Sri Lanka cricket has been handed a major jolt after&nbsp;the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday (Nov 21) stripped it of the rights to host the U-19 World Cup in 2024. Already under the scanner after being sanctioned by the ICC for government involvement in the board operations, this will be a major setback for the board. However, in some relief, they will still continue to participate in the ICC tournaments and also play scheduled bilateral series.

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<h2>Sri Lanka cricket sanctioned</h2>

With the board operation already in chaos, ICC on Tuesday decided to nominate South Africa as the host for the 2024 junior version of the World Cup. They were the hosts in 2020 while India are the defending champions in the tournament having tasted victory in February 2022. The chaos in Sri Lankan cricket started after Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe sacked the entire board after the team’s dismal show in the ODI World Cup in India.

Sri Lanka suffered a terrible exit in the ODI World Cup after they finished ninth in the ODI World Cup held in India. This was also a big spanner in the work for the nation as it&nbsp;missed out on direct qualification to the 2025 Champions Trophy. They won only two matches&nbsp;while suffering disappointing defeats against Afghanistan and India.

In other news, the ICC has now approved new gender eligibility regulations whereby any male or female participant who has been through any form of male puberty will not be allowed to participate in the international women's game. This will see transgender athletes banned from participating in women’s games to safeguard their interests.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/staggering-record-125-million-fans-attended-odi-world-cup-reveals-icc-661072">STAGGERING! Record 1.25 million fans attended ODI World Cup, reveals ICC</a>

<h2>ICC bans transgender athletes</h2>

"The changes to the gender eligibility regulations resulted from an extensive consultation process and are founded in science and aligned with the core principles developed during the review.

"Inclusivity is incredibly important to us as a sport, but our priority was to protect the integrity of the international women's game and the safety of players,” ICC CEO Geoff Allardice after the meet.

The review before taking the decision was led by the ICC Medical Advisory Committee chaired by Dr Peter Harcourt and his team and is bound for international contests only. The sanctions of the ICC are not bound to individual board members and imposing of them solely depends on each member.

Sri Lanka cricket has been handed a major jolt after the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday (Nov 21) stripped it of the rights to host the U-19 World Cup in 2024.

Sri Lanka cricket has been handed a major jolt after the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday (Nov 21) stripped it of the rights to host the U-19 World Cup in 2024. Already under the scanner after being sanctioned by the ICC for government involvement in the board operations, this will be a major setback for the board. However, in some relief, they will still continue to participate in the ICC tournaments and also play scheduled bilateral series. ICC Board announce new hosts for Men's U19 Cricket World Cup 2024 👀 More ⬇️ — ICC (@ICC) November 21, 2023 × Sri Lanka cricket sanctioned With the board operation already in chaos, ICC on Tuesday decided to nominate South Africa as the host for the 2024 junior version of the World Cup. They were the hosts in 2020 while India are the defending champions in the tournament having tasted victory in February 2022. The chaos in Sri Lankan cricket started after Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe sacked the entire board after the team’s dismal show in the ODI World Cup in India. Sri Lanka suffered a terrible exit in the ODI World Cup after they finished ninth in the ODI World Cup held in India. This was also a big spanner in the work for the nation as it missed out on direct qualification to the 2025 Champions Trophy. They won only two matches while suffering disappointing defeats against Afghanistan and India. In other news, the ICC has now approved new gender eligibility regulations whereby any male or female participant who has been through any form of male puberty will not be allowed to participate in the international women's game. This will see transgender athletes banned from participating in women’s games to safeguard their interests. ALSO READ | STAGGERING! Record 1.25 million fans attended ODI World Cup, reveals ICC ICC bans transgender athletes "The changes to the gender eligibility regulations resulted from an extensive consultation process and are founded in science and aligned with the core principles developed during the review. "Inclusivity is incredibly important to us as a sport, but our priority was to protect the integrity of the international women's game and the safety of players,” ICC CEO Geoff Allardice after the meet. The review before taking the decision was led by the ICC Medical Advisory Committee chaired by Dr Peter Harcourt and his team and is bound for international contests only. The sanctions of the ICC are not bound to individual board members and imposing of them solely depends on each member.

Sri Lanka lose hosting rights for 2024 U-19 World Cup after ICC sanctions; South Africa to be new host

Virat Kohli to Yash Dhull: Indian captains who have lifted the U-19 World Cup trophy

The Yash Dhull-led India U-19 team will be looking to maintain India's dominance in the ongoing ICC U-19 World Cup 2022 when they lock horns with England in the high-pressure final on Saturday. Both India and England have been unbeaten so far in the competition and will be looking to clinch the trophy by winning the summit clash.

