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ICC U19 Men's Cricket World Cup 2026 - Discussion thread [From January 15 - February 06]

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ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup schedule announced

16 teams to compete for the title in 41 matches across 23 days

The tournament will be co-hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia with the final taking place in Harare on 6 February

Tanzania will look to make their mark on tournament debut

Warm-up matches will take place from 9 to 14 January

The full schedule graphic is available for download via the ICC Online Media Zone

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today unveiled the match schedule for the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026, which will be co-hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia from 15 January to 6 February 2026.

Sixteen teams will compete across 41 matches, culminating in the final at the Harare Sports Club on 6 February.

The opening day will see India take on the USA, Zimbabwe face Scotland, and Tanzania mark their historic tournament debut against the West Indies. The competition will be played across five venues: Harare Sports Club, Takashinga Sports Club and Queens Sports Club in Zimbabwe, and the Namibia Cricket Ground and HP Oval in Namibia.

The tournament format features four groups of four, followed by a Super Six stage, leading into the semi-finals and the title clash in Harare.

Defending champions Australia begin their campaign against Ireland on day two in Windhoek, while traditional rivals India and Bangladesh meet in one of the marquee early fixtures on 17 January in Bulawayo.

Ten teams earned automatic qualification based on their performance in the 2024 edition, joining hosts Zimbabwe. The remaining five teams clinched their places through regional qualification events, reflecting the expanding global footprint of the U19 pathway.

ICC Chairman, Mr. Jay Shah said he was looking forward to the tournament, which will see the future stars of world cricket on display.

Mr. Shah said: "The ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup has long been the cradle of greatness, a tournament that reveals not just the next generation of cricketers, but the next generation of icons. From Brian Lara and Sanath Jayasuriya to Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, Steve Smith and Shubman Gill, the event has consistently shaped the future of our sport.

"As we look ahead to the 2026 edition in Zimbabwe and Namibia, we are excited to provide young cricketers with a world-class platform that mirrors the standards and pressures of senior international cricket. This tournament is where dreams are ignited, rivalries are born, and the global cricketing landscape begins to take its next form.

"We are especially pleased to welcome Tanzania as they make their debut and join a truly global field of teams. I extend my warmest wishes to all participating squads as they embark on this remarkable journey, representing their countries with pride and promise."

The full schedule of matches graphic for the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup can be downloaded from the ICC’s Online Media Zone.

ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026 warm-up match schedule
*All matches will start at 09h30 local time

Friday, 9 January

India vs Scotland Prince Edward School (Harare)

England vs USA Old Hararians (Harare)

Saturday, 10 January

Bangladesh vs Pakistan Masvingo Sports Club (Zimbabwe)

Zimbabwe vs New Zealand Bulawayo Athletics Club (Bulawayo)

Ireland vs West Indies Wanderers Cricket Ground (Windhoek)

Japan vs Tanzania United Ground (Windhoek)

Sunday, 11 January

Australia vs Afghanistan Wanderers Cricket Ground (Windhoek)

South Africa vs Sri Lanka United Ground (Windhoek)

Monday, 12 January

Scotland vs Bangladesh Masvingo Sports Club (Zimbabwe)

India vs England Bulawayo Athletics Club (Bulawayo)

Tuesday, 13 January

Pakistan vs New Zealand Bulawayo Athletics Club (Bulawayo)

Zimbabwe vs USA Prince Edward School (Harare)

Ireland vs Tanzania Wanderers Cricket Ground (Windhoek)

Japan vs West Indies United Ground (Windhoek)

Wednesday, 14 January

Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka Wanderers Cricket Ground (Windhoek)

Australia vs South Africa United Ground (Windhoek)

