Sue Redfern will become the first International Cricket Council-appointed female neutral umpire to stand in a bilateral series as she has been named for the upcoming ICC Women’s Championship and T20I fixtures between Australia and South Africa.

Redfern’s appointment follows the ICC’s decision to appoint one neutral umpire for all ICC Women’s Championship series as well as any T20I matches scheduled with them, ensuring some neutrality in running matches while also keeping in mind the long-term development of female umpires.

ICC’s General Manager of Cricket, Wasim Khan, sees this as a huge development as more opportunities open for women umpires.

“This is a watershed moment for women’s cricket as we look to both implement a female match officials’ pathway programme and accelerate officiating opportunities for our very best performers. Neutral appointments will give female umpires more exposure to different conditions and will support the learning and development of local female umpires who officiate alongside them.

“Last year we had the first all-female match officials’ panel at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa and so it is important that we build on that momentum through a combination of development and high-quality opportunities.”

The ICC will prioritise female officials for the neutral umpires’ role in ICC Women’s Championship series. The ICC-appointed female umpires will get match-day pay parity with their male counterparts on the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Umpires and receive comparable perks.

The female neutral umpires will be selected on merit and more of them will find themselves in the Emirates ICC International Panel of Umpires in the coming years, as part of ICC’s strategic ambition to advance the involvement and visibility of women both on and off field within the game.

Redfern is confident her appointment will help build momentum and boost the growth of female match officials.

“It’s an honour to be named by the ICC as its first official female neutral umpire and I’m very excited about the upcoming series between Australia and South Africa.

“This is a defining moment for both women’s cricket and female cricket officials, who have worked hard and been given development opportunities in recent years.

“I’ve seen the landscape evolve for female officials and how many are now being recognised and supported across many countries. I am sure this appointment can help build momentum and visibility to help further develop female officials across the world in the future.

“Personally, I would like to thank the ICC and the ECB for their support over the years and I look forward to more such appointments.”

Redfern, who played in six Tests and 15 ODIs for England between 1995 and 1999 including four in the 1997 World Cup in India, has been on the ICC Development Panel of Umpires since 2016. She has officiated in two ICC Women’s Cricket World Cups (2017 and 2022) and three ICC Women’s T20 World Cups (2018, 2022 and 2024).

The Australia vs South Africa matches that Redfern will be officiating in are:

Bilateral T20I series:

1^st T20I, Manuka Oval, Canberra, 27 January
2^nd T20I, Manuka Oval, Canberra, 28 January
3^rd T20I, Bellerive Oval, Hobart, 30 January

ICC Women’s Championship:

1^st ODI, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, 3 February
2^nd ODI, North Sydney Oval, Sydney, 7 February
3^rd ODI, North Sydney Oval, Sydney, 10 February

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today revealed the ICC Men’s and Women’s Player of the Month award winners for December 2023 after shortlists were announced last week.

Australia captain Pat Cummins caps a spectacular 2023 with the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award for December, following a supreme bowling performance in his side’s victorious Test series against Pakistan.

Deepti Sharma wins her first ICC Women’s Player of the Month prize after batting and bowling brilliance in all three formats secured notable victories for India over strong opposition in England and Australia.

Cummins was at the forefront of Australia’s Test success over Pakistan in December, demonstrating the leadership and bowling prowess which personified Australia’s surge to success in 2023, winning their maiden World Test Championship mace, and their sixth Men’s Cricket World Cup crown earlier in the year.

The highlight of another spectacular month for Cummins came in the side’s second Test victory over Pakistan in Melbourne. The pacer took ten wickets in the match, which included an inspiring spell as the match approach a nervy climax.

His five for 48 in the second innings included the prized wicket of a well-set Mohammed Rizwan – Cummins’ 250^th in the longest format – ensuring Australia snatched victory in dramatic fashion.

Cummins is nominated for the top men’s award in the ICC Awards 2023 for his performances during the calendar year – the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy – and will be hoping to add to his collection of personal accolades following a fine year in all formats.

ICC Men’s Player of the Month for December, Pat Cummins commented, “It’s been a great year for the group across all formats and to cap it off with a strong performance against a challenging Pakistan side was a nice way to finish 2023.

“Overall we are very pleased with the summer so far and looking ahead to the West Indies and New Zealand series.”

Deepti Sharma claims her first ICC Women’s Player of the Month on the back of a series of fine individual performances for India across the three formats in December.

The all-rounder started the month in subdued fashion in the T20I encounters against England, before owning the stage in the first Test against England in Mumbai.

Striking 67 with the bat in the first innings, contributing to a mammoth first innings total, the off-spinner then flourished with the ball, taking five key wickets to skittle the tourists in the first innings and four in the second, to finish with staggering match figures of nine for 39 and claim the Player of the Match award.

Sharma continued this run in the following Test triumph against Australia, top-scoring with a crucial 78 runs in the middle order as India won by eight wickets.

The subsequent ODI matches against Australia also provided plenty of highlights for Sharma, including figures of five for 38 in the second encounter as India fell agonisingly short of victory.

ICC Women’s Player of the Month for December, Deepti Sharma said, “It’s an honour to be voted the ICC Women’s Player of the Month for December. I feel very good about my game at the moment and I’m glad that reflected in my performances for India last month against strong opponents. I’ll continue to work hard so that I can have more moments like this in the future.

“I’m grateful to have been chosen for this award and the fact that fans around the world also voted for me makes it extra special. I want to thank them and my teammates for helping me win this award.”

Cummins and Sharma emerged victorious following votes gathered from global fans registered at icc-cricket.com and a specialist panel comprising ICC Hall of Famers, former international players, and media representatives.