The blockbuster final will be played in Antigua. Ahead of the big clash, former India captain Virat Kohli interacted with the members of the Indian U-19 team and lifted their morale. Kohli, who is a U-19 World Cup-winning captain himself, shared 'valuable tips' with the youngsters and motivated them to give their all in the final.

India U-19 skipper Yash Dhull revealed what Kohli told him and his teammates ahead of the final. Speaking at the pre-match press conference ahead of the final against England, Dhull said it was nice to have Kohli speak with the squad.

"Virat Kohli gave us his best wishes for the final. We got confidence from that, the morale increases when a senior player like him talks to you. He told us how we can execute our plans and he told us about the basics of the game, it was a nice interaction with him," Dhull told reporters during a virtual presser.

India have been one of the most successful teams in the history of the U-19 World Cup with eight final appearances and four trophies under their belt. Kohli had led India to a title triumph at the 2008 showpiece event. Dhull &amp; Co. will be looking to extend India's dominance further in the competition and clinch a record-extending fifth title on Saturday.

India are heading into the final on the back of a huge win against Australia U-19 in the semi-final. India rode on a magnificent century from skipper Dhull, who scored 110 runs off 110 balls to help the team post a strong total of 290 runs in fifty overs.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/yash-dhull-and-co-on-course-to-extend-indias-undisputed-dominance-at-u-19-world-cup-450567">Yash Dhull and Co. On course to extend India's undisputed dominance at U-19 World Cup</a>

Indian bowlers continued their good show in the tournament as Vicky Ostwal picked up a three-wicket haul, while Nishant Sindhu and Ravi Kumar shared four wickets between them to bundle out Australia for 194 runs in 41.5 overs and help India secure a comfortable win.

India will be looking to maintain their unbeaten run when they take on England in the final on Saturday. Dhull said the team's spirit is high and they are looking forward to locking horns with England in the summit clash.

"The morale is high, everyone is excited about the game. We will enter the contest with a positive frame of mind. England played a close match against Afghanistan, we will make our own game plans. We will look to carry our form into the final. Our spinners are nice, we will look to execute our plans," Dhull said.

&nbsp;

The Yash Dhull-led India U-19 team will be looking to maintain India's dominance in the ongoing ICC U-19 World Cup 2022 when they lock horns with England in the high-pressure final on Saturday.

The Yash Dhull-led India U-19 team will be looking to maintain India's dominance in the ongoing ICC U-19 World Cup 2022 when they lock horns with England in the high-pressure final on Saturday. Both India and England have been unbeaten so far in the competition and will be looking to clinch the trophy by winning the summit clash. The blockbuster final will be played in Antigua. Ahead of the big clash, former India captain Virat Kohli interacted with the members of the Indian U-19 team and lifted their morale. Kohli, who is a U-19 World Cup-winning captain himself, shared 'valuable tips' with the youngsters and motivated them to give their all in the final. India U-19 skipper Yash Dhull revealed what Kohli told him and his teammates ahead of the final. Speaking at the pre-match press conference ahead of the final against England, Dhull said it was nice to have Kohli speak with the squad. "Virat Kohli gave us his best wishes for the final. We got confidence from that, the morale increases when a senior player like him talks to you. He told us how we can execute our plans and he told us about the basics of the game, it was a nice interaction with him," Dhull told reporters during a virtual presser. India have been one of the most successful teams in the history of the U-19 World Cup with eight final appearances and four trophies under their belt. Kohli had led India to a title triumph at the 2008 showpiece event. Dhull & Co. will be looking to extend India's dominance further in the competition and clinch a record-extending fifth title on Saturday. India are heading into the final on the back of a huge win against Australia U-19 in the semi-final. India rode on a magnificent century from skipper Dhull, who scored 110 runs off 110 balls to help the team post a strong total of 290 runs in fifty overs. Also Read: Yash Dhull and Co. On course to extend India's undisputed dominance at U-19 World Cup Indian bowlers continued their good show in the tournament as Vicky Ostwal picked up a three-wicket haul, while Nishant Sindhu and Ravi Kumar shared four wickets between them to bundle out Australia for 194 runs in 41.5 overs and help India secure a comfortable win. India will be looking to maintain their unbeaten run when they take on England in the final on Saturday. Dhull said the team's spirit is high and they are looking forward to locking horns with England in the summit clash. "The morale is high, everyone is excited about the game. We will enter the contest with a positive frame of mind. England played a close match against Afghanistan, we will make our own game plans. We will look to carry our form into the final. Our spinners are nice, we will look to execute our plans," Dhull said.