**
ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026 match schedule**
*All matches will start at 09h30 local time

**
Thursday, 15 January**

USA vs India Queens Sports Club

Zimbabwe vs Scotland Takashinga Sports Club

Tanzania vs West Indies HP Oval Namibia

Friday, 16 January

Pakistan vs England Takashinga Sports Club

Australia vs Ireland Namibia Cricket Ground

Afghanistan vs South Africa HP Oval Namibia

Saturday, 17 January

India vs Bangladesh Queens Sports Club

Japan vs Sri Lanka Namibia Cricket Ground

Sunday, 18 January

New Zealand vs USA Queens Sports Club

England vs Zimbabwe Takashinga Sports Club

West Indies vs Afghanistan HP Oval Namibia

Monday, 19 January

Pakistan vs Scotland Takashinga Sports Club

Sri Lanka vs Ireland Namibia Cricket Ground

South Africa vs Tanzania HP Oval Namibia

Tuesday, 20 January

Bangladesh vs New Zealand Queens Sports Club

Australia vs Japan Namibia Cricket Ground

Wednesday, 21 January

England vs Scotland Takashinga Sports Club

Afghanistan vs Tanzania HP Oval Namibia

Thursday, 22 January

Zimbabwe vs Pakistan Takashinga Sports Club

Ireland vs Japan Namibia Cricket Ground

West Indies vs South Africa HP Oval Namibia

Friday, 23 January

Bangladesh vs USA Takashinga Sports Club

Sri Lanka vs Australia Namibia Cricket Ground

Saturday, 24 January

India vs New Zealand Queens Sports Club

A4 vs D4 HP Oval Namibia

Sunday, 25 January

S6 AD A1 vs D3 Namibia Cricket Ground

S6 AD D2 vs A3 HP Oval Namibia

Monday, 26 January

B4 vs C4 Harare Sports Club

S6 BC C1 vs B2 Queens Sports Club

S6 AD D1 vs A2 Namibia Cricket Ground

Tuesday, 27 January

S6 BC C2 vs B3 Harare Sports Club

S6 BC C3 vs B1 Queens Sports Club

Wednesday, 28 January

S6 AD A1 vs D2 Harare Sports Club

Thursday, 29 January

S6 AD D3 vs A2 Queens Sports Club

Friday, 30 January

S6 AD D1 vs A3 Harare Sports Club

S6 BC B3 vs C1 Queens Sports Club

Saturday, 31 January

S6 BC B2 vs C3 Harare Sports Club

Sunday, 1 February

S6 BC B1 vs C2 Queens Sports Club

Monday, 2 February

No matches

Tuesday, 3 February

Semi-Final 1 AD1 vs BC2 Queens Sports Club

Wednesday, 4 February

Semi-Final 2 BC1 vs AD2 Harare Sports Club

Reserve Day (SF1) Queens Sports Club

Thursday, 5 February

Reserve Day (SF 2) Harare Sports Club

Friday, 6 February

Final Harare Sports Club

Saturday, 7 February

Reserve Day (Final) Harare Sports Club

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After 2026 World T20, there will be no india - Pakistan Game in ICC event's except knockout stages. :kp
So you are scared after seeing Pakistan Shaheens in action in Asia Cup Rising Stars who are getting ready for future to defeat India again post World Cup 2026?
 
So you are scared after seeing Pakistan Shaheens in action in Asia Cup Rising Stars who are getting ready for future to defeat India again post World Cup 2026?
Are you saying this after 7-0 humiliation defeat against India SINCE 2022.

due to current political situation Broadcasters gave that suggestions it's not my statement. Lol

:kp
 
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So you are scared after seeing Pakistan Shaheens in action in Asia Cup Rising Stars who are getting ready for future to defeat India again post World Cup 2026?
Anyway don't goo too far ahead, wait for few days to get the reality check. :klopp :kp
 
No India vs Pakistan?
India will play Pakistan in Super Sixes.

This is very difficult format to understand, teams carry forward the points from group stages, two super six groups, don't know who came up with this format for an under-19 WC.
 
Australia named squad for ICC Under-19 Men’s World Cup 2026

Cricket Australia has announced a 15-player squad for the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026, to be held in Namibia and Zimbabwe from 15 January to 6 February.

