Tag: U19 World Cup 2026

WINDHOEK: Sri Lanka’s Viran Chamuditha delivered a record-shattering performance on Saturday, scripting history in the ICC Men’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2026 during his side’s opening fixture against Japan at the Namibia Cricket Ground.

The left-hander produced a monumental innings of 192 from 143 deliveries, the highest individual score ever recorded in the tournament’s history.

His knock, studded with 26 boundaries and a six, saw him surpass the previous record of fellow Sri Lankan Hasith Boyagoda, who had scored 191 against Kenya in the 2018 edition.

Highest individual scores in U19 World Cup

Chamuditha’s innings laid the foundation for a commanding Sri Lankan total and only came to an end when he was dismissed by Timothy Moore, by which time the damage had already been done.

The record-breaking display was complemented by another landmark achievement, as Chamuditha and opening partner Dimantha Mahavitana stitched together a colossal 328-run stand.

The partnership is now the highest for any wicket in the history of the ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup.

Highest partnerships in U19 World Cup

Powered by the mammoth opening stand, Sri Lanka posted an imposing target of 388 runs for Japan in their first outing of the 2026 tournament, underlining their intent early in the competition.

READ: U19 World Cup: India, Bangladesh captains skip handshake

BULAWAYO: The Group B clash in the ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup at Queens Sports Club on Saturday began on an unusually sour note, as India captain Ayush Mhatre and Bangladesh vice-captain Zawad Abrar avoided the customary handshake after the toss.

Abrar, standing in for Bangladesh captain Md Azizul Hakim Tamim, who missed the match due to illness, won the toss and opted to field, citing the damp conditions following rain.

However, the absence of the traditional pre-match greeting between the two leaders was the key talking point, coming amid escalating tensions between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).

The strain between the two boards has intensified after the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) announced the release of Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL squad, citing directives from the BCCI.

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The decision triggered a strong response from the BCB, which subsequently announced that Bangladesh’s national men’s team would not travel to India for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, citing security concerns.

The BCB then took the matter to the International Cricket Council (ICC), formally requesting a change of venue for Bangladesh’s matches. The board has insisted that its team should play in Sri Lanka, the co-host nation, instead of India.

Adding to the diplomatic fallout, the Bangladesh government announced a ban on coverage of the IPL in the country, further deepening the rift between the two cricketing nations.

As of now, the ICC has not made a final decision regarding Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup fixtures.

The governing body has offered to shift venues, but only within India, citing logistical challenges that make a move outside the country difficult.

READ: Finn Allen seals top spot for Perth Scorchers with Melbourne Stars win

HARARE: Caleb Falconer’s gutsy half-century and a clinical bowling performance powered England to a victory over Pakistan in the fourth fixture of the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup 2026 here at the Takashinga Sports Club, Highfield on Friday.

Set to chase a stiff 211 on a slow pitch, Pakistan U19 were bowled out for 173 in 46.3 overs.

England applied pressure on Pakistan right from the onset as inform batter Sameer Minhas (10) was caught in the third over. Mohammad Shayan was the second one to go after managing just seven, followed by Usman Khan, who made six.

Consequently, Pakistan were in early trouble with 28-3 in 8.2 overs.

Following early wickets, skipper Farhan Yousaf and Ahmed Hussain joined hands at the crease, launching a brief recovery with a 26-run partnership.

However, Farhan Ahmed trapped Hussain lbw for 12 to put Pakistan into further trouble. The next two wickets of Huzaifa Ahsan and Hamza Zahoor also came in quick time, which derailed Pakistan’s chase.

The Green Shirts were reduced to 85-6 in 25.4 overs with captain Yousaf at the fore. The skipper tried to arrest the slide with a 48-run partnership with Abdul Subhan to steady the innings.

The pair somehow provided their side respite as the scorecard read 133 in 37.2 overs, and with less than 100 runs required to win.

But Ralphie Albert provied England the much-needed breakthrough in the form of Subhan’s wicket, who scored 14.

Despite the wickets tumbling around him, Farhan Yousaf kept his team in the hunt and scored a half-century. However, his wicket in the 40th over dashed Pakistan’s hope for a victory.