Skipper Yash Dhull reveals what Virat Kohli told the Indian team ahead of U-19 WC final against England

The Yash Dhull-led Indian&nbsp;team will square off with Australia in the ICC U-19 World Cup, in West Indies, on Wednesday (February 02). It will be the second semi-final clash of the marquee tournament as both sides will compete to enter the finale, where England have already made the cut.

Talking about the form of both sides, the Indian team have been on a roll from the start of the showpiece event.&nbsp;&nbsp;Having beaten South Africa by 45 runs in their tournament-opener, the Indian team thrashed Ireland and Uganda before beating the Bangladesh side, last edition's winners, in the quarters to enter the last four. India will feel confident facing the Aussies, having got the better of them in the warm-ups.

Australia, on the other hand, have also been dominant although not as much as their semi-final opponents. The Men in Yellow have lost one encounter, versus Sri Lanka, but beat the likes of West Indies, Scotland and Pakistan (in the quarters).

Overall, a riveting encounter is on the cards between two marquee teams.

India vs Australia U-19 World Cup match live streaming details -&nbsp;Everything to know:&nbsp;

Where is the ICC U19 World Cup 2022 match between India vs Australia taking place?

The ICC U19 World Cup 2022 match between India vs Australia match will be held&nbsp;at the&nbsp;Coolidge Cricket Ground,&nbsp;Antigua.

What time does the ICC U19 World Cup 2022 match between India vs Australia&nbsp;begin?

The ICC U19 World Cup 2022 match between India vs Australia gets underway at 06:30 PM IST (9:00 AM local time)&nbsp;on Wednesday (February&nbsp;2).

How to watch live coverage of the ICC U19 World Cup 2022 match between India vs Australia on TV?

The India vs Australia semi-final&nbsp;match will be aired live on the Star Sports Network.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/icc-u19-wc-nishant-sindhu-tests-positive-ahead-of-quarter-final-tie-yash-dhull-sk-rasheed-recover-448610">ICC U19 WC: Nishant Sindhu tests positive ahead of quarter-final tie, Yash Dhull, SK Rasheed recover</a>

How to watch live coverage of the ICC U19 World Cup 2022 match between India vs Australia&nbsp;on&nbsp;live streaming?

The live streaming of&nbsp;India vs Australia semi-final match will be available on the Disney+ Hotstar app and website.

The Yash Dhull-led Indian team will square off with Australia in the ICC U-19 World Cup, in West Indies, on Wednesday (February 02). It will be the second semi-final clash of the marquee tournament as both sides will compete to enter the finale, where England have already made the cut.

The Yash Dhull-led Indian team will square off with Australia in the ICC U-19 World Cup, in West Indies, on Wednesday (February 02). It will be the second semi-final clash of the marquee tournament as both sides will compete to enter the finale, where England have already made the cut. Talking about the form of both sides, the Indian team have been on a roll from the start of the showpiece event. Having beaten South Africa by 45 runs in their tournament-opener, the Indian team thrashed Ireland and Uganda before beating the Bangladesh side, last edition's winners, in the quarters to enter the last four. India will feel confident facing the Aussies, having got the better of them in the warm-ups. Australia, on the other hand, have also been dominant although not as much as their semi-final opponents. The Men in Yellow have lost one encounter, versus Sri Lanka, but beat the likes of West Indies, Scotland and Pakistan (in the quarters). Overall, a riveting encounter is on the cards between two marquee teams. India vs Australia U-19 World Cup match live streaming details - Everything to know: Where is the ICC U19 World Cup 2022 match between India vs Australia taking place? The ICC U19 World Cup 2022 match between India vs Australia match will be held at the Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua. What time does the ICC U19 World Cup 2022 match between India vs Australia begin? The ICC U19 World Cup 2022 match between India vs Australia gets underway at 06:30 PM IST (9:00 AM local time) on Wednesday (February 2). How to watch live coverage of the ICC U19 World Cup 2022 match between India vs Australia on TV? The India vs Australia semi-final match will be aired live on the Star Sports Network. ALSO READ | ICC U19 WC: Nishant Sindhu tests positive ahead of quarter-final tie, Yash Dhull, SK Rasheed recover How to watch live coverage of the ICC U19 World Cup 2022 match between India vs Australia on live streaming? The live streaming of India vs Australia semi-final match will be available on the Disney+ Hotstar app and website.

When and where to watch India vs Aus U-19 WC semi-final clash live online? - IST time, streaming details

Young Indian cricketer Nishant Sindhu has tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of the match against Bangladesh in the ongoing Under-19 World Cup. However, all other players who were COVID-19 positive earlier have now recovered and are available for the quarterfinal match against Bangladesh.

