think Bangladesh and India will be the two toughest competitors in this tournament. I think along with ourselves those two sides have enormous talent at under-19 level.

"I feel I've got good knowledge of playing outside of Pakistan having travelled to Australia with the Pakistan ‘A' team, I've been to Zimbabwe with the under-19 squad and we recently toured Sri Lanka with the same squad."

Azeem has sought the advice of his elders ahead of the start of the tournament. "I have been in touch with the two captains of the two Pakistan teams that won the under-19 Cricket World Cup in 2004 and 2006, Khalid Latif and Sarfraz Ahmed. They have advised me the way I need to be with the boys and that it is all about having a good combination of players.

"They believe that if you've got a good combination of players you can win the World Cup. We've played a couple of good tours before the World Cup - one to Sri Lanka and one to Zimbabwe and ahead of the World Cup starting we've got our warm-up matches in a series against New Zealand to get used to the climate.

"We're fully aware of our strengths and weaknesses before we start our World Cup campaign. We are ready."