The right-hander was caught after scoring 65 from 86 balls with the aid of four sixes and three fours.

Eventually, Pakistan fell 37 runs short of the total with the last wicket of Ali Raza, who was run out.

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For England, Alex Green, James Mint,o and Ralphie Albert picked up two wickets each

Earlier, put into bat first, England U19 were bowled out for 210 in 46.5 overs, courtesy of a clinical bowling performance from Pakistan.

Openers Ben Dawkins and Joseph Moores provided a solid start, adding 33 in the first seven overs.

Moores made six before getting caught off Ali Raza’s who provided Pakistan the first breakthrough of the innings.

The second wicket fell in the 11th over when set batter Ben Dawkins was caught behind for 33. He hit four boundaries and a six in his knock.

The Green Shirts continued to mount pressure with clinical bowling and wickets at regular intervals as Ben Mayes was the third one to go, caught at thirdman after scoring 14.

England were 67-3 in 15.1 overs at this stage of the innings with skipper Thomas Rew at the helm alongside Caleb Falconer.

The pair tried to steady the innings with a brief 23-run stand, but the Three Lions were dealt a major blow when their skipper Thomas Rew was caught at point, courtesy of a wonderful catch from Ahmed Hussain. Rew made 14 from 21 balls.

With England in a bit of bother, Caleb Falconer and Ralphie Albert stitched a crucial partnership of 80 runs that took their side out of trouble.

The pair brought the score to 170 from 90 in 33.2 overs with Falconer scoring an impressive half-century.

However, Pakistan bowlers quickly shifted the momentum in their favor with quick strikes.

Spinner Ahmed Hussain was behind England’s lower-order collapse as he removed Albert (25 from 37 balls) to give Pakistan a vital breakthrough.

Soon after, Caleb Falconer followed him after top-scoring with 66 off 73, hitting two sixes and three fours.

England’s slide continued as they slumped to 170-5 to 210 all out in 46.5 overs

For Pakistan, Ahmed Hussain starred with the ball, picking up three wickets in his quota of 10 overs. Abdul Subhan, Ali Raza, and Momin Qamar were equally good as they shared six wickets between them.

READ: WATCH: Babar Azam reacts angrily after dismissal

BULAWAYO: Henil Patel picked up a fifer to set up a comprehensive win for India over USA in the U19 World Cup opener here at the Queens Sports Club on Thursday.

India chased down a mere 96-run target with ease in 17.2 overs in a rain-hit encounter.

The USA started strongly in defense of a small target as Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was sent back only in the second over. The left-hander could only score two.

India were further jolted with two quick strikes, with skipper Ayush Mhatre and Vedant Trivedi sent back in a span of two deliveries.

Trivedi and Mhatre were both caught for two and 19 runs respectively. As a result, India were reduced to 25-3 in 5.2 overs.

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However, Abhigyan Kundu and Vihaan Malhotra put chase back on track with 45 run partnership.

Malhotra was dismissed for 18 from 17 after hitting two boundaries, whereas Kundu remained unbeaten 42 from 41 balls with the aid of five fours and a six.

For USA, Ritvik Appidi picked up two wickets.

Earlier, India bowled out USA for 107 in 35.2 overs, thanks to Henil Patel’s bowling, who remained the chief destroyer.

Opener Amrinder Gill made one before a brief partnership of 28 between Sahil Garg and Arjun Mahesh kept Indian bowlers at bay till the eighth over.

However, Deepesh Devendran removed Garg for 18 which sparked a collapse that USA could not recover from.

Indian bowlers continued to chip in with wickets at regular intervals, with Nitish Sudini remaining the highest scorer for his side.

Sudini who made 36 from 52 was the last wicket to fell as USA were bowled out for a partly score.

For India, Henil Patel remained the star bowler as he picked up a five-wicket haul.

READ: West Indies U19 open World Cup 2026 campaign with Tanzania win

WINDHOEK: West Indies made a confident start to their ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2026 campaign, registering a comprehensive victory over tournament debutants Tanzania at the High Performance Oval on Thursday.

Playing their first-ever match at the U19 World Cup, Tanzania were put in to bat and found the going tough against a disciplined West Indies bowling attack.