Cummins overcame fellow Test stars Taijul Islam of Bangladesh and Glenn Phillips of New Zealand to claim the December prize, while Sharma wins from teammate Jemimah Rodrigues and Zimbabwe’s Precious Marange.

The finalists of the 2020 edition of the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup, India and Bangladesh, will be joined by Ireland and USA in Group A.

India are also the defending champions, having beaten England in an epic see-saw encounter back in 2022 in the West Indies. 

The Group A fixtures begin on January 19 with Ireland playing USA in Bloemfontein. 

Here we take a look at the four teams, their make-up and some of the future stars to look out for.

India

Defending Champions India have been serial winners in the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup history, winning five titles in the 14 editions.

Going into the 2024 campaign, they will again be one of the strong favourites to go deep in the tournament. In fact, only once – in the inaugural edition in 1988 – has India failed to make it past the group stage in an U19 Men’s CWC.

Uday Saharan will lead the side and hope to put his name in an elite list of Indian captains – Mohammed Kaif, Virat Kohli, Unmukt Chand, Prithvi Shaw and Yash Dhull – to have lifted the U19 World Cup trophy.

Their recent semi-final exit at the ACC U19 Asia Cup will serve as fuel for a determined Indian side to aim for the stars. 

Their undefeated run in the pre-tournament tri-nation series against South Africa and Afghanistan will give them confidence, making them formidable contenders with their eyes set on a historic sixth title in the U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup.

Squad

Arshin Kulkarni, Adarsh Singh, Rudra Mayur Patel, Sachin Dhas, Priyanshu Moliya, Musheer Khan, Uday Saharan (c), Avanish Aravelly, Saumy Kumar Pandey, Murugan Abhishek, Innesh Mahajan, Dhanush Gowda, Aaradhya Shukla, Raj Limbani and Naman Tiwari.

Fixtures

20 January: v Bangladesh, Bloemfontein
25 January: v Ireland, Bloemfontein
28 January: v USA, Bloemfontein

Watch out for

Naman Tiwari

Naman Tiwari has enjoyed a great start to his cricket career, starting with a five-for against Bangladesh in a tri-series in November. In four matches, he picked up 12 wickets to finish as the second-highest wicket-taker in the series.

The 18-year-old followed it up with five wickets in three Asia Cup games and has built great momentum with seven wickets in three games in the recent tri-series while familiarising himself with the South African conditions.

Naman offers India a trait that has been a bit of a rarity over the years – left-arm pace. With his stellar performances, he undoubtedly becomes one of the key players to keep a close eye on in the upcoming tournament.

What they said

Uday Saharan, India captain: “Our preparation has been intense, and the team has been working tirelessly to fine-tune every aspect of our game. We understand the challenges that come with representing our country at this level, but the excitement within the squad is palpable. The prospect of competing against the best U19 teams from around the world is both thrilling and motivating.”

Bangladesh

Brimming with confidence following their triumph in the ACC U19 Asia Cup, Bangladesh will be looking to carry forward their momentum into the U19 Men’s CWC 2024.

In keeping with the overall progress of Bangladesh cricket over the past decade, their U19 team has mirrored this success, reaching the quarterfinals twice, making the semi-finals once, and securing the trophy once in the last four editions.

The pinnacle of their success came in the 2020 edition in South Africa, when they secured their maiden U19 World Cup, the first-ever ICC trophy won by Bangladesh, defeating India in a thrilling final.

In the upcoming tournament, the responsibility rests on the shoulders of Mahfuzur Rahman Rabby and his teammates to further the U19 team’s commendable journey and build on the positive strides they have made in recent years.

Squad

Mahfuzur Rahman Rabby (c), Ashiqur Rahman Shibli, Jishan Alam, Chowdhury Md Rizwan, Adil Bin Siddik, Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Boranno, Ariful Islam, Shihab James, Ahrar Amin, Sheikh Parvez Jibon, Rafi Uzzaman Rafi, Rohanat Doullah Borson, Iqbal Hasan Emon, Wasi Siddiquee, Maruf Mridha

Fixtures

20 January: v India, Bloemfontein
22 January: v Ireland, Bloemfontein
26 January: v USA, Bloemfontein

Watch out for

Mahfuzur Rahman Rabby

Following Bangladesh’s tradition of producing left-hand batsmen and left-arm orthodox all-rounders, Mahfuzur Rahman Rabby has emerged as a standout performer with both bat and ball in the past year. In a total of 20 matches, Rabby showcased his skills by scoring 367 runs and claiming an impressive 32 wickets.

Leading Bangladesh to triumph in the U19 Asia Cup, Rabby not only captained effectively but also ended as the second-highest wicket-taker (9 wickets) for the team.

His noteworthy performances have garnered attention, leading to his recent debut in List A cricket during the Bangladesh Cricket League One-Day competition. 

What they said

Mahfuzur Rahman Rabby, Bangladesh captain: “We will go there to win the World Cup. Bangladesh has done that before and there is no reason why we can’t carry the momentum from the Asia Cup to South Africa.”

USA

Making their third U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup appearance, USA returns to the competition for the first time since 2010. Before that, USA made their maiden appearance in the 2006 edition of the tournament in Sri Lanka.

Securing qualification in a thrilling manner, USA triumphed over Canada in the final Americas Qualifier match, determined by the DLS method. Despite both teams finishing level on points, the USA’s superior net run rate ultimately earned them the coveted spot in the premier U19 tournament.

A standout performance for the team in the Americas Qualifier was when they put up a mammoth 515 against Argentina before bowling out the opposition to win by a whopping 450 runs.