Australia will enter the 50-over tournament as defending champions, with Oliver Peake appointed captain.

The squad features a strong mix of experience and emerging talent, including three uncapped players - Naden Cooray, Nitesh Samuel, and William Taylor.

Australia Men’s U19 Squad:

Oliver Peake © (Geelong District CC/VIC)
Kasey Barton (Mosman CC/NSW)
Naden Cooray (Parramatta CC/NSW)
Jayden Draper (Valley District CC/QLD)
Ben Gordon (Sunshine Coast Scorchers CC/QLD)
Steven Hogan (Sandgate-Redcliffe District CC/QLD)
Thomas Hogan (Ginninderra CC/ACT)
John James (Parramatta CC/NSW)
Charles Lachmund (Ipswich Hornets CC/QLD)
Will Malajczuk (Subiaco Floreat CC/WA)
Nitesh Samuel (Parramatta CC/NSW)
Hayden Schiller (Northern Jets District CC/SA)
Aryan Sharma (Carlton CC/VIC)
William Taylor (St George CC/NSW)
Alex Lee Young (Randwick Petersham CC/NSW)

The squad will be led by Head Coach Tim Nielsen, supported by Luke Butterworth and Travis Dean as assistant coaches.

Australia is placed in Group A alongside Ireland, Japan, and Sri Lanka. The team will arrive in Namibia in early January and play warm-up matches from 9–14 January.

Tim Nielsen, Head Coach Australia Men’s U19, said:

“We’re delighted to announce a strong and well-balanced squad for the ICC Under-19 World Cup.

“Our focus has been on selecting a group with complementary skill sets that provide the best chance of success in tournament. The players named have impressed with their performances during the U19 series against India in September and at the recent National U19 Championship in Perth.

“It’s an exciting group, some have already experienced senior training environments, while others are progressing rapidly through our pathway. The World Cup is a fantastic opportunity for these young cricketers to showcase their talent and test themselves against the best in the world.”

Sonya Thompson, Cricket Australia Head of National Development, said:

“The squad combines experience with fresh energy, including three new faces who will bring added depth and enthusiasm.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for these emerging players to showcase their skills on the global stage.

“Our players will be supported by an exceptional team of staff, ensuring they have every chance to perform and grow throughout the tournament.”
 
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How many World Cups/Asia Cups are there?

Senior men's team: ODI WC, CT, WTC, World T20, Asia Cup
Senior women's team: ODI WC, World T20, CT (expected to debut in 2027), Asia Cup
A team: Emerging Asia Cup
Men's U-19: Asia Cup, WC
Women's U-19: Asia Cup, WC

14 events. Too many if you ask me. :inti

Anyway, U-19 WC is often entertaining. It also has a legacy. So, looking forward to it.
 
How many World Cups/Asia Cups are there?

Senior men's team: ODI WC, CT, WTC, World T20, Asia Cup
Senior women's team: ODI WC, World T20, CT (expected to debut in 2027), Asia Cup
A team: Emerging Asia Cup
Men's U-19: Asia Cup, WC
Women's U-19: Asia Cup, WC

14 events. Too many if you ask me. :inti

Anyway, U-19 WC is often entertaining. It also has a legacy. So, looking forward to it.
These events are important. For example, you need U-19 World Cup so that borderline minnows like Bangladesh and Pakistan can play overaged players in this cup and pretend like they have some talent.

Need some delusions to keep fans happy and the likes of @The Bald Eagle to compare some lu**oo bowler to Bumrah and keep PP a fresh and exciting forum for all but especially the likes of you
 
These events are important. For example, you need U-19 World Cup so that borderline minnows like Bangladesh and Pakistan can play overaged players in this cup and pretend like they have some talent.