The African side were dismissed for 122 in 34 overs, with openers Dylan Thakrar and Darpan Jobanputra offering the only real resistance at the top.

Thakrar top-scored with 26, while Jobanputra added 19 from 46 deliveries, as just four Tanzanian batters reached double figures.

West Indies bowling attack was led by Vitel Lawes, who claimed three scalps.

Shaquan Belle and Micah McKenzie picked up two wickets each, while Jonathan van Lange and R’Jai Gittens chipped in with one apiece to keep the pressure constant.

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Chasing a modest target, the Caribbean side completed the task with little trouble, reaching 123-5 in 21 overs.

Tanez Francis anchored the run-chase with a composed half-century, scoring 52 off 55 balls, including six boundaries and a six.

Jewel Andrew played a crucial supporting role, contributing 44 from 44 deliveries with six fours and a six.

Tanzania’s bowlers showed some fight, with Raymond Francis and Augustino Mwamele taking two wickets each, while Laksh Bakrania accounted for one, but the total proved far too small to defend.

Meanwhile, the Group C fixture between hosts Zimbabwe and Scotland was abandoned without a ball being bowled in Harare due to adverse conditions, resulting in both teams sharing a point each.

READ: ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2026: Everything You Need to Know

The ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2026 begins today, January 15, with co-hosts Zimbabwe and Namibia welcoming the world’s best young cricketers for the 16th edition of the tournament.

Spread across three weeks and five venues, the competition will feature 16 teams battling not only for the title but also for a chance to announce themselves as cricket’s next generation of stars.

The final will be played at the Harare Sports Club on February 6.

The Under-19 World Cup has long been regarded as a launchpad for elite careers, with players like Virat Kohli and Steve Smith having made their first global impression at this level.

Australia arrive as defending champions after beating India in the 2024 final, though history suggests form and reputation offer no guarantees in youth cricket.

India remain the tournament’s most successful side with five titles, followed by Australia with four. Pakistan are the only other team to have won the trophy more than once, lifting it in 2004 and 2006.

The opening day features a triple-header, with India facing the USA in Bulawayo, hosts Zimbabwe taking on Scotland in Harare, and Tanzania meeting the West Indies in Windhoek.

Tanzania’s appearance marks their debut at the Under-19 World Cup, while Japan return to the tournament for the first time since 2020, underlining the game’s expanding global footprint.

Tournament Format Explained

The 16 teams are divided into four groups of four. From each group, the top three teams progress to the Super Six stage. The teams finishing fourth move into placement matches.

The Super Six is split into two groups. Teams carry forward points, wins and net run-rate earned against other qualifying teams from their group. Each side then plays two additional matches against teams from a different group.

From there, the top teams advance to the semi-finals, followed by the final on February 6.

Groups

Group A features heavyweights India alongside Bangladesh, New Zealand and the USA.

Group B pairs Pakistan with England, Scotland and hosts Zimbabwe, setting up a potentially tricky campaign for all sides involved.

Defending champions Australia headline Group C with Sri Lanka, Ireland and Japan, while Group D brings together South Africa, West Indies, Afghanistan and debutants Tanzania.

Venues and Conditions

The tournament will be played across five venues in Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Namibia hosts 16 matches, all in Windhoek at the Namibia Cricket Ground and the High Performance Oval.

Zimbabwe hosts 25 matches, including both semi-finals and the final. Harare Sports Club and Takashinga Sports Club will stage matches in the capital, while Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo adds history and character.

The semi-finals will be played on February 3 and 4, with the final returning to Harare Sports Club on February 6.

A total of 24 group-stage matches will be played, with all games starting at 9:30 am local time and 12:30 PST (Pakistan Standard Time).

Pakistan’s matches

Pakistan begin their campaign on January 16 against England in Harare.

They then face Scotland on January 19 before wrapping up the group stage against hosts Zimbabwe on January 22.

It is a testing schedule, but also a great opportunity to build momentum early.

