Kuala Lumpur, Feb 26 (IANS) Despite registering some facile wins in the ongoing International Cricket Council (ICC) U-19 Cricket World Cup, none of the Indian players figures in the race for the Player of the Tournament award. It is New Zealand pace bowler Tim Southee who is the favourite and can extend his lead when the junior Black Caps take on India at Kinrara Oval Wednesday.

Southee has been the most consistent player in the tournament so far, having picked up Player of the Tournament points in every match he has played, including his man-of-the-match performance against Sri Lanka in the quarter-final Monday.

The points are allocated by the International Cricket Council (ICC) umpires at each match with those officials awarding three points for their choice as man of the match, second choice getting two points and the third pick receiving one.

Those points are then added up to produce the Player of the Tournament. All matches, including those in the Super League play-offs and final as well as the Plate Championship, are included in the process.

Southee has a total of nine points and is one point clear of Paras Khadka of top associate team Nepal.

Khadka in turn is another point ahead of Sachith Pathirana of Sri Lanka. Then there is a group of three on six points, which includes Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Ali Asad, West Indies vice-captain Steven Jacobs and South Africa’s leg-spinning all-rounder Jonathan Vandiar.

Ali and Vandiar will be going head to head in the other semi-final as Pakistan and South Africa meet on Friday at Kinrara Oval for a place in Sunday’s final.

It is likely that the eventual Player of the Tournament will come from the above collection but it is still possible for those on five points, or even four, to make a late burst and take the title.

Those on five points are Pakistan’s Adil Raza, South Africa’s captain Wayne Parnell and the Indian duo of Virat Kohli and Taruwar Kohli.