"Nishant Sindhu has tested positive for COVID-19 but all the members that had tested positive earlier have now recovered and are all available for the quarterfinal against Bangladesh," a source in known development told ANI. Last week, on the gameday against Ireland, the BCCI had informed that four India players tested positive for COVID-19, including skipper Yash Dhull and vice-captain SK Rasheed.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/icc-u-19-wc-india-hit-by-covid-crisis-as-skipper-yash-dhull-and-five-others-test-positive-miss-ireland-tie-446028">ICC U-19 WC: India hit by Covid crisis as skipper Yash Dhull and five others test positive, miss Ireland tie</a>

While two more players were showing symptoms and they had undergone RT-PCR tests. As a result, six players were sent into isolation and India had to field a depleted side in the game against Ireland.Coming to the match, defending champions Bangladesh`s passage was not quite as stress-free, with the defending 2020 champions recovering from losing their opening game to England to finish second in Group A.

An eight-wicket win over Canada was followed by a nine-wicket triumph (DLS) in a rain-interrupted game against UAE to set up a rematch of the final two years ago.And while India will fancy avenging their three-wicket defeat in the 2020 showpiece, Bangladesh is finding their stride at just the right time to set the stage for an epic battle.&nbsp;

Young Indian cricketer Nishant Sindhu has tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of the match against Bangladesh in the ongoing Under-19 World Cup. However, all other players who were COVID-19 positive earlier have now recovered and are available for the quarterfinal match against Bangladesh.

Young Indian cricketer Nishant Sindhu has tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of the match against Bangladesh in the ongoing Under-19 World Cup. However, all other players who were COVID-19 positive earlier have now recovered and are available for the quarterfinal match against Bangladesh. "Nishant Sindhu has tested positive for COVID-19 but all the members that had tested positive earlier have now recovered and are all available for the quarterfinal against Bangladesh," a source in known development told ANI. Last week, on the gameday against Ireland, the BCCI had informed that four India players tested positive for COVID-19, including skipper Yash Dhull and vice-captain SK Rasheed. ALSO READ | ICC U-19 WC: India hit by Covid crisis as skipper Yash Dhull and five others test positive, miss Ireland tie While two more players were showing symptoms and they had undergone RT-PCR tests. As a result, six players were sent into isolation and India had to field a depleted side in the game against Ireland.Coming to the match, defending champions Bangladesh`s passage was not quite as stress-free, with the defending 2020 champions recovering from losing their opening game to England to finish second in Group A. An eight-wicket win over Canada was followed by a nine-wicket triumph (DLS) in a rain-interrupted game against UAE to set up a rematch of the final two years ago.And while India will fancy avenging their three-wicket defeat in the 2020 showpiece, Bangladesh is finding their stride at just the right time to set the stage for an epic battle.

ICC U19 WC: Nishant Sindhu tests positive ahead of quarter-final tie, Yash Dhull, SK Rasheed recover

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Divyaansh Saxena guided India to a comfortable ten wickets win over Pakistan in the ICC U19 World Cup semifinal at Senwes Park on Tuesday and progressed to the final of the tournament.

Chasing 173, Indian openers Jaiswal and Saxena played cautiously and stitched an unbeaten partnership of 176 runs.

The duo built the highest opening partnership of the tournament's history. Jaiswal, the left-handed batsman, scored his maiden century of the tournament as he amassed unbeaten 105 runs studded with eight fours and four sixes.

Saxena scored 59* off 99 balls including six fours. India chased down the total in 35.2 overs. This is the first time in the history of the U19 World Cup that a team won a knockout match by ten wickets.

Earlier, Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat. Opener Haider Ali and skipper Rohail Nazir's half-centuries guided the side to a respectable total of 172. Ali played a knock of 56 runs while Nazir accumulated 62 runs including six boundaries.

Pakistan did not have a good start as they lost Mohammad Hurair (4) in the second over. Fahad Munir, came to bat at number three, failed to score a single run and was departed by Ravi Bishnoi on a duck in ninth over.

Apart from Ali and Nazir, Mohammad Haris was the only batsman to score runs in double digits. He played an innings of 21 runs off 15 balls. Indian bowlers showed a spirited performance as they bowled out arch-rival in 43.1 overs.

Pacers Karthik Tyagi and Sushant Mishra bagged two and three wickets respectively. Spinner Ravi Bishnoi clinched two scalps and conceded 46 runs in his ten overs.

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Divyaansh Saxena guided India to a comfortable ten wickets win over Pakistan in the ICC U19 World Cup semifinal at Senwes Park on Tuesday and progressed to the final of the tournament.

