The U-19 World Cup 2022 is about to get underway. Ahead of the 2022 edition of the mega event, the International Cricket Council has shared some photos and videos from the previous editions of the U-19 World Cup. The ICC also formed an all-time best XI comprising the top performers in the tournament’s history. Interestingly, they did not name 2008 U-19 World Cup-winning captain Virat Kohli as the skipper of the team.
In a post titled Then vs. Now Upstox Best XI, ICC picked the duo of Pakistan captain Babar Azam and the Indian Test skipper Virat Kohli as the openers. The star-studded middle-order comprised the former Australian cricket team captain Steve Smith and current New Zealand cricket team skipper Kane Williamson. ICC picked Williamson as the skipper of this playing XI. It is tough to understand how the selectors picked the skipper of this unique team.
The next three names on the team were from Sri Lanka, England and West Indies. Sri Lankan batter Dinesh Chandimal will bat at number five along with keeping the wickets for the team. Eoin Morgan, who played for Ireland in the U-19 World Cup and performed exceptionally well, will play the finisher’s role along with Caribbean batter Shimron Hetmyer.
The bowling department of the team comprises a player each from Bangladesh, England, Pakistan and South Africa. The team selectors did not consider Ravindra Jadeja who played for India in two U-19 World Cups. Instead, they went with Mehidy Hasan Miraz. The team has three pace bowlers, namely Chris Woakes, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Kagiso Rabada.
ICC U-19 World Cup Then & Now Best XI
Here is the full team: Babar Azam, Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Kane Williamson (c), Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Eoin Morgan, Shimron Hetmyer, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Chris Woakes, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Kagiso Rabada.