Squad

Amogh Arepally, Rayaan Bhagani, Aaryan Batra, Khush Bhalala, Prannav Chettipalayam, Arya Garg, Siddarth Kappa, Bhavya Mehta, Aarin Nadkarni, Manav Nayak, Parth Patel, Rishi Ramesh (c), Utkarsh Srivastava, Ateendra Subramanian, Aryaman Suri.

Fixtures

19 January: v Ireland, Bloemfontein
26 January: v Bangladesh, Bloemfontein
28 January: v India, Bloemfontein

Watch out for

Prannav Chettipalayam

The leading run-scorer in the Americas Qualifier, USA’s Prannav Chettipalayam has piled on a mountain of runs over the last year.

He started the tournament with a half-century against Bermuda and followed it up with two more fifties in the next three games.

In a standout performance, Chettipalayam smashed a remarkable 136 off 104 balls in USA’s penultimate game, significantly boosting their net run-rate. Displaying composure in the final Qualifier match, he remained unbeaten, guiding his team to victory and securing their qualification for the U19 Men’s CWC 2024.

What they said

Rishi Ramesh, USA captain: “Personally I will be looking towards our game against India, because I think they are historically one of the biggest teams in cricket. A win against them specifically would be quite historic for the nation of the USA.”

Ireland

This year marks the 10th time Ireland have qualified for the U19 Men’s CWC, and the team will be eager to surpass their previous performances.

Ireland’s display in the previous edition will give them confidence. They achieved their joint-best finish by securing the 10th position in 2022, matching their accomplishment in 2010.

Ireland toured South Africa in March last year, with 10 of the 15 squad members gaining valuable experience. Additionally, the team enters the competition with the confidence of a significant achievement – their first-ever victory against England U19 during the summer of the previous year.

Squad

Philippe le Roux (c), Macdara Cosgrave, Harry Dyer, Daniel Forkin, Kian Hilton, Ryan Hunter, Finn Lutton, Scott Macbeth, Carson McCullough, John McNally, Jordan Neill, Oliver Riley, Gavin Roulston, Matthew Weldon, Reuben Wilson.

Fixtures

19 January: v USA, Bloemfontein
22 January: v Bangladesh, Bloemfontein
25 January: v India, Bloemfontein

Watch out for

Philippe le Roux

Making his second appearance in the U19 World Cup, Philippe le Roux has been entrusted with the captaincy for Ireland in the upcoming tournament.

In the 2022 edition, le Roux emerged as the leading run-scorer for the team, amassing 165 runs in six matches with an impressive average of 41.25. 

His standout contribution came in a Player of the Match-winning performance against Canada, where his unbeaten 83 helped Ireland to victory in their sole triumph of the tournament. 

Now captaining the side, le Roux will hope to build on his past success and guide Ireland to a promising campaign in the U19 World Cup.

What they said

Phillippe le Roux, Ireland captain: “We want to leave having put Ireland on the map at this level, like the senior team has done over the last few years, as a team that will not be pushed over easily.”

Dubai, 13 January 2024: The Winchester School will battle it out with GEMS Modern for the top honours in the ILT20 Schools Cup Final to be played on Sunday, 14 January. Six teams made the Final round after winning in their respective pools in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah where 36 schools competed in the first round.
More than 500 teenagers took part in the first-round matches, 90 out of these 500 now feature in the final round being played at the ICC Academy Ovals, in Dubai. In the final round, the six teams named after the six franchises in the DP World ILT20 are divided into two pools of three teams each.

The finalists Winchester School are named after Dubai Capitals while GEMS Modern are named after defending champions Gulf Giants. The other teams in the fray were The Cambridge High School Abu Dhabi named after MI Emirates, GEMS Cambridge named after Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Our Own English Sharjah named after Sharjah Warriors and DIA Emirates Hill named after Desert Vipers.  

In pool 1, Dubai Capitals, MI Emirates and Sharjah Warriors battled with each other for a place in the final while pool 2 saw stiff competition between ADKR, Gulf Giants and Desert Vipers. Both Dubai Capitals and Gulf Giants topped their respective pools comfortably to make it to the final.

Tournament Director ILT20 Schools Cup Andy Russell: “Over the past week, we have witnessed some very exciting cricket at the final round of ILT20 Schools Cup. The International League T20 is committed to providing grassroot opportunities and school cricketers are the future of the game. This tournament has given a great platform for over 500 aspiring cricketers to showcase their skills and it was interesting to see these young players uphold the spirit of sportsmanship.

The growth of the game in the schools also helps creating a strong bond between the DP World ILT20 competition, the franchises and the young generation of UAE cricketers, which is why this initiative is so important. I wish the finalists of the ILT20 Schools Cup the very best.”

Dubai, 12 January 2024: Two of the most respected umpires in cricket history Simon Taufel and Aleem Dar spearhead the DP World ILT20 Season 2 match officials panel. Both Taufel and Dar will be the on-field umpires for the tournament opener between defending champions Gulf Giants and Sharjah Warriors on Friday, 19 January at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

The legendary duo who umpired the 2011 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup final and the 2012 ICC T20 World Cup final will now be coming back together for the opening match of the DP World ILT20 Season 2.
Besides Taufel and Dar, the DP World ILT20 Season 2 match official panel includes some of the most prominent umpires and match referees who are actively involved in all three international cricket formats.
South Africa’s Adrain Holdstock and Australia’s Rod Tucker – both from ICC Elite Panel, Sri Lanka’s Ruchira Palliyaguruge, England’s Martin Saggers, Australia’s Paul Wilson and Leslie Reifer of West Indies will be umpiring the 34-match tournament. Roshan Mahanama, Steve Bernard and Taufel will be the match referees – Taufel will join match referees panel after umpiring the opener.  

