Defending champions Australia headline Group A of the ICC u19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026 alongside three teams hoping to earn a maiden trophy. The Group A matches will be held in Windhoek at the FNB Namibia Cricket Ground and the High Performance Oval.
Group A
Australia
Both the first and most recent winners of the tournament, Australia are the second-most successful team at the ICC u19 Men’s Cricket World Cup.
They have played all but one tournament and have reached the final six times, including in 2024 where they beat India.
There is only one surviving member of the victorious squad from two years ago, and this time he is the captain.
Oliver Peake was called into the squad as an injury replacement and went on to make 46 not out in the final.
The majority of the 2026 squad played together in a winless series against India’s U19 team, with Nitesh Samuel, Naden Cooray and William Taylor earning call-ups following strong showings in the u19 Male National Championships.
Ireland
Ireland reached the Super 6 stage at the 2024 u19 World Cup, beating New Zealand as Gavin Roulston made 82 and Oliver Riley took three for 20.
Riley has returned for more, as he captains the team, and is being supported by vice-captain Reuben Wilson, who first played in the tournament in 2022 aged just 15.
They are the only returning players from 2024, but the side is not lacking in experience with Adam Leckey, Seb Dijkstra and Thomas Ford all plying their trade in Australia over the winter.
Japan
Japan will feature at the ICC u19 Men’s Cricket World Cup for only the second time, having made their debut in 2020.
Kazumo Kato-Stafford will captain the team, just as he did at the ACC Premier Cup, where Kaisei Kobayashi-Doggett made a century against Qatar.
The team also features three brothers, with Charles, Gabriel and Montgomery Hara-Hinze all selected together.
They will be supported in Namibia by men’s senior captain Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming, who will serve as assistant coach as he did in 2020.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka have appeared at every edition of the tournament with their best result coming in 2000 when they finished as runners-up to India.
Since then, Sri Lanka have made the semi-finals on two more occasions, reaching the Super Six stage in 2024.
None of that squad remains as Vimath Dinsara takes over from Sineth Jayawardena as captain. Most recently, Sri Lanka reached the semi-finals of the u19 Men’s Asia Cup, losing out to India in a rain-affected match.
Group B
In Group B, which will be played primarily in Bulawayo, heavyweights India, are drawn alongside 2020 champions Bangladesh, former finalists New Zealand and the USA.
India
India are the most successful team in the tournament’s history with five titles, and are once again amongst the favourites, with one of the most exciting young talents in world cricket, the 14-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, set to make his debut.
Sooryavanshi last year became the youngest centurion in IPL history, scoring 100 off only 35 balls at the age of 14, while he shone in India’s Youth ODI series against England last year with knocks of 143 from 78 balls and 86 from 31.
More recently, India reached the final of the U19 Asia Cup but were beaten by Pakistan in the final.
Wicketkeeper-batter Abhigyan Kundu made an unbeaten double century against Malaysia at the U19 Asia Cup, while medium-pacer Deepesh Devendran finished as the competition’s leading wicket-taker with 15.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh made history when they won the u19 title for the first time in 2020 after beating India by three wickets in the final.
A host of players from the 2020 edition are now forming the backbone of the senior team including Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Shoriful Islam and Towhid Hridoy.
This time around, they arrive after reaching the semi-final of the Asia Cup, with opener Zawad Abrar starring with the bat and left-arm spinner Shariar Ahmed the pick of their bowlers.
New Zealand
Runners-up 28 years ago, New Zealand have made it back to the semi-final stage three times since, most recently in 2020.
Coached by former New Zealand batter Anton Devcich, New Zealand have named a squad with a fair amount of first-class experience under their belts.
Skipper Tom Jones scored a century on his first-class debut for Otago, while Northern Districts pair Snehith Reddy and Aryan Mann will also have a big role to play.
USA
The USA sealed their fourth appearance at an ICC u19 Men’s Cricket World Cup by cruising through the Americas Qualifier.
Amrinder Gill’s century inspired a victory over Bermuda while Sahir Bhatia took five for nine as Argentina were bowled out for just 34.
Tougher tests lie ahead in Zimbabwe – starting against India on the opening day – but the American squad will be relishing the challenge.
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