ICC U19 World Cup 2026 schedule

• 15 January, USA v India, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
• 15 January, Zimbabwe v Scotland, Takashinga Sports Club, Harare
• 15 January, Tanzania v West Indies, HP Oval, Windhoek
• 16 January, Pakistan v England, Takashinga Sports Club, Harare
• 16 January, Australia v Ireland, Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek
• 16 January, Afghanistan v South Africa, HP Oval, Windhoek
• 17 January, India v Bangladesh, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
• 17 January, Japan v Sri Lanka, Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek
• 18 January, New Zealand v USA, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
• 18 January, England v Zimbabwe, Takashinga Sports Club, Harare
• 18 January, West Indies v Afghanistan, HP Oval, Windhoek
• 19 January, Pakistan v Scotland, Takashinga Sports Club, Harare
• 19 January, Sri Lanka v Ireland, Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek
• 19 January, South Africa v Tanzania, HP Oval, Windhoek
• 20 January, Bangladesh v New Zealand, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
• 20 January, Australia v Japan, Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek
• 21 January, England v Scotland, Takashinga Sports Club, Harare
• 21 January, Afghanistan v Tanzania, HP Oval, Windhoek
• 22 January, Zimbabwe v Pakistan, Takashinga Sports Club, Harare
• 22 January, Ireland v Japan, Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek
• 22 January, West Indies v South Africa, HP Oval, Windhoek
• 23 January, Bangladesh v USA, Takashinga Sports Club, Harare
• 23 January, Sri Lanka v Australia, Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek
• 24 January, India v New Zealand, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
• 24 January, A4 v D4, HP Oval, Windhoek
• 25 January, Super Six A1 v D3, Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek
• 25 January, Super Six D2 v A3, HP Oval, Windhoek
• 26 January, B4 v C4, Harare Sports Club, Harare
• 26 January, Super Six C1 v B2, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
• 26 January, Super Six D1 v A2, Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek
• 27 January, Super Six C2 v B3, Harare Sports Club, Harare
• 27 January, Super Six C3 v B1, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
• 28 January, Super Six, A1 v D2, Harare Sports Club, Harare
• 29 January, Super Six D3 v A2, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
• 30 January, Super Six D1 v A3, Harare Sports Club, Harare
• 30 January, Super Six B3 v C1, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
• 31 January, Super Six B2 v C3, Harare Sports Club, Harare
• 01 February, Super Six B1 v C2, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
• 03 February, First semi-final, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
• 04 February, Second semi-final, Harare Sports Club, Harare
• 06 February, Final, Harare Sports Club, Harare

READ: Tickets for Pakistan-Australia series to go on sale from THIS date

BULAWAYO: Sameer Minhas red-hot form continued as he struck 74* off 55 balls to propel Pakistan to a victory over USA in the U19 World Cup warm-up fixture here at the Bulawayo Athletic Club on Tuesday.

Set 295, USA were bowled out for 225 in 43.5 overs, thanks to an all-round bowling effort from Pakistan bowlers.

Amrinder Gill and Sahil Garg started positively in pursuit of the target, adding 45 in 7.4 overs before the latter was caught behind. Gill scored 18 with the help of three fours.

Garg held firm at one end with the USA’s second wicket falling on the fourth ball of the 13th over.

Arjun Mahesh could only add seven to the total.

With USA 61-2 in 13.4 overs, Sahil Garg and skipper Utkarsh Srivastava put chase back on the track with a promising 66-run stand.

The pair brought the total to 127 in 26 overs before Pakistani bowlers chipped in with regular strikes and got a foothold on the game.

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Ahmed Hussain cleaned up Srivastava (36), whereas Niqabl Shafiq trapped Adnit Jhamb lbw for one in back-to-back overs to reduce USA to 134-4 in 26.5 overs.

The big wicket of Garg came in the 29th over, with Pakistan on the cusp of victory. He top-scored with 75 from 83 balls with the help of nine fours and a six.

Following his dismissal, USA innings quickly unraveled and were eventually bowled out.

For Pakistan, Abdul Subhan, Momin Qamar, and Ahmed Hussain picked up two wickets.

Earlier, put into bat first, Pakistan racked up 294-8 at the end of their 50 overs.

The highlight of Pakistan’s innings was Sameer Minhas’ batting, who continued his sizzling form.