With global cricket fans guaranteed of high-octane entertainment, as the Gulf region’s biggest T20 extravaganza that holds a distinction of being the second-highest watched T20 league around the world promises yet another blockbuster Season between 19^th January and 17^th February, the organisers have ensured the league is played under the watchful eyes of globally-acclaimed umpires. 
While Australia’s Taufel was also part of the DP World ILT20 Season 1 match official panel, Aleem Dar – record holder for most Tests and ODIs as on field umpire (145 and 231) makes his maiden DP World ILT20 appearance.  

Simon Taufel: “I am very excited to return to the UAE for DP World ILT20’s Season 2. It was a great experience to lead the match officials panel last year and closely interact with some of the upcoming UAE ICC International Panel umpires. The DP World ILT20 is certainly a fine platform for young players. We are also incorporating two specialised TV umpires for the first time to improve accuracy and time efficiency – Paul Wilson from Australia and Leslie Reifer from West Indies.”

Aleem Dar: “I am eager and excited to be part of the DP World ILT20 which has emerged as one of the leading T20 leagues globally. The tournament provides a unique opportunity for players, particular from UAE to shine on an international stage and rub shoulders with some of the most reputed players in the world. I am delighted to be part of the match officials panel this year and look forward to a great season.”
The DP World ILT20 Season 2 features some of the greatest stars in the game including Australia’s World Cup hero David Warner, Andre Russell, David Willey, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Alex Hales, Shimron Hetmyer, Chris Jordan, Trent Boult, Nicholas Pooran, Chris Woakes and Maheesh Theekshana

More than 100 international and 25 UAE players will feature in the tournament. The month-long League will be held in iconic venues in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Dubai with the Final scheduled to be played on 17^th February at the famed ‘Ring of Fire’ Dubai International Stadium.

The 15th edition of the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup is around the corner, with emerging talents from 16 teams gearing up to compete for the coveted title in South Africa.

The tournament began in 1988, and has seen seven different winners in the 14 editions so far. India lead the way with five titles to their name, followed by Australia (3), Pakistan (2), Bangladesh, South Africa, West Indies and England (1 each).

And over the years, the tournament has gone through many iterations, providing a foundational stage for many of the game’s superstars.

It’s part of the magic of the U19 Cricket World Cup. It has always served as a platform for catapulting budding cricketers into the limelight, paving the way for some of the sport’s most prominent names.

As we approach the 2024 edition, let’s reflect on the rich history of each of the 14 preceding tournaments.

1988 (Winners: Australia)

The inaugural edition of the U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup, then known as the Youth World Cup, was hosted to celebrate Australia’s Bicentenary in the land Down Under.

The tournament featured seven Test-playing nations alongside a composite team comprising ICC’s Associate Members.

Hosts Australia defeated Pakistan by 5 wickets in the Final to win the inaugural edition of the tournament.

Notable international stars from the Class of 1988: Nasser Hussain, Michael Atherton, Chris Cairns, Mushtaq Ahmed, Sanath Jayasuriya, Brian Lara.

1998 (Winners: England)

It took another 10 years before another edition of the U19 World Cup was played and it was South Africa who were hosting an ICC tournament for the very first time.

The number of teams doubled from the first edition, with 16 teams participating in the tournament.

In this edition, the charismatic ‘Universe Boss’ Chris Gayle left his mark, emerging as the highest run-scorer. 

Meanwhile, his West Indian teammate, Ramnaresh Sarwan, who later became one of the most reliable batters for the West Indies, shared the distinction of being the leading wicket-taker (16) with Zimbabwe’s Mluleki Nkala.

England triumphed over New Zealand in the finale by seven wickets at the Wanderers in Johannesburg, their maiden and only U19 World Cup win to date.

Notable international stars from the Class of 1998: Graeme Swann, Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh, Collins Obuya, Kyle Mills, Imran Tahir, Shoaib Malik, Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan.

2000 (Winners: India)

Sri Lanka hosted the third edition of the tournament, where neighbours India got their hands on the trophy for the first time – a feat they went on to achieve four more times – after defeating the hosts by six wickets in the Final.

Yuvraj Singh was named the Player of the Tournament, a feat he famously repeated 11 years later at the highest level as India lifted the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. South Africa’s Graeme Smith finished as the leading run-getter.

Notable international stars from the Class of 2000: Michael Clarke, Mitchell Johnson, Shane Watson, Ian Bell, Yuvraj Singh, Niall O’Brien, Brendon McCullum, Graeme Smith, Jonathan Trott, Tatenda Taibu.

2002 (Winners: Australia)

Australia were crowned two-time Champions in a tournament hosted by their Trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand for the very first time.

Demonstrating their dominance, Australia maintained an undefeated record throughout the competition and sealed their triumph with a seven-wicket win over South Africa in the final.

Tatenda Taibu took home the Player of the Tournament while Australia captain Cameron White led by example, finishing as the highest run-getter.

Notable international stars from the Class of 2002: Cameron White, George Bailey, Mashrafe Mortaza, Suresh Raina, Ross Taylor, Umar Gul, Kyle Coetzer, Hashim Amla, Upul Tharanga, Dwayne Bravo, Daren Sammy.

2004 (Winners: Pakistan)

The fifth edition of the U19 World Cup, hosted by Bangladesh, marked the debut of Uganda in the tournament.

A new winner was guaranteed after two first-time finalists emerged. Pakistan got their hands on the trophy for the first time, clinching the title after beating West Indies in the final in Dhaka.