Need some delusions to keep fans happy and the likes of @The Bald Eagle to compare some lu**oo bowler to Bumrah and keep PP a fresh and exciting forum for all but especially the likes of you
Hahah...you are just a one eyed king of blind populace feeding of politics from incompetent boards like PCB and BCB
 
Who are the week links in pakistan u19s squad ?
Hamza Zahoor and Daniyal Ali khan didn't perform in U19 leagues and still got selected but having said that Daniyal is an allrounder and did decently with the ball and was avg with the bat. Hamza is an specialist wicket keeper who can't bat.

So apart from these two there are literally no weak links here as all the guys have perform tremendously in the U16/U19 league and deserve their selection.
 
in the past we always used to select uknown players who never played any U16/19 tournament or we use to select 4/5 non performing players in the name of potential (or may be due to parchi) , so it's the first time ever we have selected only performing players so hopefully this time around we will have an extra ordinary team.
 
in the past we always used to select uknown players who never played any U16/19 tournament or we use to select 4/5 non performing players in the name of potential (or may be due to parchi) , so it's the first time ever we have selected only performing players so hopefully this time around we will have an extra ordinary team.
Yeah.... Team looks good on paper.. Some good names who were seen performing. Hoping for the best
 
Hamza Zahoor and Daniyal Ali khan didn't perform in U19 leagues and still got selected but having said that Daniyal is an allrounder and did decently with the ball and was avg with the bat. Hamza is an specialist wicket keeper who can't bat.

So apart from these two there are literally no weak links here as all the guys have perform tremendously in the U16/U19 league and deserve their
Thankyou bro
 
Ali Raza is an outstanding talent.
Sayyam looked decent and was moving the ball.
Sayyam seems to lose his pace when he tries to bowl fuller length but he gets serious zip off the pitch when he bowls short of good length stuff coupled with seam movement.

Pretty sure some of his deliveries were 140k as to the naked eye he looked quicker than Ubaid and Zeeshan of last U19 batch.
 
Sayyam seems to lose his pace when he tries to bowl fuller length but he gets serious zip off the pitch when he bowls short of good length stuff coupled with seam movement.

Pretty sure some of his deliveries were 140k as to the naked eye he looked quicker than Ubaid and Zeeshan of last U19 batch.
He looked alot more dangerous when he was trying to pitch the ball up.Ali Raza looked 140k ish and I thought Sayyam look slower.
 
Pretty sure some of his deliveries were 140k as to the naked eye he looked quicker than Ubaid and Zeeshan of last U19 batch.
Might be quicker than zeeshan but not ubaid.... Ubaid bowled faster than him... But he is a good bowler.
 
Hamza Zahoor and Daniyal Ali khan didn't perform in U19 leagues and still got selected but having said that Daniyal is an allrounder and did decently with the ball and was avg with the bat. Hamza is an specialist wicket keeper who can't bat.

So apart from these two there are literally no weak links here as all the guys have perform tremendously in the U16/U19 league and deserve their selection.
So why didnt hufaiza or momin start the match surely they have a x factor compared to that naqil guy who was orthadox
 
U19 Men’s CWC 2026 countdown begins with trophy unveil

The countdown to the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026 officially began as Zimbabwe unveiled the tournament trophy at a ceremony in Harare.

Co-hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia, the event will run from 15 January to 6 February and feature 16 teams, including debutants Tanzania, as the next generation of global stars take centre stage.

Former Zimbabwe captain Tatenda Taibu, who was also a former U19 World Cup player, having 195 appearances across formats, was announced as the tournament ambassador, set to inspire young cricketers through his journey from age-group cricket to becoming one of the country’s greats.

Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, acting Permanent Secretary Cynthia Mawema described the tournament as a landmark moment for African cricket, calling it a global celebration of youthful talent.

“This is not just another event on the cricket calendar – it is a global festival of youthful brilliance,” she said.

“Zimbabwe and Namibia will host an experience that will be remembered for years to come.