The right-hander top-scored with 74 from 55 balls, laced with eight fours and four sixes.

He remained the lynchpin of the batting order, adding a 105-run partnership with Mohammad Shayan (23).

Minhas eventually retired with Ahmed Hussain and Huzaifa Ahsan scoring crucial runs.

Both batters scored 36 and 38 runs respectively, powering Pakistan to a strong total.

For USA, Utkarsh Srivastava remained the pick of the bowlers as he picked up three wickets.

Pakistan will commence its U19 World Cup campaign against England on 16 Jan, Friday in Harare.

READ: Australia suffer injury scare ahead of T20 World Cup 2026

All 16 teams have finalised their squads for the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026, setting the stage for the marquee youth tournament scheduled to run from 15 January to 6 February in Namibia and Zimbabwe.

The 16th edition of the U19 World Cup will follow its established format, featuring 16 teams divided into four groups, a total of 41 matches, and a Super Six stage culminating in the semi-finals and final.

Group A brings together the most successful side in the tournament’s history, India, winners of five titles, alongside 2020 champions Bangladesh, New Zealand, and the USA.

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Group B includes co-hosts Zimbabwe, Pakistan, England, and Scotland, promising several high-profile contests in the opening round.

Defending champions Australia headline Group C, where they will face Sri Lanka, Ireland, and Japan.

Group D comprises South Africa, the West Indies, Afghanistan, and Tanzania, completing a balanced and competitive group stage lineup.

Squads for U19 World Cup 2026

GROUP A

Australia: Oliver Peake (c), Kasey Barton, Naden Cooray, Jayden Draper, Ben Gordon, Steven Hogan, Thomas Hogan, John James, Charles Lachmund, Will Malajczuk, Nitesh Samuel, Hayden Schiller, Aryan Sharma, William Taylor, Alex Lee Young

Ireland: Olly Riley (c), Reuben Wilson, Alex Armstrong, Callum Armstrong, Marko Bates, Sebastian Dijkstra, Thomas Ford, Samuel Haslett, Adam Leckey, Febin Manoj, Luke Murray, Robert O’Brien, Freddie Ogilby, James West, Bruce Whaley.

Reserves: Peter le Roux, William Shields

Japan: Kazuma Kato-Stafford (c), Charles Hara-Hinze, Gabriel Hara-Hinze, Montgomery Hara-Hinze, Kaisei Kobayashi-Doggett, Timothy Moore, Skyler Nakayama-Cook, Ryuki Ozeki, Nihar Parmar, Nikhil Pol, Chihaya Sekine, Hugo Tani-Kelly, Sandev Aaryan Waduge, Kai Wall, Taylor Waugh

Sri Lanka: Vimath Dinsara (c), Kavija Gamage, Dimantha Mahavithana, Viran Chamuditha, Dulnith Sigera, Chamika Heentigala, Adam Hilmy, Chamarindu Nethsara, Sethmika Seneviratne, Kugathas Mathulan, Rasith Nimsara, Vigneshwaran Akash, Jeewantha Sriram, Senuja Wekunagoda, Malintha Silva

GROUP B

Bangladesh: Azizul Hakim Tamim (c), Zawad Abrar, Samiun Basir Ratul, Sheikh Parvez Jibon, Rizan Hossan, Shaharia Al Amin, Shadin Islam, Md Abdullah, Farid Hasan Faysal, Kalam Siddiki Aleen, Rifat Beg, Saad Islam Razin, Al Fahad, Shahriar Ahmed, Iqbal Hossain.

Reserves: Abdur Rahim, Debashis Sarkar Deba, Rafi Uzzaman Rafi, Farhan Shahriar, Farzan Ahmed Alif, Sanjid Majumder, Md Sobuj

India: Ayush Mhatre (c), R.S. Ambrish, Kanishk Chouhan, D. Deepesh, Mohamed Enaan, Aaron George, Abhigyan Kundu, Kishan Kumar Singh, Vihaan Malhotra, Udhav Mohan, Henil Patel, Khilan A. Patel, Harvansh Singh, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Vedant Trivedi

