All 16 squads for the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup UAE 2014 confirmed
Title-holder India is among the 16 teams that will play a total of 48 matches between them across seven venues, as the UAE hosts a major ICC tournament for the very first time
Event to be staged across seven venues from 14 February to 1 March 2014
The 10th edition of the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup (ICC U19 CWC) will be staged in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 14 February to 1 March 2014. All 15-man squads for the event have now been confirmed, following the mandatory eligibility-checks.
Title-holder India is among the 16 teams that will play a total of 48 matches between them across seven venues, as the UAE hosts a major ICC tournament for the very first time.
The United Arab Emirates will be led by Rohit Singh, who was also in charge during the recent Asian Cricket Council U19 Asia Cup 2013-14 (ACC U19 Asia Cup).
Sharing his thoughts on the UAE’s first-ever appearance in the ICC U19 CWC, Singh said: “The entire team is tremendously excited, and looking forward to not just being a part of something historic, but also making some history with its performances. It will certainly be a step up for us after the Asia Cup – mentally we have to gear up and be stronger.”
Defending champion India, which beat Australia in the ICC U19 CWC 2012 final at Townsville, will be led by Vijay Zol. He also captained the side in the ACC U19 Asia Cup over December 2013 and January 2014, scoring 204 runs at an average of 51 in that tournament. Zol’s century against Pakistan in the final helped India win that title earlier this month.
Zol and Akhil Herwadkar are the only two survivors from India’s victorious ICC U19 CWC 2012 campaign.
India is bidding to become the first team to win four ICC U19 CWC titles and only the second team (after Pakistan in 2004 and 2006) to win back-to-back crowns. Looking ahead to its campaign, Zol said: “The exciting tournament format means there will be no easy matches, and when your first game of the tournament is against Pakistan, you simply have to hit the ground running.”
Three-time champion Australia, which was the runner-up at home in the last edition, has not named a captain yet. Alex Gregory is the only member of its squad who also featured in 2012.
Australia has included wicketkeeper Ben McDermott, who is the son of former right-arm fast bowler and current Australia bowling coach Craig McDermott, and who led the Australia U19 team in 2013.
Among the Australia players to watch out for will be Damien Mortimer, who topped the batting averages in similar conditions during the 50-over U19 quadrangular tournament in India in 2013, with 277 runs from six matches at an average of 55.40. Another key player could be leg break bowler Thomas Andrews, who was the joint-highest wicket-taker in that tournament with 10 scalps from five matches.
South Africa, which finished third in ICC U19 CWC 2012, has named Aiden Markram as its skipper. The squad does not have any survivors from the country’s 2012 campaign.
Recent form suggests one of the players South Africa would rely heavily on would be batsman Clyde Fortuin, who averaged 52 from six innings in India during last year’s 50-over U19 Quadrangular in India. Off spin bowler Yaseen Valli, who led South Africa in that tournament and had the second-highest number of scalps with nine victims from five matches, could be another key cog in the wheel.
New Zealand, which finished fourth in the previous edition, has put Robert O’Donnell at the helm. He is its only player with prior ICC U19 CWC experience, having turned out in the 2012 edition. O’Donnell was New Zealand’s most successful batsman in that edition, scoring 232 runs from six matches at an average of 38.66.
In the bowling department, New Zealand will pin their hopes on right-arm medium-fast bowler Kurtley Watson, who was second in the bowling charts when New Zealand U19 was last seen in action against Australia and India at the Top End U19 ODI tri-series in Australia in July 2013. Watson took 10 wickets from five matches in that tournament, at an average of just 12.70.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Seifert is another key player for New Zealand U19, as is Leo Carter, who skippered the side in the Top End U19 series last year.
England, which was fifth at the ICC U19 CWC 2012, has given the reins to Will Rhodes. Its squad also includes Dominic Sibley, who became the youngest man to score a county championship double-century last year.
In England’s favour will be the fact that several of its current squad-members recently played a tri-nation U19 series also featuring Pakistan and the host nation UAE in December 2013. Ryan Higgins was the second-highest run-scorer in that tournament, with 225 from seven matches at an average of 32.14. Right-arm medium-fast bowler Rhodes was England’s most successful bowler in that series, with nine wickets from six matches.
Ben Duckett is the only player in England’s ranks that also featured in ICC U19 CWC 2012.
The West Indies, which had to be content with a sixth-place finish at the last edition, will be led by off spinning all-rounder Ramaal Lewis. Vice-captain Nicolas Pooran has made a mark in domestic limited-over cricket, having featured in 13 Twenty20 matches for Trinidad and Tobago.
Its squad also includes Tagenarine Chanderpaul, the son of West Indies batsman Shivnarine, who is currently placed second in the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Test Batsmen.
Mohammad Mehidy Hassan Miraz has been appointed captain of Bangladesh, which is looking to improve further on its seventh-place finish at the ICC U19 CWC 2012.
