The future stars on show at U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026

By Daniel Beswick

The U19 Cricket World Cup has often shown us a glimpse of the best tomorrow, with a number of players going on to flourish in successful senior international careers.

With the tournament beginning on January 15, we take a look at a number of players tipped to perform in Zimbabwe and Namibia.

More: All the squads named for ICC Men's U19 Cricket World Cup 2026

Afghanistan

The Afghans have played a host of matches even before the U19 Asia Cup, with different players standing up across different tours ahead of the tournament.

The Afghans squeezed past Nepal on net run rate to book their World Cup tickets, in large part thanks to big wins over Oman, Hong Kong and UAE. Khalid Ahmadzai was head and shoulders above his contemporaries with the bat in the qualifier, making 202 runs at 101 in his three innings.

Quick bowler Nooristani Ormazi is a player to watch in the tournament proper, backed up through the spin of left-armer Ziatullah Shaheen and Hafieezullah Zadran.

Uzairullah Niazai enjoyed a prolific tour of Bangladesh, making 275 runs across four innings, with off-spinner Wahidullah Zadran claiming 11 wickets at 11.27 on the same trip.

Also keep an eye on: Faisal Shinozada

Australia

Eyebrows were raised when highly-touted Oliver Peake was not originally included in Australia's 2024 U19 World Cup squad, though the left-hander eventually travelled as an injury replacement, and helped his side claim the trophy.

Since then, the Victoria product has gone on to play senior domestic cricket in all three formats, and returns to the U19 World Cup as skipper. A final-ball victory with the bat for the Melbourne Renegades against the Perth Scorchers in the build-up to the tournament further underlined his quality.

Others bidding for World Cup spots turned out for the U19 national team in a home multi-format series against India, playing three 50-over matches and two red-ball fixtures back across September and October.

Quick bowler Charles Lachmund was a key member of the squad to take on the tourists, and solidified his credentials with a Team of the Tournament selection at the national championships, taking 13 wickets at 12.6. Jayden Draper also showed his ability to accelerate with the bat, making 107 (72) in the second one-day match.

The recent National Under-19 Men's Championship in Perth was the last opportunity for players to squeeze into the squad, and the chance was taken New South Wales batter Nitesh Samuel, voted Player of the Tournament off the back of 364 runs at an average of 91.

Also keep an eye on: Steve Hogan, Alex Lee Young, Will Malajczuk

Bangladesh

The Bangladeshis have left no stone unturned in their preparations, from tours to England and Zimbawe, as well as hosting Afghanistan before their U19 Asia Cup campaign.

Returning from the 2024 U19 World Cup effort is fast bowler Iqbal Hossain Emon, who has since gone on to play senior domestic cricket in both white ball formats. Two five wicket-hauls against the Afghans and a four-wicket haul against Zimbabwe taking the new ball suggests the right-armer will be the spearhead of the attack. Al Fahad looks to be the threat at the other end.

Finding consistent runs will go a long way for Bangladesh to make their tournament push, and it's been Bangladesh A member Zawad Abrar who has stood up in their U19 Asia cup campaign, making consecutive fifties, the second unbeaten. Azizul Hakim looked adept in Zimbabwean conditions against South Africa and Zimbabwe, and Rizan Hossan's contributions further down the order could prove vital.

Also keep an eye on: Kalam Siddiki, Rifat Beg, Shahriar Ahmed

England

The English hosted India, Bangladesh and Ireland, and travelled to the Caribbean in their preparations for the tournament.

Thomas Rew is already a name well-known in English domestic circles, having already followed in the footsteps of brother James as a county cricketer, and ready to join him too as an England U19 World Cup international.

Thomas missed the West Indies tour while enjoying a breakout season for Somerset, averaging 44 in domestic 50-over action, and was on the recent England Lions tour of Australia that ran parallel to English Ashes tour.

Farhan Ahmed returns to the U19 World Cup after playing in 2024 and also has family ties in the international game through brother Rehan, also a spin bowler, albeit spinning it the other way as an offie.

Farhan enjoyed a successful tour of the West Indies, claiming 12 wickets in seven outings at an average of 21.66, and will play a significant role on the dry surfaces later in the U19 World Cup campaign. Ben Dawkins managed a strong series in the Caribbean in spite of the tough batting conditions.

Also keep an eye on: Ralphie Albert

India

With a name so big already it's almost not worth mentioning, 14-year-old IPL standout Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will be eager to put an U19 World Cup win on an already glittering resume.

The 2026 group have the pedigree to claim the trophy and go one better than the side who lost the 2024 final, and Sooryavanshi is certainly not a lone ranger in the assignment.