India’s Shikhar Dhawan finished as the highest run-getter and was named the Player of the Tournament.

Notable international stars from the Class of 2004: Alastair Cook, Shikhar Dhawan, Dinesh Karthik, Eoin Morgan, Wahab Riaz, Vernon Philander, Angelo Mathews, Craig Ervine.

2006 (Winners: Pakistan)

In a historic achievement, Pakistan became the first team to successfully defend their U19 Cricket World Cup title by defeating arch-rivals India in the final held in Colombo.

Pakistan were given no chance after they set India a target of just 110 in the finale. However, they delivered a remarkable bowling performance, dismantling the Indian batting lineup with the first six wickets falling for a mere nine runs. 

India were ultimately bowled out for 71, securing Pakistan’s back-to-back titles and cementing their place in history.

Cheteshwar Pujara was the leading run-scorer and the Player of the Tournament.

Notable international stars from the Class of 2006: Aaron Finch, Usman Khawaja, David Warner, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Moeen Ali, Cheteshwar Pujara, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Tim Southee, Sarfraz Ahmed, Dean Elgar, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard.

2008 (Winners: India)

India’s misery in 2006 turned to glory in 2008 when they got their hands on the trophy for the second time under the leadership of the flamboyant Virat Kohli.

India remained undefeated in the tournament, beating South Africa by 12 runs in a rain-truncated game decided by DLS.

The 2008 U19 World Cup is widely remembered for catapulting three of the modern-day ‘Fab Four’ into the limelight. Kane Williamson was the opposite number to Virat Kohli in the semi-final while Steve Smith, then known more for his all-round ability, made an impact with the bat and ball throughout the tournament.

Notable international stars from the Class of 2008: Josh Hazlewood, Steve Smith, Chris Woakes, Virat Kohli, Paul Stirling, Kane Williamson, Shan Masood, Kusal Perera, Darren Bravo.

2010 (Winners: Australia)

In a repeat of what happened in 2002, Australia won the U19 World Cup hosted by neighbours New Zealand.

It was a low-scoring affair in the final, with Josh Hazlewood’s four-wicket haul helping Australia, led by Mitchell Marsh, defend a target of 208 against Pakistan.

The tournament also marked the debut of Afghanistan at the U19 level.

Notable international stars from the Class of 2010: Hashmatullah Shahidi, Jos Buttler, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, KL Rahul, Mitchell Marsh, Adam Zampa, Tom Latham, Babar Azam, Jason Holder

2012 (Winners: India)

The U19 Cricket World Cup returned to Australia for the first time since its inaugural edition. 

In the final held in Queensland, India secured a six-wicket victory over the host country, Australia, marking their third U19 World Cup triumph and matching their feat from the inaugural edition.

Notable international stars from the Class of 2012: Travis Head, Imam-ul-Haq, Ish Sodhi, Akeal Hosein, Ryan Burl, Litton Das, Taskin Ahmed, Gerhard Erasmus.

2014 (Winners: South Africa)

South Africa enjoyed an unbeaten run en route to their maiden U19 Cricket World Cup title. They defeated Pakistan by six wickets in Dubai to get their hands on the trophy.

Aiden Markram played a pivotal role in the final, leading by example with a score of 66* and earning the additional honour of being named the Player of the Tournament.

The tournament is also remembered for the emergence of Kagiso Rabada as a bowler of high calibre, his 6/25 in the semifinal dismantling Australia.

Notable international stars from the Class of 2014: Shreyas Iyer, Kuldeep Yadav, Mustafizur Rahman, Aiden Markram, Kagiso Rabada, Nicholas Pooran, Kyle Jamieson, Kusal Mendis, Shimron Hetmyer.

2016 (Winners: West Indies)

The 2016 Under-19 Cricket World Cup returned to Bangladesh for the first time since the 2004 edition.

Defending champions South Africa faced an unexpected exit in the group stages, succumbing to surprise defeats against Bangladesh and Namibia. 

The final showdown featured West Indies and India, with the West Indies securing their first U19 World Cup title with a five-wicket victory in Dhaka after a gritty display by their batters.

Notable international stars from the Class of 2016: Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rashid Khan, Shadab Khan, Wanindu Hasaranga, Sam Curran, Alzarri Joseph, Rishabh Pant, Josh Little, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra.

2018 (Winners: India)

New Zealand became the first country to host the U19 World Cup thrice, having previously held the tournament in 2002 and 2010. 

For the second year in a row, the defending champions, this time West Indies, crashed out of the group stages. 

In the final, India beat Australia by eight wickets to become four-time champions, the most by any side. 

Notable international stars from the Class of 2018: Gerald Coetzee, Alick Athanaze, Shubman Gill, Arshdeep Singh, Towhid Hridoy, Harry Brook, Naveen-ul-Haq, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Harry Tector, Shaheen Afridi.

2020 (Winners: Bangladesh)  

The 2020 U19 World Cup witnessed Bangladesh securing their first-ever victory in an ICC event at any level. 

Finalists India showcased their supremacy throughout the tournament under the leadership of Priyam Garg. Breaking records became a routine for his team as they overwhelmed Japan, securing victory with a remarkable 271 balls to spare — the second-highest record in Youth ODIs to date.

Additionally, India achieved the distinction of being the first and only team, to date, to surpass 200 victories at the U19 level during the course of the tournament.

However, on the day of the final, Bangladesh triumphed over powerhouse India in a tense, low-scoring clash, with a three-wicket win by the DLS method. 

The tournament saw the debut of two teams, Nigeria and Japan, who qualified through regional qualifiers.

Notable international stars from the Class of 2020: Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Tanveer Sangha, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammad Wasim, Matheesha Pathirana, Jayden Seales.

