Evenly-matched teams set up intriguing Group D of U19 World Cup 2024

Two-time champions Pakistan join New Zealand and fellow Asian sides Afghanistan and Nepal in Group D of the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2024. The group opens up with a clash between rivals Afghanistan and Pakistan on 20 January. We look at the four teams, their make-up, and the future stars in the making.

Afghanistan

Two-time semi-finalists Afghanistan will look to go at least one better in this edition of the World Cup. Since their maiden appearance in 2010, Afghanistan have stood out for their feisty performances in the tournament. This included a magical run to the semi-finals in 2018 when they beat Pakistan and hosts New Zealand.

During their second journey to the final four in 2022, they beat Sri Lanka in a thriller before losing to England in a hard-fought semi-final.

They have plenty of preparation going into the World Cup featuring in a triangular series with Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in March 2023, in the U19 Asia Cup in December 2023, and in a tri-series featuring hosts South Africa and defending champions India at the beginning of this year. This has kept the side well-prepared for the upcoming mega event.

Squad

Naseer Khan (c), Numan Shah, Hassan Eisakhil, Wafiullah Tarakhil, Khalid Taniwal, Ali Ahmad Nasar, Jamshid Zadran, Sohail Khan Zurmati, Rahimullah Zurmati, Allah Mohammad, Arab Gul Momand, Faridoon Dawoodzai, Bashir Ahmad, Khalil Ahmad, Zahid Afghan. Reserves: Wahidullah Zadran, Nasir Hassan, Usman Shinwari.

Fixtures

20 January: v Pakistan, East London
23 January: v New Zealand, East London
26 January: v Nepal, East London

Watch out for

Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar

The youngster has been compared to the talented Mujeeb Ur Rahman and has already attracted attention in the global T20 circuits. He showed his mettle in the recently concluded triangular series in South Africa, where he was the joint leading wicket-taker with 10 scalps at an average of 15.7.

Having already featured in Afghanistan’s domestic cricket scene, Ghazanfar would look to leave his mark at the global level during the U19 World Cup. A good outing could pivot him directly into the national side.

What they said

Naseer Khan, Afghanistan captain: “As we did the semi-final last time, so the boys are eager to go to the final this time and win the trophy for the country.”

Pakistan

Pakistan have remained a competitive team throughout the history of the U19 World Cup. They reached the final in the very first iteration, back in 1988. They are the only side to have won back-to-back U19 World Cups in 2004 and 2006.

They might have not reached the final since 2014, but the young Pakistanis have always lit up the junior World Cups with their presence. Before a shock defeat against the UAE, they had a splendid run in the recently concluded Asia Cup, beating Afghanistan, India, and Nepal on their way to the semi-finals.

Squad

Saad Baig (c), Ali Asfand, Ali Raza, Ahmad Hassan, Amir Hassan, Arfat Minhas, Azan Awais, Haroon Arshad, Khubaib Khalil, Mohammad Zeeshan, Naveed Ahmed Khan, Shahzaib Khan, Shamyl Hussain, Muhammad Riazullah, Ubaid Shah.

Fixtures

20 January: v Afghanistan, East London
24 January: v Nepal, East London
27 January: v New Zealand, East London

Watch out for

Mohammad Zeeshan

The 6’ 8” fast bowler made headlines with his sensational 6/19 against Nepal in the U19 Asia Cup. He followed this up with a brilliant 4/46 against India.

The 17-year-old is the latest product of Pakistan’s pace factory and his towering stature can prove to be a crucial factor on the bouncy tracks of South Africa. Picking a good length would be important for success in the World Cup, and Zeeshan displayed an immaculate ability to do the same during the Asia Cup.

What they said

Ubaid Shah, Pakistan fast bowler: “We have a very good batting line-up to fall back on and have bowled well as a unit in the Asia Cup, getting wickets at regular intervals. We are eager to do well in the World Cup.”

New Zealand 

For a prominent side like New Zealand, the lack of a U19 World Cup title is an anomaly in their rich cricketing history. While Oscar Jackson’s boys would look to correct this, the young Kiwis have left a good account of themselves in the junior World Cups.

They reached the final in the very second edition in 1998 and were the semi-finalists in their very recent appearance in 2020. The young Black Caps qualified for the tournament through the East Asia-Pacific Qualifier, in which they won all of their six encounters comfortably.

Squad

Oscar Jackson (c), Mason Clarke, Sam Clode, Zac Cumming, Rahman Hekmat, Tom Jones, James Nelson, Snehith Reddy, Matt Rowe, Ewald Schreuder, Lachlan Stackpole, Oliver Tewatiya, Alex Thompson, Ryan Tsourgas, Luke Watson*.* Reserves: Ben Breitmeyer, Nick Brown, Henry Christie, Robbie Foulkes, Josh Oliver, Amogh Paranjpe.

Fixtures

21 January: v Nepal, East London
23 January: v Afghanistan, East London
27 January: v Pakistan, East London

Watch out for

Zac Cumming 

Son of former Black Caps international Craig Cumming, Zac is already a rising star in the New Zealand domestic circuits. In November, the 18-year-old was the highest wicket-taker in the New Zealand Cricket A tournament.

The youngster also showed sensational form in New Zealand’s East Asia-Pacific Qualifier campaign, scoring 152 runs and picking 14 wickets. His scalps came at a mind-blowing average of 5.79. Having given a great account of himself with both bat and ball, Cumming’s all-round caliber will be a big boost for the young Kiwis.

What they said

Oscar Jackson, New Zealand captain: “We have put in a lot of hard work over the last few months and we can’t wait to rip into it in South Africa and show everyone what we are capable of.”

Nepal

This will be Nepal’s eighth appearance in the competition since they made their debut in the 2000 edition of the U19 World Cup. Over the years, they’ve lapped up victories over prominent cricketing nations such as Pakistan (2002), South Africa (2004, 2006), and New Zealand (2006, 2016). An eighth-place finish in 2016 was their best finish to date in the competition.

The Rhinos featured in the recently concluded U19 Asia Cup in December ahead of the World Cup in South Africa. The presence of senior internationals like Dev Khanal and Gulshan Jha gives the side a boost going into the competition.

Squad

Dev Khanal (c), Arjun Kumal, Aakash Tripathi, Dipak Prasad Dumre, Durgesh Gupta, Gulshan Kumar Jha, Dipesh Prasad Kandel, Bishal Bikram KC, Subhash Bhandari, Deepak Bohara, Dipak Bohara, Uttam Rangu Thapa Macar, Bipin Rawal, Tilak Raj Bhandari, Akash Chand.

Fixtures

21 January: v New Zealand, East London
24 January: v Pakistan, East London
26 January: v Afghanistan, East London

Watch out for

Gulshan Jha

The electric Jha is a great asset for the Nepal U19s side. He has already featured in 24 ODIs and 14 T20Is, with 33 international wickets to his name. A T20I strike rate of 146.87 shows that the youngster can raise the tempo of the game when required.

With international experience aplenty, he can prove to be a game-changer on the field and a guide for the up-and-coming cricketers.

He has looked in decent touch going into the tournament, picking wickets in the U19 Asia Cup and having scored a fifty in his last international outing for the senior side. And the same showed in Nepal’s warm-up against Scotland, where he starred with 3/15 in a win for the Rhinos.

What they said

Dev Khanal, Nepal captain: “We are super excited. After the wait of seven years, we are playing in the U19 World Cup and that is a dream for us as a group and something special for us as well as for the whole country.”