New Zealand: Tom Jones (c), Marco Alpe, Hugo Bogue, Harry Burns, Mason Clarke, Jacob Cotter, Aryan Mann, Brandon Matzopoulos, Flynn Morey, Snehith Reddy, Callum Samson, Jaskaran Sandhu, Selwin Sanjay, Hunter Shore, Harry Waite

USA: Utkarsh Srivastava (c), Adnit Jhamb, Shiv Shani, Nitish Sudini, Advaith Krishna, Sahir Bhatia, Arjun Mahesh, Amrinder Gill, Sabrish Prasad, Adit Kappa, Sahil Garg, Amogh Reddy Arepally, Ritvik Appidi, Rayaan Taj, Rishabh Shimpi

GROUP C

England: Thomas Rew (c), Farhan Ahmed, Ralphie Albert, Will Bennison, Ben Dawkins, Caleb Falconer, Ali Farooq, Alex French, Alex Green, Luke Hands, Manny Lumsden, Ben Mayes, James Minto, Joe Moores, Sebastian Morgan

Pakistan: Farhan Yousaf (c), Usman Khan, Abdul Subhan, Ahmed Hussain, Ali Hasan Baloch, Ali Raza, Daniyal Ali Khan, Hamza Zahoor, Huzaifa Ahsan, Momin Qamar, Mohammad Sayyam, Mohammad Shayan, Niqab Shafiq, Sameer Minhas, Umar Zaib.

Reserves: Abdul Qadir, Farhanullah, Hassan Khan, Ibtisam Azhar, Mohammad Huzaifa

Scotland: Thomas Knight (c), Finlay Carter, Max Chaplin, George Cutler, Rory Grant, Finlay Jones, Ollie Jones, Olly Pillinger, Ethan Ramsay, Theo Robinson, Manu Saraswat, Ram Sharma, Shreyas Tekale, Shlok Thaker, Jake Woodhouse

Zimbabwe: Simbarashe Mudzengerere (c), Kian Blignaut, Michael Blignaut, Leeroy Chiwaula, Tatenda Chimugoro, Brendon Senzere, Nathaniel Hlabangana, Takudzwa Makoni, Panashe Mazai, Webster Madhidhi, Shelton Mazvitorera, Kupakwashe Muradzi, Brandon Ndiweni, Dhruv Patel, Benny Zuze

GROUP D

Afghanistan: Mahboob Khan (c), Khalid Ahmadzai, Osman Sadat, Faisal Khan, Uzairullah Niazai, Aziz Mia Khil, Nazif Amiri, Khatir Stanikzai, Nooristani, Abdul Aziz, Salam Khan, Wahid Zadran, Zaitullah Shaheen, Rohullah Arab, Hafieez Zadran.

Reserves: Aqil Khan, Fahim Qasemi, Izat Noor

South Africa: Muhammad Bulbulia (c), JJ Basson, Daniel Bosman, Corne Botha, Paul James, Enathi Khitshini Tembalethu, Michael Kruiskamp, Adnaan Lagadien, Bayanda Majola, Armaan Manack, Bandile Mbatha, Lethabo Phahlamohlaka, Jason Rowles, Ntandoyenkosi Soni, Jorich van Schalkwyk

Tanzania: Laksh Bakrania (c), Karim Kiseto, Hamza Ally, Khalidy Amiri, Abdulazak Mohamedi, Ayaan Shariff, Omary Ramadhani, Dylan Thakrar, Agustino Mwamele, Ally Hafidhi, Acrey Pascal (wk), Darpan Jobanputra, Mohammedi Simba, Raymond Francis, Alfred Daniel

West Indies: Joshua Dorne (c), Jewel Andrew, Shamar Apple, Shaquan Belle, Zachary Carter, Tanez Francis, R’jai Gittens, Vitel Lawes, Micah McKenzie, Matthew Miller, Isra-el Morton, Jakeem Pollard, Aadian Racha, Kunal Tilokani, Jonathan Van Lange.

Reserves: Brendan Boodoo, Tyriek Bryan, Earsinho Fontaine, Deshawn James

READ: Here’s the schedule for the ICC U19 World Cup 2026

KABUL: Afghanistan have announced their 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup 2026, set to begin on January 15 in Zimbabwe and Namibia, with Mahboob Khan appointed as captain.