Pakistan will be led by Sami Aslam, who was its third-highest run-getter at the last edition with 127 from six matches at an average of 21.16. Apart from him, Imam-ul-Haq, Zafar Gohar and Zia-ul-Haq are the others with prior ICC U19 CWC experience.
While Sami will be expected to lead with the bat, Pakistan’s bowling hopes rest on the shoulders of leg break operator Karamat Ali, who was the highest wicket-taker in the ACC U19 Asia Cup. He bagged 18 in his kitty from five matches there, averaging just 11.33 per scalp.
Kusal Mendis will lead Sri Lanka, which has just one survivor in its squad from ICC U19 CWC 2012 in the form of Anuk Fernando.
Sri Lanka finished a disappointing ninth in the last edition in Australia, but with conditions expected to be more conducive for its style of play this time around, it is hoping for a stronger showing, especially after losing narrowly to India in the ACC U19 Asia Cup semi-finals.
Afghanistan, placed 10th two years ago, will be led in the UAE by Nasir Jamal. Zia-ur-Rehman and Sayed Shirzad took eight wickets apiece for it in the recent ACC U19 Asia Cup, and will once again be relied heavily on.
Scotland, which finished 11th in 2012, has named Ross McLean its captain. The players that also featured for it the last time around are McLean, Gavin Main, Andrew Umeed and Nick Farrar.
Papua New Guinea, which finished 14th in this event two years ago, is appearing in the ICC U19 CWC for the seventh time. And, after claiming the East Asia Pacific U19 title to qualify for this tournament in July 2013, is looking to cause a few upsets.
Zimbabwe was 15th in Australia at the ICC U19 CWC 2012, but Malcolm Lake and his charges are looking for markedly better fortunes this time around. They will have a tough task to qualify from Group C, which also features South Africa, the West Indies and Canada.
Namibia, the 16th-place finisher at the ICC U19 CWC 2012, has been bolstered by the inclusion of several players that have also participated in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier New Zealand 2014 (CWCQ), including skipper Gerhard Erasmus, JJ Smit, Xander Pitchers and JP Kotze.
Finally, Canada failed to qualify for the last edition, but has earned the right to participate this time by winning the ICC Americas U19 Championship Division 1. It will be led by Nitish Kumar, who has batted well at the senior level, in the group stage of the ongoing CWCQ.
Nitish is the third-youngest player ever to feature in a One-Day International, having made his ODI debut at the age of 15. He is also the youngest to feature in an ICC Cricket World Cup, having turned out in 2011 a few months before his 17th birthday.
The 10th edition of the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup (ICC U19 CWC) will be staged in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 14 February to 1 March 2014. All 15-man squads for the event have now been confirmed, following the mandatory eligibility-checks.
Title-holder India is among the 16 teams that will play a total of 48 matches between them across seven venues, as the UAE hosts a major ICC tournament for the very first time.
The United Arab Emirates will be led by Rohit Singh, who was also in charge during the recent Asian Cricket Council U19 Asia Cup 2013-14 (ACC U19 Asia Cup).
Sharing his thoughts on the UAE’s first-ever appearance in the ICC U19 CWC, Singh said: “The entire team is tremendously excited, and looking forward to not just being a part of something historic, but also making some history with its performances. It will certainly be a step up for us after the Asia Cup – mentally we have to gear up and be stronger.”
Defending champion India, which beat Australia in the ICC U19 CWC 2012 final at Townsville, will be led by Vijay Zol. He also captained the side in the ACC U19 Asia Cup over December 2013 and January 2014, scoring 204 runs at an average of 51 in that tournament. Zol’s century against Pakistan in the final helped India win that title earlier this month.
Zol and Akhil Herwadkar are the only two survivors from India’s victorious ICC U19 CWC 2012 campaign.
India is bidding to become the first team to win four ICC U19 CWC titles and only the second team (after Pakistan in 2004 and 2006) to win back-to-back crowns. Looking ahead to its campaign, Zol said: “The exciting tournament format means there will be no easy matches, and when your first game of the tournament is against Pakistan, you simply have to hit the ground running.”
Three-time champion Australia, which was the runner-up at home in the last edition, has not named a captain yet. Alex Gregory is the only member of its squad who also featured in 2012.
Australia has included wicketkeeper Ben McDermott, who is the son of former right-arm fast bowler and current Australia bowling coach Craig McDermott, and who led the Australia U19 team in 2013.
Among the Australia players to watch out for will be Damien Mortimer, who topped the batting averages in similar conditions during the 50-over U19 quadrangular tournament in India in 2013, with 277 runs from six matches at an average of 55.40. Another key player could be leg break bowler Thomas Andrews, who was the joint-highest wicket-taker in that tournament with 10 scalps from five matches.
South Africa, which finished third in ICC U19 CWC 2012, has named Aiden Markram as its skipper. The squad does not have any survivors from the country’s 2012 campaign.
