Pakistan's U-19 head coach Ijaz Ahmed believes that his side carries more passion than India, which could prove the difference when the two young sides face each other in the World Cup, which is to begin on January 17 in South Africa.

"India have a very good cricket system and it is organised but I know that we have more passion than them when we play against each other. That is why we beat them in the semi-finals of the recent Asian Emerging Nations Cup," Ijaz is quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India.

"Even in the past, we defeated India because of our greater passion and this time, too, I know that the passion of our players will prevail over them, although they have a very strong outfit," he added.

Read more: U-19 captain Rohail Nazir confident ahead of departure for World Cup

When asked whether India will have an upper hand, having played a four-nation tournament in South Africa, the head coach disagreed. 

"Our players have also trained hard in Lahore and we have played around 11 matches. We will also reach South Africa nine days before the World Cup and we have some practice games so I think our preparations are also very good for the tournament," he said.

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The coach did not express any disappointment or bitterness at being deprived of teenage pacer Naseem Shah. 

"There was no controversy at all. The way we now see things is that you can't expect an MBA to sit in BA exams. That is how we look at Naseem Shah. He has made the grade for Pakistan and now he should be performing for the senior team," said the head coach.

Instead, he backed several more of his charges, including captain Rohail Nazir, to eventually graduate to the senior team.

"We have a couple of exciting young talents in the ranks. I expect Rohail and Haider to play for the senior team in two to three year's time ... they are that good," he said.