"The tournament will inspire young people, strengthen development pathways, attract new fans and showcase Zimbabwe as a world-class sporting nation ahead of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027.”

“Hosting this global youth tournament – alongside our colleagues in Namibia – is a responsibility we accept with great pride.

“The U19 World Cup is where future stars first announce themselves to the world and we are delighted that the class of 2026 will do so on our pitches.”

Tournament Director Hamilton Masakadza confirmed that preparations in Harare and Bulawayo are progressing well, with venues, logistics and accommodation firmly in place. He also announced that entry to all matches will be free, encouraging fans across the country to attend.

“Entry to all matches is completely free.

“We want everyone – from first-time cricket fans to diehard supporters – to come and experience the excitement.”

Matches in Zimbabwe will be played at Harare Sports Club, Takashinga Cricket Club and Queens Sports Club, with Namibia hosting fixtures in Windhoek.

Ahead of the tournament, the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup trophy will tour Masvingo, Bulawayo and Harare from 4 to 7 January.

Cricket Namibia representatives joined the launch, with Vice Chairman Polly Negongo expressing pride in co-hosting the tournament and highlighting its importance in inspiring Namibia’s next generation of cricketers.

“Namibia is proud, prepared and deeply excited to co-host this prestigious global event alongside our neighbours, Zimbabwe.

“For Namibia, hosting a World Cup is a moment of national significance and a powerful opportunity to inspire the next generation of cricketers.”

Defending champions Australia will be hunting to add one more ICC trophy under their belt and retain the trophy that they lifted following a thumping win over India in the 2024 edition.

ICC
 
They should select Haroon and Abdul Qadir in the worldcup.

Abdul Qadir is a six hitting machine at U19 leagues and is definitely a better player than Shayan , Farhan and Ali and even Huzefa and Usman.
 
Abdul Qadir hit 16 sixes in the tournament and was the 2 highest six hitter behind Ali Hasan who hit 33 sixes, I think Ali is just a phattu player and need a confidence booster than he might do the same at U19 worldcup.
 
The England Men U19s selectors have confirmed the 15-player squad for the 2026 ICC Men’s U19s World Cup, which begins in Namibia and Zimbabwe next month.

England Men U19s World Cup squad:

Thomas Rew (Somerset – captain)

Farhan Ahmed (Nottinghamshire – vice-captain)

Ralphie Albert (Surrey)

Ben Dawkins (Kent)

Caleb Falconer (Middlesex)

Ali Farooq (Leicestershire)

Alex French (Surrey)

Alex Green (Leicestershire)

Luke Hands (Lancashire)

Manny Lumsden (Hampshire)

Ben Mayes (Hampshire)

James Minto (Durham)

Isaac Mohammed (Worcestershire)

Joe Moores (Lancashire)

Sebastian Morgan (Middlesex)

Somerset wicketkeeper-batter Thomas Rew returns to captain the squad after he was called up to the England Lions for the first time on their recent tour of Australia.

Nottinghamshire all-rounder Farhan Ahmed, who deputised as captain in Rew’s absence during the seven-match Youth ODI series against West Indies in Grenada, retains a leadership role as vice-captain. Uncapped Leicestershire left-arm spinner Ali Farooq has earned his first Young Lions call-up.

England Men U19s Head Coach, Mike Yardy, said: “This is an amazing opportunity for the players we have selected to not only wear an England shirt at a World Cup but also to go out and try and do something special.

"We have a balanced squad with a core group of players who already have county experience and who have developed a camaraderie while playing together for the U19s that will serve them well during the tournament.

"I really want the players to enjoy the opportunity to play at a World Cup, in a beautiful country like Zimbabwe, and to embrace the chance to compete against different countries and show their quality."

The Young Lions will be based in Zimbabwe and have been drawn in Group C of the 16-team tournament. They open their campaign against Pakistan in Harare on Friday 16 January, before matches against co-hosts Zimbabwe and Scotland.

