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The West Indies will kick off their campaign at the  ICC U-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026 against Tanzania in Group D action at the High Performance Oval in Namibia on Thursday, January 15.

West Indies, winners in 2016, are drawn in Group D alongside debutant Tanzania, South Africa and Afghanistan.

Sixteen teams, divided into four groups, will be competing with Australia, the defending champions, as Namibia and Zimbabwe co-host the 18^th edition of the  50-over tournament.

The top three teams from each group will advance to the Super Six stage before the semi-final and final to be held in Harare, Zimbabwe.

The teams participating are Bangladesh, India, New Zealand, United States of America, England, Pakistan, Scotland, Zimbabwe, Australia, Ireland, Japan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, South Africa, Tanzania and the West Indies.

Both the West Indies and Tanzania are entering the competition with good wins in warm-up games. West Indies were victorious over Japan by 229 runs, while Tanzania clinched a nail-biting encounter with Ireland by one wicket, recovering from 21 for six to chase 198.

Two former champions, West Indies (2016) and South Africa (2014), are in Group D and are fancied to advance to the Sup Six stage.

Afghanistan have twice reached the semi-finals, in 2018 and 2022, but made an early exit last time out, while Tanzania will make their ICC U-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup bow. Two-time semi-finalists Afghanistan will be aiming to reach those heights once more after a disappointing first-round exit in 2024.

West Indies
The 2016 champions have an impressive historical record at ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cups, but it has been a decade since they reached the knockout stages.

That was when they won the tournament thanks to an impressive five-wicket victory over India, and they will hope for similar results this time around should they successfully navigate Group D.

Two members of the 2024 squad remain, with Joshua Dorne stepping up to the captaincy and Jewel Andrew also returning.

Dorne led the West Indies during their recent Youth ODI series against Sri Lanka and England, where he impressed with the bat.

Andrew became the West Indies’ youngest ODI player when he made his debut against Sri Lanka in 2024 and will be hoping to use that experience at the age-group level. Elsewhere, Jakeem Pollard and Shaquan Belle both impressed with the ball against England and Sri Lanka, while vice-captain Jonathan van Lange is another big hitter in the middle order.

Afghanistan

Three defeats from three meant Afghanistan departed at the group stage in South Africa, but they boast a pedigree that means they will be a threat to challenge at the right end once again in 2026.

Afghanistan made their ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup debut in 2010 but have been ever-present since and have reached the knockouts on four occasions.

Recent results saw a group stage exit at the U19 Men’s Asia Cup in December despite some strong batting performances from Uzairullah Niazai and Faisal Khan, who hit 103 against Bangladesh.

Wicketkeeper Mahboob Khan will captain the side, while Nooristani Omarzai and Zaitullah Shaheen will be charged with taking wickets for a squad featuring no players from two years ago.

South Africa

After narrowly missing out on a home final in 2024, South Africa make the short trip to Zimbabwe and Namibia determined to go at least one better.

The hosts lost by two wickets to India two years ago despite impressive performances from Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Kwena Maphaka, who were both named in the team of the tournament.

However, it is an entirely new squad that heads into the 2026 edition led by all-rounder Muhammad Bulbulia. Bulbulia was captain and wicketkeeper as South Africa reached the final of the Tri-Nations tournament in August, eventually losing to Bangladesh in the decider.

The majority of that squad has been retained for the World Cup, with Jorich van Schalkwyk and Adnaan Lagadien tasked with providing the batting platform. Bandile Mbatha will lead the bowling attack alongside Ntandoyenkosi Soni and Bayanda Majola as South Africa look to earn a first title in over a decade.

Tanzania
Tanzania battled past 13 other nations to reach their first-ever ICC U-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup.

They first had to earn a place in the main Africa qualification tournament before going unbeaten to seal their spot in Zimbabwe and Namibia in style. Those results mean there is plenty of excitement ahead of their first World Cup, where they will face sides from outside of Africa for the first time.

Captain Laksh Bakrania will lead from the front with both bat and ball, finishing as the top run-scorer during qualification as well as chipping in with regular wickets.

Already a senior international, the 18-year-old left-hander previously earned headlines as a 14-year-old when he took five for 28 against Namibia. Pacer Khalidy Amiri will lead the bowling attack alongside Hamza Ally and Raymond Francis, while Acrey Pascal and Agustino Mwamele provide batting firepower throughout the order.

Fixtures

• 15 January – Tanzania v West Indies
• 16 January – Afghanistan v South Africa
• 18 January – Afghanistan v West Indies
• 19 January – South Africa v Tanzania
• 21 January – Afghanistan v Tanzania
• 22 January – South Africa v West Indies