Captain Ayush Mhatre has made a strong first impression in senior India domestic circles, making a fifty for Chennai Super Kings at the IPL, compiling a total 240 runs at a strike rate of 188.97 in seven appearances in the 2025 season.

Batter Vedant Trivedi enjoyed a prolific tour of Australia with the U19 squad in September and October and can chime in with part-time leg-spin, while wicket-keeper batter Abhigyan Kundu sent tongues wagging with an unbeaten double century at the U19 Asia Cup against Malaysia.

Right-arm seamer Deepesh Devendran has also stood out, a consistent wicket-taker across tours in England, Australia, UAE and at home over the past six months.

Also keep an eye on: RS Ambrish, Khilan Patel, Aaron George

Ireland

There is an air of optimism in Ireland cricket circles that the 2026 group is on par or even stronger than their best ever finish of eighth back in 2024.

All-rounder Sebastian Dijkstra and batter Adam Leckey have both spent the Northern winter in Australia, building on strong tours with the U19 side. Leckey made four fifties against Zimbabwe on a tour earlier in the year, with Dijkstra making important runs to go with his spin.

Reuben Wilson readies for his third U19 World Cup campaign, captain Olly Riley comes back from a good 2024 campaign and Thomas Ford is growing a reputation as a future tearaway quick.

Robert O'Brien is the nephew of Ireland legends Kevin and Niall, and the side also bat deep with a number of bowlers capable with bat in hand.

Also keep an eye on: James West

Japan

The Japanese were electric on home soil in regional qualifying, unbeaten and untouched in fairness by Papua New Guinea and Fiji.

The side are hungry after their 2020 counterparts were unable to taste victory, and the 2026 class look a better chance to break the duck, even with many of them young enough to go again in two years time.

Spin-bowling all-rounder Charlie Hara-Hinze boasts the wicket of India young gun Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in an junior ACC tournament, and was Player of the Tournament in his side’s tournament win to book World Cup tickets.

Hara-Hinze is already a regular of the senior national team, and the all-rounder made more headlines in junior grade cricket in Brisbane, making 99 in an Under-17 match, before taking 6/4 in a spell that consigned his opposition to just seven all out. Charlie’s brothers, twins Gabby and Monty, should also play a role at the tournament.

Nihar Parmar boasts multiple hundreds in Japan colours and will provide support with his leg-spin, while left-hander Nikhil Pol has power at the top of the order.

Kazuma Kato-Stafford, the side’s most-experienced U19 international, is their captain and pace spearhead.

Also keep an eye on: Hugo Tani-Kelly

Japan celebrate U19 World Cup 2026 qualification

Pakistan

It will be winning U19 Asia Cup and Lahore Region Whites skipper Farhan Yousaf to lead Pakistan at the tournament, a batter who has been on the country's radar for a number of years, first popping up in the Pakistan Junior League as a 15-year-old back in 2022.

Pakistan found form at the right time of their Asia Cup campaign in UAE, with Sameer Minhas crowned player of the tournament, capping his campaign with a final-winning 172 (113) against India. His 471 runs at 157 was almost 200 runs clear of the next player at the tournament.

There should be tabs on Sialkot region seamer Abdul Subhan, who added 13 Asia Cup wickets at an average under 10 after 15 wickets in six U19 internationals in the tournament's build-up.

Left-hander Usman Khan meanwhile has been an electric performer against his domestic peers in the National U19 Cup, making 429 runs across seven outings, making two centuries and another half-century to boot.

Huzaifa Ahsan provides a strong hand with both bat and ball, and Ali Raza returns after playing in the 2024 edition of the tournament, and with a four-wicket haul against India in the recent Asia Cup final solidifying his credentials.

Also keep an eye on: Ahmed Hussain, Mohammad Sayyam

New Zealand

New Zealand's side is made up of a handful of players with brief first class experience plus performers from their December U19 Men's National Championship.

Tom Jones returns from the 2024 tournament and leads the side, coming off a first senior first class season where he made a debut hundred for Otago.

Fello Otago product Mason Clarke also returns from the squad of two years ago, with the fast bowler graduating to senior domestic cricket in both white ball formats last summer.

Northern Districts pair Aryan Mann and 2024 U19 World Cup representative Snehith Reddy are two batters of note in the group, making their senior domestic debuts this summer, with Mann also keeping wicket, and Auckland fast bowler Jaskaran Sandhu could also chip in with runs.

Also keep an eye on: Jacob Cotter

Scotland

It is a seventh appearance in eight cycles for the Scots, who topped European qualifying, albeit in a tournament without Ireland who qualified directly.

The side will be a difficult prospect for Group B opponents, tough to form a gameplan considering the number of players who stepped up on the quest to book tournament tickets.

Manu Saraswat's talents with both bat and ball prop him up as arguably the best prospect of the group, a crafty batter with touch behind square as well as a range of shots on the front to go with his middle overs off-spin.