The top three nations from each of the four groups qualify for the ‘Super Six’ stage, with the final to be staged at the Harare Sports Club on Friday 6 February.
 
Abdul Qadir hit 16 sixes in the tournament and was the 2 highest six hitter behind Ali Hasan who hit 33 sixes, I think Ali is just a phattu player and need a confidence booster than he might do the same at U19 worldcup.
He’s officially overage (21 per PCB’s website). It’s why he wasn’t picked for the Asia Cup squad
 
Strangely Sameer Minhas only hit 5 sixes in the whole U19 tournament and he hit more in that one innings against india.
 
If he was overage then he wouldn't be in the reserve squad.
Nope, 20+ years old as per the PCB website. He's in the reserve squad to be in the training sessions, but he cannot play. Because, if he were able to play, not only would he be in the squad but also in the team, thats how impressive his s/r was in the domestic tournament just gone, the best of the bunch.
 

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Nope, 20+ years old as per the PCB website. He's in the reserve squad to be in the training sessions, but he cannot play. Because, if he were able to play, not only would he be in the squad but also in the team, thats how impressive his s/r was in the domestic tournament just gone, the best of the bunch.
Don’t trust anything they put on the website, before last year Asia cup Abdul Subhan was listed as 21 years old too and instead of becoming 22 this year he has became 17 instead.

Abdul Qadir can also become 17/18 and get in the squad.
 
Don’t trust anything they put on the website, before last year Asia cup Abdul Subhan was listed as 21 years old too and instead of becoming 22 this year he has became 17 instead.

If you want to talk about trust, should we trust that Ubaid Shah has already surpassed Steve Harmison?
 
Wow he must be very good. @Rana Looks like we've missed a gem of a prospect
I’m amazed how he first denied making the Harmison comparison and then went into hiding when exposed.

Now he has embraced the claim and is backing it up with new gems MashaAllah
 
Don’t trust anything they put on the website, before last year Asia cup Abdul Subhan was listed as 21 years old too and instead of becoming 22 this year he has became 17 instead.

Abdul Qadir can also become 17/18 and get in the squad.
I raised that doubt about Abdul Subhan but posters here said that there were 2 different guys with the same name. Is that true ?
 
India name squad for U19 World Cup 2026

Five-time champions India have confirmed their squad for the ICC Men's U19 World Cup 2026.

Led by Ayush Mhatre, India have been placed in Group B alongside New Zealand, USA, and Bangladesh.

Talented batting all-rounder Vihaan Malhotra will serve as Mhatre's deputy at the tournament in Zimbabwe and Namibia.

India's squad for U19 World Cup 2026:

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.

The side recently competed at the U19 Asia Cup, where Pakistan defeated them in the summit clash.

19-year-old top-order batter Aaron George was the top-scorer for India with 228 runs, while 17-year-old medium pacer Deepesh Devendran was the highest wicket-taker for India with nine scalps.

While Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was the player in focus, another young talent stepped into the spotlight.

17-year-old wicket-keeper-batter Abhigyan Kundu was also in the spotlight as he scored an unbeaten 209* off 125 deliveries in India's 315-run victory against Malaysia. His knock was laced with 17 boundaries and nine maximums.

As the side prepares for the three-match ODI series against South Africa, they will be without skipper Ayush Mhatre and Vihaan Malhotra, who recover from injuries. The duo will remain at the BCCI Centre of Excellence for further management of these injuries prior to joining up with the squad for the World Cup starting January 15.

India have made a further two changes to their side from the U19 Asia Cup with Yuvraj Gohil and Naman Pushpak stepping aside for R.S. Ambrish and Mohamed Enaan.

India will kickstart their campaign against the USA on January 15 at the Queen's Sports Club in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

India's group-stage fixtures at ICC Men's U19 World Cup 2026:

15th January:
v USA

17th January: v Bangladesh

24th January: v New Zealand

*All matches are at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo and scheduled to start at 9:30AM local time.
 
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