Harshvardhan Mishra
The ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026 is all set to bring together the brightest young talents from across the globe. Scheduled from January 15 to February 6, 2026, this edition will be co-hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia, marking a new chapter in the history of age-group international cricket.
The tournament represents the 16th edition of the prestigious 50-over competition, which has long served as a launching pad for future cricketing stars. Over the years, legends like Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Kane Williamson, and many others first gained international attention through this very platform.
With 16 teams competing for ultimate glory, the squads announced for U19 World Cup 2026 showcase a rich blend of skill, promise, and ambition.
Tournament Overview
- Host Nations: Zimbabwe and Namibia
- Format: 50-over matches
- Total Teams: 16
- Tournament Dates: 15 January – 6 February 2026
- Edition: 16th ICC U19 World Cup
Teams will be divided into four groups, with the top sides advancing to the Super Six stage, followed by the semi-finals and final in Harare.
U19 World Cup 2026 Squads – Team-by-Team Lists
Here is the full roster of players named by participating nations:
Afghanistan U19 Squad
The Afghanistan U19 squad for 2026 has not yet been officially announced. The cricket board is expected to declare the list closer to the tournament dates.
Australia U19 Squad
Australia enter the World Cup as defending champions with a strong unit led by captain Oliver Peake.
Players:
Oliver Peake (c), Kasey Barton, Naden Cooray, 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.
Australia will aim to defend their crown with Peake being one of the most experienced players in the tournament.
Bangladesh U19 Squad
Bangladesh have picked a well-rounded squad under skipper Azizul Hakim Tamim.
Players:
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.
Bangladesh have also named standby players to step in if required.
England U19 Squad
England have announced their 15-member squad led by Thomas Rew.
Players:
Thomas Rew (c), Farhan Ahmed, Ralphie Albert, Ben Dawkins, Caleb Falconer, Ali Farooq, Alex French, Alex Green, Luke Hands, Manny Lumsden, Ben Mayes, James Minto, Isaac Mohammed, Joe Moores, Sebastian Morgan.
England will look to make a strong impression in African conditions.
India U19 Squad
Five-time champions India have named Ayush Mhatre as their captain, continuing their tradition of competitive squads.
Players:
Ayush Mhatre (c), Vihaan Malhotra (vc), Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Aaron George, Vedant Trivedi, Abhigyan Kundu, Kanishk Chouhan, R.S. Ambrish, D. Deepesh, Henil Patel, Khilan Patel, Mohamed Enaan, Kishan Kumar Singh, Harvansh Singh, Udhav Mohan.
India remain the most successful side in U19 World Cup history with titles in 2000, 2008, 2012, 2018, and 2022.
Despite minor injury concerns to key players, the team is expected to be match-ready in time.
Ireland U19 Squad
Ireland have retained a familiar group under captain Olly Riley.
Players:
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.
Ireland will hope to progress beyond the group stage this time.
Japan U19 Squad
Japan continue to invest in youth cricket with an interesting mix of players.
Players:
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, Kai Wall, Taylor Waugh, Sandev Aaryan Waduge, Hugo Tani-Kelly.
Japan have steadily improved their performances in ICC tournaments over recent years.
New Zealand U19 Squad
Players:
Tom Jones (c), Marco Alpe, Hugo Bogue, Harry Burns, Mason Clarke, Jacob Cotter, Aryan Mann, Flynn Morey, Snehith Reddy, Callum Samson, Jaskaran Sandhu, Selwin Sanjay, Hunter Shore, Harry Waite.
New Zealand are known for producing disciplined cricketers at the junior level.
Pakistan U19 Squad
Pakistan, the reigning U19 Asia Cup champions, will be captained by Farhan Yousaf.
Players:
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, Sameer Minhas, Umar Zaib.
Pakistan’s squad features exciting pacer Ali Raza and aggressive batsman Sameer Minhas, both match-winners.
Scotland U19 Squad
Players:
Thomas Knight (c), Finlay Carter, Max Chaplin, George Cutler, Rory Grant, Finlay Jones, Ollie Jones, Ali Khan, Olly Pillinger, Ethan Ramsay, Theo Robinson, Manu Saraswat, Shreyas Tekale, Shlok Thaker, Jake Woodhouse.
South Africa U19 Squad
Players:
Muhammad Bulbulia (c), JJ Basson, Daniel Bosman, Corne Botha, Paul James, Enathi Khitshini, Michael Blignaut, Adnaan Lagadien, Bayanda Majola, Armaan Manack, Bandile Mbatha, Jason Rowles, Ntandoyenkosi Soni, Jorich van Schalkwyk.
West Indies U19 Squad
Players:
Joshua Dorne (c), Jewel Andrew, Shamar Apple, Shaquan Belle, Zachary Carter, Tanez Francis, R’jai Gittens, Vitel Lawes, Matthew Miller, Micah McKenzie, Isra-el Morton, Jakeem Pollard, Jonathan Van Lange. Reserves: Tyriek Bryan, Brendan Boodoo, Earsinho Fontaine, Deshawn James.
USA, Tanzania, Zimbabwe – To Be Announced
The squads for USA U19 and Tanzania U19 are still awaited.
Co-hosts Zimbabwe were the first to name their squad and will be led by Simbarashe Mudzengerere.
Format and Road to the Final
The 16 teams will be split into four groups. After round-robin league matches, leading sides will qualify for the Super Six Stage. The knockout phase will include semi-finals and the final, which is scheduled to be played in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Tanzania Make Historic Debut
A major highlight of the 2026 tournament is the participation of Tanzania, who will be making their first-ever appearance in an ICC age-group World Cup. Their qualification is seen as a big boost for cricket development in East Africa.
Final Thoughts
The U19 Cricket World Cup 2026 squads represent the future of international cricket. Every team arrives with hope, while traditional powerhouses like India and Australia carry the weight of expectations.
For fans, it is an opportunity to witness tomorrow’s heroes in action—long before they become global superstars.