2022 (Winners: India)  

West Indies hosted the U19 Cricket World Cup for the first time in history. 

One of the biggest highlights of the tournament was the performance of Afghanistan, who made it past the group stage and went into the semi-final for the very first time, beating Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka along the way.

In the semi-final clash against England, Afghanistan displayed resilience, coming close to a victory but ultimately falling short.

Having faltered in the previous edition on the last step, India redeemed themselves by securing the title against England in the final, marking their fifth U19 World Cup triumph.

The event unfolded amid the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to New Zealand’s withdrawal due to stringent quarantine restrictions. Scotland stepped in as a replacement in the tournament.

Notable international stars from the Class of 2022: Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Rehan Ahmed, Dunith Wellalage, Dewald Brevis. 

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced the lineup of Match Officials appointed for the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2024, which will be held in South Africa from 19 January to 11 February.

An experienced roster of 16 Umpires and four Match Referees have been selected to officiate the competition, overseeing a total of 41 matches that will feature the best young cricketers on the planet.

Match Official appointments have also been confirmed for the initial group stage fixtures, which includes an accomplished team taking charge of the opening match between hosts South Africa and another former U19 champion nation, West Indies, in Potchefstroom on 19 January.

On-field Umpires for the fixture will be Roland Black (Ireland) and Gazi Sohel (Bangladesh). Black will be officiating in his third U19 Men’s CWC, while Sohel’s international career stretches back to 2012.

Former Sri Lanka international cricketer Graeme Labrooy will be Match Referee for the clash, in what will be his sixth appearance at the celebrated event.

Completing the lineup of officials for the hosts’ opener will be TV Umpire Rashid Riaz Waqar of Pakistan and Bismillah Jan Shinwari of Afghanistan as Fourth Umpire.

The following day, 20 January, will see defending champions India face off against Bangladesh in Bloemfontein, in what will be a repeat of the blockbuster 2020 final.

Australia’s Donovan Koch and West Indies’ Nigel Duguid will take charge of that fixture with Zimbabwe’s Langton Rusere as Fourth Umpire, and South African duo Allahudien Palekar as TV Umpire and Shaid Wadvalla as Match Referee.

Palekar will be one of two Umpires from the host nation appearing at the U19 Men’s CWC together with Bongani Jele, both of whom having enjoyed international careers spanning over a decade.

Jele will be joined by India’s K.N.A. Padmanabhan as on-field umpires for the first East London fixture between Pakistan and Afghanistan. India’s Narayanan Kutty will be Match Referee for the tie, with Australia’s Phil Gillespie and Zimbabwe’s Forster Mutizwa as TV Umpire and Fourth Umpire respectively.

Elsewhere, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe will play the first fixture at Kimberley on 21 January. The fixture will be officiated by Mike Burns and Patrick Gustard on-field, while Masudur Rahman Mukul of Bangladesh will assume the role of TV Umpire, Faisal Khan Afridi of Pakistan will be Fourth Umpire and England’s Wayne Noon will be Match Referee.

A schedule of Match Official appointments for group stage fixtures can be found here on the ICC’s Online Media Zone, with appointments for later stages announced in due course.

Speaking on the announcement of Match Officials at the event, ICC Manager – Umpires and Referees, Sean Easey said: “The U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup is a very important event in the ICC calendar. It has long been considered a platform for future stars of the sport to make a name for themselves and for many of the participating players in this year’s edition, it is their first taste of competing on the world stage.

Similarly, it is an important development event for the umpire pathway also. A diverse and motivated team of international match officials has been appointed, and I am confident that they will do an excellent job. I wish them the very best of luck across their time in South Africa.”

Match Officials at the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2024

Umpires: Bismillah Jan Shinwari, Donovan Koch, Phil Gillespie, Gazi Sohel, Masudur Rahman Mukul, Mike Burns, K.N.A. Padmanabhan, Roland Black, Faisal Khan Afridi, Rashid Riaz Waqar, Allahudien Palekar, Bongani Jele, Patrick Gustard, Nigel Duguid, Langton Rusere, Forster Mutizwa

Match Referees: Graeme Labrooy, Shaid Wadvalla, Narayanan Kutty, Wayne Noon

It has been a decade since an 18-year-old Kagiso Rabada swayed the world’s attention in the United Arab Emirates.

Rabada, now the No.2-ranked bowler in the MRF Tyres ICC Rankings for Test bowlers, was making his first steps in international cricket at the time, at the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup.

The exciting pacer went on to take 14 wickets at 10.28 in the tournament, helping South Africa to the title, alongside senior international teammate Aiden Markram. 

“I remember we were really amped for our U19 World Cup,” Rabada said. “We went from playing against each other at the provincial level to playing with each other for South Africa.

“And that was a big deal because we could represent our country.”

Rabada looked back fondly at the emotions he experienced as he stepped onto the field for the first time.

“Back then, my mindset was to relish the environment that I was in and to announce myself on the world stage,” he said.

“It was extremely exciting, a pathway to my dreams to represent South Africa. And I was just itching to get on the park.”

His opening game, against West Indies, couldn’t have gone any better. Given the ball by captain Markram, and defending a modest total of 198 in Dubai, Rabada claimed the prized wicket of another future star, Shimron Heytmyer, off the fourth ball.

“From there, we ran through them,” Rabada said. “That was a great start to the competition, especially the way we had started with the bat in that game.”

Apart from Rabada and Markram, the tournament involved many other youngsters who are now household names – Kuldeep Yadav and Shreyas Iyer (India), Imam-ul-Haq (Pakistan) and Nicholas Pooran (West Indies).