Recent form suggests one of the players South Africa would rely heavily on would be batsman Clyde Fortuin, who averaged 52 from six innings in India during last year’s 50-over U19 Quadrangular in India. Off spin bowler Yaseen Valli, who led South Africa in that tournament and had the second-highest number of scalps with nine victims from five matches, could be another key cog in the wheel.
New Zealand, which finished fourth in the previous edition, has put Robert O’Donnell at the helm. He is its only player with prior ICC U19 CWC experience, having turned out in the 2012 edition. O’Donnell was New Zealand’s most successful batsman in that edition, scoring 232 runs from six matches at an average of 38.66.
In the bowling department, New Zealand will pin their hopes on right-arm medium-fast bowler Kurtley Watson, who was second in the bowling charts when New Zealand U19 was last seen in action against Australia and India at the Top End U19 ODI tri-series in Australia in July 2013. Watson took 10 wickets from five matches in that tournament, at an average of just 12.70.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Seifert is another key player for New Zealand U19, as is Leo Carter, who skippered the side in the Top End U19 series last year.
England, which was fifth at the ICC U19 CWC 2012, has given the reins to Will Rhodes. Its squad also includes Dominic Sibley, who became the youngest man to score a county championship double-century last year.
In England’s favour will be the fact that several of its current squad-members recently played a tri-nation U19 series also featuring Pakistan and the host nation UAE in December 2013. Ryan Higgins was the second-highest run-scorer in that tournament, with 225 from seven matches at an average of 32.14. Right-arm medium-fast bowler Rhodes was England’s most successful bowler in that series, with nine wickets from six matches.
Ben Duckett is the only player in England’s ranks that also featured in ICC U19 CWC 2012.
The West Indies, which had to be content with a sixth-place finish at the last edition, will be led by off spinning all-rounder Ramaal Lewis. Vice-captain Nicolas Pooran has made a mark in domestic limited-over cricket, having featured in 13 Twenty20 matches for Trinidad and Tobago.
Its squad also includes Tagenarine Chanderpaul, the son of West Indies batsman Shivnarine, who is currently placed second in the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Test Batsmen.
Mohammad Mehidy Hassan Miraz has been appointed captain of Bangladesh, which is looking to improve further on its seventh-place finish at the ICC U19 CWC 2012.
Pakistan will be led by Sami Aslam, who was its third-highest run-getter at the last edition with 127 from six matches at an average of 21.16. Apart from him, Imam-ul-Haq, Zafar Gohar and Zia-ul-Haq are the others with prior ICC U19 CWC experience.
While Sami will be expected to lead with the bat, Pakistan’s bowling hopes rest on the shoulders of leg break operator Karamat Ali, who was the highest wicket-taker in the ACC U19 Asia Cup. He bagged 18 in his kitty from five matches there, averaging just 11.33 per scalp.
Kusal Mendis will lead Sri Lanka, which has just one survivor in its squad from ICC U19 CWC 2012 in the form of Anuk Fernando.
Sri Lanka finished a disappointing ninth in the last edition in Australia, but with conditions expected to be more conducive for its style of play this time around, it is hoping for a stronger showing, especially after losing narrowly to India in the ACC U19 Asia Cup semi-finals.
Afghanistan, placed 10th two years ago, will be led in the UAE by Nasir Jamal. Zia-ur-Rehman and Sayed Shirzad took eight wickets apiece for it in the recent ACC U19 Asia Cup, and will once again be relied heavily on.
Scotland, which finished 11th in 2012, has named Ross McLean its captain. The players that also featured for it the last time around are McLean, Gavin Main, Andrew Umeed and Nick Farrar.
Papua New Guinea, which finished 14th in this event two years ago, is appearing in the ICC U19 CWC for the seventh time. And, after claiming the East Asia Pacific U19 title to qualify for this tournament in July 2013, is looking to cause a few upsets.
Zimbabwe was 15th in Australia at the ICC U19 CWC 2012, but Malcolm Lake and his charges are looking for markedly better fortunes this time around. They will have a tough task to qualify from Group C, which also features South Africa, the West Indies and Canada.
Namibia, the 16th-place finisher at the ICC U19 CWC 2012, has been bolstered by the inclusion of several players that have also participated in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier New Zealand 2014 (CWCQ), including skipper Gerhard Erasmus, JJ Smit, Xander Pitchers and JP Kotze.
Finally, Canada failed to qualify for the last edition, but has earned the right to participate this time by winning the ICC Americas U19 Championship Division 1. It will be led by Nitish Kumar, who has batted well at the senior level, in the group stage of the ongoing CWCQ.
Nitish is the third-youngest player ever to feature in a One-Day International, having made his ODI debut at the age of 15. He is also the youngest to feature in an ICC Cricket World Cup, having turned out in 2011 a few months before his 17th birthday.
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