Finlay Jones was prolific with 11 wickets in the qualifying run, while Shreyas Tekale snuck into Scotland's final squad after missing out on the tournament, racing to a spot after strong performances for the Under-17 group. Fin Carter is the brother of Scottish women's international Darcey.

The Scots will fly to South Africa on December 30 for a training camp in Potchefstroom, before heading to Zimbabwe for warm-up games against India in Bulawayo and Bangladesh in Harare.

Also keep an eye on: Ethan Ramsay, Ollie Jones, Rory Grant

Sri Lanka

The Sri Lankans' run at the U19 Asia Cup ended at the semi-finals, with their bowling stifling the likes of Nepal and Afghanistan.

Sethmika Seneviratne made an impression at the tournament, claiming eight wickets, including an unstoppable five-wicket charge against Nepal.

Despite little opportunity at the backend of the Asia Cup campaign, Vigneshwaran Akash is another bowler to watch, having claimed an astonishing 20 wickets in seven matches on tour in the West Indies with his leg-spin.

Chamika Heenatigala will be looking to kick on after an unbeaten fifty against Afghanistan and starts against India and Bangladesh, while Kavija Gamage is a higly-touted batting all-rounder with senior domestic experience.

Also keep an eye on: Viran Chamuditha

South Africa

Not many university students can brag about an international double century like Jorich Van Schalkwyk, who made 215 in 153 balls against Zimbabwe in their recent tri-series in Harare.

There are also big wraps on skipper and wicket-keeper/batter Muhammad Bulbulia who comes into the tournament with First Class cricket under his belt, and has the pedigree to be a three-format player for the Proteas.

Right-arm quick Bayanda Majola models his bowling on Kagiso Rabada and is known for the occasional short ball.

Armaan Manack also has enjoyed a taste of domestic one day cricket.

Also keep an eye on: JJ Basson

Tanzania

Tanzania turned heads in qualifying, spoiling Namibia’s party and denying them an U19 World Cup place in spite of co-hosting the event.

Left-arm spin–bowling all-rounder Laksh Bakrania holds the key, and the 18-year-old has enjoyed a taste of senior national team captaincy, given the reins in the third-place play-off against Kenya at the Africa Qualifier for the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup.

Bakrania comes up the order to No.4 for the U19s, though it is his consistency with his finger spin that has shone on the Associate international stage.

Bakrania is half of a devastating bowling partnership known as The Storm in African circles, teaming up with Khalidy Juma, who bowled at speeds quick enough to trouble much older counterparts in African qualifying for the senior Men’s T20 World Cup.

Mohammedi Simba Mbaki is another player capped at senior level, and carries hopes further down the order with the bat.

Also keep an eye on: Raymond Francis, Hamza Onai, Agustino Mwamele

USA

Largely untroubled in Americas Qualifier, the USA were a step ahead of their Americas Associate neighbours, booking their tickets in a canter.

At the top of the order, Amrinder Singh Gill was prolific with the bat with 178 his first two knocks of the campaign, while Sahir Bhatia turned heads with the ball.

Sahir too had a breakout Minor League Cricket season on the Eastern side of the country, while Utkarsh Srivastava is a highly touted batting prospect among American cricket circles.

West Indies

There's little doubt as to what Jewel Andrew brings to the table for the West Indies, having made eight white-ball appearances at international after his strong 2024 U19 World Campaign.

Another returning player from the class of 2024 is Joshua Dorne, who led in the runs column in his sides seven-match youth ODI series against England, which included an unbeatean hundred.

Nicknamed Hoopa with several teammates likening his game to Carl Hooper, Dorne, also has first class experience with the West Indies Academy side.

Aadian Racha has also been in the mix for Trinidad and Tobago senior cricket as a bowling all-rounder and is mentored by Rayad Emrit, while Leeward Islands' Micah McKenzie is another one to keep an eye on, modelling his leg-spin on Rashid Khan.

Also keep an eye on: Vitel Lawes, Johnathan van Lange

Zimbabwe

Michael and Kian Blignaut are well on their journey to match the success of their famous father Andy, and the 17-year-old twins are tipped to be two of the co-hosts better performers.

Kian in particular has made waves already, making 47 (68) against a near full strength Scotland XI while playing for Zimbabwe A back in April. Michael meanwhile has raised his bat for half-centuries against Under-19 units of Ireland and South Africa.

Shelton Mazvitorera has taken a wicket in seven consecutive U19 internationals, while skipper and fellow quick Simbarashe Mudzengerere's three-wicket haul and 46 with the bat against South Africa points to player ready to step up at a World Cup.

Also keep an eye on: Nathaniel Hlabangana, Dhruv Patel