Group D of the ICC U19 Men\u2019s Cricket World Cup 2026 contains two former champions, as West Indies and South Africa both look to chase another crown alongside Afghanistan and tournament debutants Tanzania.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
South Africa won their only title in 2014 and reached the semi-finals two years ago as hosts. They are joined by 2016 champions West Indies, who narrowly missed out on a semi-final place in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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 U19 Men\u2019s Cricket World Cup bow in Zimbabwe and Namibia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Afghanistan<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Afghanistan made their ICC Men\u2019s U19 Cricket World Cup debut in 2010 but have been ever-present since and have reached the knockouts on four occasions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recent results saw a group stage exit at the U19 Men\u2019s Asia Cup in December despite some strong batting performances from Uzairullah Niazai and Faisal Khan, who hit 103 against Bangladesh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n South Africa<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, it is an entirely new squad that heads into the 2026 edition led by all-rounder Muhammad Bulbulia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tanzania<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n West Indies<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Two members of the 2024 squad remain, with Joshua Dorne stepping up to the captaincy and Jewel Andrew also returning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dorne led the West Indies during their recent Youth ODI series against Sri Lanka and England, where he impressed with the bat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Andrew became West Indies\u2019 youngest ODI player when he made his debut against Sri Lanka in 2024 and will be hoping to use that experience at age-group level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fixtures<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 15 January \u2013 Tanzania v West Indies<\/p>\n\n\n\n 16 January \u2013 Afghanistan v South Africa<\/p>\n\n\n\n 18 January \u2013 Afghanistan v West Indies<\/p>\n\n\n\n 19 January \u2013 South Africa v Tanzania<\/p>\n\n\n\n 21 January \u2013 Afghanistan v Tanzania<\/p>\n\n\n\n 22 January \u2013 South Africa v West Indies<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Group D of the ICC U19 Men\u2019s Cricket World Cup 2026 contains two former champions, as West Indies<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7881,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[69],"class_list":["post-7880","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newsbeat","tag-cricket"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t
Two-time semi-finalists Afghanistan will be aiming to reach those heights once more after a disappointing first round exit in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tanzania battled past 13 other nations to reach their first-ever ICC U19 Men\u2019s Cricket World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 2016 champions have an impressive historical record at ICC U19 Men\u2019s Cricket World Cups, but it has been a decade since they reached the knockout stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n