Khan, who recently turned 19, brings valuable leadership experience to the team, having led Afghanistan in both the 2024 and 2025 U19 Asia Cup tournaments.

He will be supported by a spin-heavy bowling attack, a hallmark of Afghan cricket at all levels.

Wahidullah Zadran, the 18-year-old offspinner who has already impressed at the senior level with the Gulf Giants in last year’s ILT20, is the standout in the bowling unit.

Zadran, who also entered the IPL auction in December as one of the youngest entrants, will be backed by left-arm spinner Zaitullah Shaheen and legspinner Hafeez Zadran.

The batting lineup features promising young talents, including Khalid Ahmadzai, who has a first-class century to his name, and Uzairullah Niazai.

Pace options include Nooristani Omarzai, expected to provide the team with crucial breakthroughs.

Afghanistan earned their spot in the U19 World Cup by finishing unbeaten in last year’s Asia Qualifier, highlighting their growing strength at the youth level.

They have been drawn in Group D alongside South Africa, Tanzania, and West Indies.

Afghanistan Squad:

Mahboob Khan (c), Khalid Ahmadzai, Osman Sadat, Faisal Khan, Uzairullah Niazai, Aziz Mia Khil, Nazif Amiri, Khatir Stanikzai, Nooristani Omarzai, Abdul Aziz, Salam Khan, Wahidullah Zadran, Zaitullah Shaheen, Rohullah Arab and Hafeez Zadran.

Reserves: Aqil Khan, Fahim Qasemi and Izat Noor.

Group Stage U19 World Cup Fixtures:

• January 16: vs South Africa, Windhoek
• January 18: vs West Indies, Windhoek
• January 21: vs Tanzania, Windhoek

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DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the panel of match officials for the ICC Men’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2026, which is set to get underway on January 15.

A total of 21 officials, comprising 17 umpires and four match referees, have been appointed from the ICC’s Emirates International Panels of Umpires and Referees.

The officiating group reflects the global nature of the tournament, with representatives drawn from 13 different countries.

Zimbabwe, the host nation, will be represented by two umpires in the panel. Former international cricketer Forster Mutizwa, who featured in 21 international matches for Zimbabwe, has been appointed alongside compatriot Iknow Chabi.

Their inclusion adds local experience and familiarity with conditions to the officiating team.

The umpiring panel also includes several well-known and seasoned officials, notably former West Indies international Deighton Butler and England’s Graham Lloyd, who continues the officiating legacy of his father, David Lloyd, a former elite umpire and renowned broadcaster.

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In addition to the umpires, the ICC has named four experienced match referees to oversee the tournament.

Dean Cosker of England, Prakash Bhatt of India, Graeme Labrooy of Sri Lanka and Neeyamur Rahul of Bangladesh will handle referee duties across the event.

Speaking on the announcement, ICC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sanjog Gupta highlighted the importance of the Under-19 World Cup not only for young cricketers but also for emerging officials aiming to progress at the international level.

“The ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup is a tremendous opportunity for rising stars in the game to shine,” Gupta said.

“It is also an invaluable platform for up-and-coming match officials. We hope this tournament will serve as a springboard for their careers as they progress in their officiating journeys.”

Umpires for the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026:

Ahmad Shah Durrani (Afghanistan), Aidan Seaver (Ireland), Cory Black (New Zealand), Deighton Butler (West Indies), Faisal Afridi (Pakistan), Forster Mutizwa (Zimbabwe), Graham Lloyd (England), Iknow Chabi (Zimbabwe), Lubabalo Gcuma (South Africa), Masudur Mukul (Bangladesh), Nitin Bathi (Netherlands), Phillip Gillespie (Australia), Prageeth Rambukwella (Sri Lanka), Russell Warren (England), Shaun Haig (New Zealand), Shawn Craig (Australia), Virender Sharma (India) and Zahid Bassarath (West Indies).

Match Referees:

Dean Cosker (England), Graeme Labrooy (Sri Lanka), Neeyamur Rahul (Bangladesh) and Prakash Bhatt (India).

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