Rabada still remembers the anticipation he had before bowling to Pooran. “Everyone was talking about Nicholas Pooran,” he remembered.

“And they were saying, ‘He’s a real star to watch out for’. And he drove me for a couple of boundaries and you can see what he does to date.”

After defeating West Indies, South Africa won their other group encounters with ease to march into the knockout stage. A brilliant century from Markram ensured an easy entry into the semi-finals, where the young Proteas squared up against Australia.

From 1999 to 2023, Cricket World Cup semi-finals between their senior sides have produced riveting contests. And the U19 clash in 2014 was no different.

South Africa started well with Markram and Fortuin, but Australia then fought back and restricted them to 230.

“I remember we started well with the bat in that game – Clyde Fortuin and Aiden Markram put up a good partnership [105 for the first wicket],” Rabada said.

“When we lost those two, Australia brought it back, and I think we got reduced to about 220 [230].”

It was then that Rabada really laid down a marker. He led the charge with the ball, picking a sensational 6/25 while running through the Australia top-order and blowing away the tail.

“We had to put in a good performance with the ball. We were nice and aggressive up front. Again, got some early wickets and from there, everyone was just on it. We took all our chances and the game was ours.”

A confident South Africa faced Pakistan in the Final, where Rabada continued to shine. He dismissed Imam early, and his economical 1/26 helped restrict Pakistan to 131.

The chase was still a high-pressure situation. “At that stage, having bowled them out for 130, our coach Ray Jennings, in the change room spoke about 10 runs at a time. And it did put us under pressure up front,” Rabada said.

A solid 71-run partnership for the third wicket, between Markram and Greg Oldfield, settled any nerves.

“I remember Aiden Markram and Greg Oldfield put up quite a big partnership in the scheme of the game and from there we kind of just cruised.

“When Bradley Dial hit the winning runs, we all jumped off the ledge and ran onto the field.”

The tournament was a solid introduction to high-pressure cricket for the young players.

“Every game was a huge game. And one had to deal with other mental challenges that come your way, whether it’s on the field or off the field,” Rabada said.

“You’re announcing yourself on the world stage with an Under-19 World Cup. There are more eyes on you, and you want to show the world how good you are.

“And when you are that age, you want to impress. Your competitive spirit comes out and you just keep living your dream.”

Ahead of the 2024 edition of the tournament, Rabada called on all the players in the tournament to seize the moment.

“My message before the World Cup is that it’s a huge privilege and honour to represent the country,” he said.

“As an individual, it’s a big stage to announce yourself and you can prove to everyone that you can dominate on the world stage.

“You can expect to see some future stars, and you can expect to see some future greats. And you can claim that you saw them first.”

The ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup in South Africa will begin on 19 January with the final set to be played on 11 February.

The ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2024 lies just ten days away, and preparations are in full flow as South Africa gears up to host the very best young cricketers in the world from 19 January.

The 15^th edition of the celebrated event will see 41 matches take place across 24 days of competition, with five host venues staging the action; Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein, Kimberley Oval in Kimberley, JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom, Buffalo Park in East London and Willowmoore Park in Benoni – the venue selected to host the semi-finals and final encounter on 11 February.

Fans wanting to catch a glimpse of the next generation of cricket superstars can do so for free throughout the tournament, and the thrilling action of the U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup will be accompanied by a vibrant festival atmosphere at grounds, with braai areas, kids’ entertainment featuring jumping castles, face painting and more, live music offerings and a mini-cricket area for young fans to show off their own budding talents, ensuring a truly memorable experience for all.

With the start of the tournament fast approaching, teams are also entering the final stages of their preparations, and warm-up fixtures are set to take place across venues in Johannesburg and Pretoria between 13 and 17 January with spectators welcome to catch every ball, live.

Each team will play two warm-up fixtures before the main event commences on 19 January, and the opening round of fixtures offers plenty of drama and excitement as a host of rivals meet to start their World Cup campaigns.

Opening day (19 January) will see Potchefstroom host South Africa’s opening match against another former U19 champion, West Indies.

The young Proteas, led by captain David Teeger will be eager to start with a victory, and there is no shortage of excitement amongst the group.

South Africa U19 skipper Teeger: “The team and I cannot wait for the World Cup to start. The opportunity to play in such an esteemed tournament is a real honour and we are really excited to represent our country.

“With it being a home World Cup, it really is a once in a lifetime experience and we cannot wait to do the Mzansi nation proud.”

Ireland and USA go head-to-head in Bloemfontein also on opening day before India start the defence of their crown against Bangladesh at the same venue a day later on 20 January, in a repeat of the 2020 final. Both captains are looking forward to getting their campaigns off to a positive start.

India U19 captain Uday Saharan: “Our preparation has been intense, and the team has been working tirelessly to fine-tune every aspect of our game. We understand the challenges that come with representing our country at this level, but the excitement within the squad is palpable.

“The prospect of competing against the best U19 teams from around the world is both thrilling and motivating. We have a great blend of talent, determination, and team spirit, and we are looking forward to embracing the competition and giving our best on the field.”

Bangladesh U19 captain Mahfuzur Rahman Rabby: “We are very excited. Most players at this age level get one opportunity to participate in a U19 World Cup and we want to make this event a memorable one. We don’t have to look far for inspiration. We became Asian champions only last month and four years ago our predecessors won the World Cup.

“We will go there to win the World Cup. Bangladesh has done that before and there is no reason why we can’t carry the momentum from the Asia Cup to South Africa.”

Two further rivals lock horns on 20 January, as finalists from the previous edition England take on Scotland in Potchefstroom and Pakistan and Afghanistan meet in East London.

England U19 captain Ben McKinney: “This is the first U19 World Cup for all the players, and we want to show how exciting we are as a team.

“We want to showcase our skills and impose ourselves on each and every game, with an overall aim to go on and to win the tournament.”

Scotland U19 captain Owen Gould: “We are absolutely buzzing…It’s a huge honour to be representing Scotland. It’ll really sink in when we take to the pitch in the first game. Even to be playing in the qualifiers last summer was special, but this is just the next level up.

“That first England game is the big one. The rivalry, and it being the first game of the tournament… I think we’ll all be buzzing for it.”

Afghanistan U19 captain Naseer Khan Maroof Khil: “Including me, all the boys are very enthusiastic and committed. No doubt, it is an outstanding learning platform to show our talent and skills to the world.

“As we got to the semi-finals last time, the boys are eager to get to the final this time and win the trophy for the country.”

The full fixture schedule infographic can be found by clicking here. All matches in the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup will start at 10h00 local time (SAST).

Warm-up fixtures

Saturday 13 January

USA v Namibia, Tuks Oval, Pretoria

India v Australia, TUT Oval, Pretoria

South Africa v Pakistan, St Stithians, Johannesburg

Nepal v Scotland, Braamfischer Oval, Johannesburg

Sunday 14 January

Ireland v Zimbabwe, Tuks Oval, Pretoria

Bangladesh v Sri Lanka, TUT Oval, Pretoria

England v Afghanistan, St Stithians, Johannesburg

New Zealand v West Indies, Braamfischer Oval, Johannesburg

Tuesday 16 January

Namibia v Ireland, Tuks Oval, Pretoria

Zimbabwe v USA, TUT Oval, Pretoria

West Indies v Nepal, St Stithians, Johannesburg

South Africa v Afghanistan, Braamfischer Oval, Johannesburg

Wednesday 17 January

Sri Lanka v India, Tuks Oval, Pretoria

Australia v Bangladesh, TUT Oval, Pretoria

Scotland v New Zealand, St Stithians, Johannesburg

Pakistan v England, Braamfischer Oval, Johannesburg

Paarl, 09 January 2024: SA20 franchise Paarl Royals today announced the signings of South African duo of Keith Dudgeon and Nqaba Peter as replacement players for the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup-bound Lhuandre Pretorius and Kwena Maphaka.

A bowling all-rounder, 28-year-old Dudgeon hails from Gauteng, and has 217 wickets in First Class cricket, 70 wickets in List A, along with 22 scalps in 17 T20 games at an economy of 7.89. He currently represents KwaZulu-Natal Inland in the domestic circuit, and has joined the Royals squad in Paarl ahead of the upcoming season in place of top-order batter Lhuandre Pretorius, who has become an integral part of the South African U19 team.

Young pacer Kwena Maphaka is the Rookie signing who won’t be featuring for the Royals this season as he is also serving the South African U19 team. The 17-year-old has been replaced by 21-year-old spinner Nqaba Peter, who represents the Lions in domestic cricket. The leg-spinner made his List A debut in September 2023, and has since picked up 3 wickets in four games for the Lions, along 2 wickets in his young domestic T20 career.

Paarl Royals welcomes the duo to the Royals Family for the upcoming 2024 season of the SA20. The franchise would like to wish Lhuandre Pretorius and Kwena Maphaka the very best for the upcoming ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup campaign.

The Royals will kickstart their SA20 season on Friday, 12th January 2024 at Boland Park against Pretoria Capitals.

Tickets for Paarl Royals’ home matches are available here.

Abu Dhabi, 9 January 2024: One of the players to watch out for in the upcoming International League T20 is young bowling all-rounder Aayan Khan, who will turn out for the Adani Sportsline-owned Gulf Giants for a second season running. Aayan, who made history in the T20 World Cup 2022 by becoming the youngest player to play at the tournament at the age of just 16, was also a part of the Gulf Giants team that won the trophy the first time around. The youngster is ready to help the Adani Sportsline-owned side retain the ILT20 Trophy.

“It feels great to be playing for the Gulf Giants in the second season of the ILT20, especially after winning the first season of the tournament. Having already won the trophy, retaining it is the main objective for season 2 of the mega cricket extravaganza. This team plays like a family. Hence, the first season was a remarkable one. We enjoyed every moment,” he told the media in an interaction.

In a squad with multiple international talents, one player whom the spinner is keen on working with is Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb-Ur-Rahman. “One player I am very excited to be playing with is the Afghanistan spinner, Mujeeb Ur Rahman. He is a great spinner. I expect to learn a lot from him, especially if he is in form.”

At the same time, he also looks forward to sharing the dressing room with some of the biggest names in Caribbean cricket as well. “There are two players from the West Indies — Dominic Drakes and Carlos Braithwaite — I have played with them in other leagues as well. So, the bond that I have with these players is very good. I have learnt a lot from these players while sharing the dressing room with them. In T20s, they have a very good name and I am excited to be playing another season with them,” shared an excited Aayan.

Concluding his conversation, the spinner wants to translate his form in the last few months and take his team to the next level. He also credited the improvement of the UAE side and sees a bright future for the sport in the country. “I want to give my 100% in every match and make a name for myself. This is my aim with both the national team and with the Adani Sportsline owned Gulf Giants. I have been playing very well for the last year and I hope to continue this form heading into season two of the ILT20.”

“The future of cricket in the UAE is very bright. The grounds and training facilities have improved massively, and we can see many young players coming out of UAE in the future. Earlier, as you can see we reached the U19 Asia Cup final, which itself is a sign of the bright future of the sport in the country,” he added.