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Divyaansh Saxena guided India to a comfortable ten wickets win over Pakistan in the ICC U19 World Cup semifinal at Senwes Park on Tuesday and progressed to the final of the tournament. Chasing 173, Indian openers Jaiswal and Saxena played cautiously and stitched an unbeaten partnership of 176 runs. The duo built the highest opening partnership of the tournament's history. Jaiswal, the left-handed batsman, scored his maiden century of the tournament as he amassed unbeaten 105 runs studded with eight fours and four sixes. Saxena scored 59* off 99 balls including six fours. India chased down the total in 35.2 overs. This is the first time in the history of the U19 World Cup that a team won a knockout match by ten wickets. Earlier, Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat. Opener Haider Ali and skipper Rohail Nazir's half-centuries guided the side to a respectable total of 172. Ali played a knock of 56 runs while Nazir accumulated 62 runs including six boundaries. Pakistan did not have a good start as they lost Mohammad Hurair (4) in the second over. Fahad Munir, came to bat at number three, failed to score a single run and was departed by Ravi Bishnoi on a duck in ninth over. Apart from Ali and Nazir, Mohammad Haris was the only batsman to score runs in double digits. He played an innings of 21 runs off 15 balls. Indian bowlers showed a spirited performance as they bowled out arch-rival in 43.1 overs. Pacers Karthik Tyagi and Sushant Mishra bagged two and three wickets respectively. Spinner Ravi Bishnoi clinched two scalps and conceded 46 runs in his ten overs.

India vs Pakistan U19 World Cup 2020, semi final: Jaiswal, Saxena guide India to 10-wicket win over Pakistan in U19 World Cup semifinal

The latest edition of the ICC Under-19 ODI World Cup has begun in New Zealand from the 13th of January amidst a lot of anticipation. After all, this is the one tournament where we get to witness the stars of tomorrow in action and it is always fascinating to observe the young plethora of talent from the world over.

While the tournament is underway, there are a lot of players who are likely to leave a mark. Here is a look at five exciting young talents who will certainly be worth keeping an eye out for in the ICC U-19 World Cup 2018.

Shubman Gill (India)

Although Indian captain Prithwi Shaw is at the centre of all attention in this tournament, another young lad from the team who is likely to leave a mark is Shubman Gill from Punjab. The stylish middle-order batsman first made news when he slammed a majestic 351 off 271 balls in the Punjab Inter-District Under-16 tournament. Carrying his form from there, Gill also scored a double hundred on his Under-16 state debut for Punjab in the Vijay Merchant Trophy soon after. Blessed with a good technique and having a great attacking game, Gill currently averages an astounding 97.76 in Under-19 ODIs. Certainly, there is something about this batsman.

Kamindu Mendis (Sri Lanka)

The Sri Lankan captain is playing his second straight U-19 ODI World Cup and is now well-renowned for his ambidextrous spin bowling skills. Kamindu Mendis can bowl both left and right arm spin and is equally proficient with both. Ever since he first displayed this rare skill in the last World Cup, Mendis has been hot property in Sri Lankan cricket and is being looked as the future bowling star for the country. Mendis is also a solid middle-order batsman and already has four half-centuries in Under-19 ODIs. It will be interesting to see how this ambidextrous spin bowler displays his unique craft in the upcoming tournament.&nbsp;

Baheer Shah (Afghanistan)

If there is one U-19 cricketer this year who has created sensation the world over, it is Afghanistan&rsquo;s Baheer Shah. The 18-year-old commenced his career by slamming a record 256 in his maiden first-class match - the second highest debut score in the format. If one thought this was a fluke, Baheer proved it otherwise by striking a spectacular triple hundred five innings later and, thus, became the second youngest first-class triple centurion. Baheer&rsquo;s first-class average at present is a Bradmanesue 121.77 after 7 matches. With those glittering feats he has already achieved, the young Afghani batsman will surely be under a lot of focus this World Cup.

Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan)

Pakistan&rsquo;s ability to churn fast bowling sensations literally out of nowhere is remarkable. Shaheen Afridi seems to be another one in that burgeoning list. In his very first match in the Quaid-e-Azam trophy, (Pakistan&rsquo;s first-class domestic tournament) Shaheen grabbed a stunning 8-39 &ndash; the best figures by a Pakistani bowler on first-class debut &ndash; that destroyed the opposition. A fan of Pakistani legend Wasim Akram, this left-arm pacer is clearly inspired by his hero and has modeled his action on him and Australian speedster Mitchell Starc. With an ability to bring the ball into the right-handers and getting good pace and bounce, Shaheen Afridi will definitely be a major threat to batsmen this World Cup.&nbsp;

Jason Sangha (Australia)

The Australian team captain in this tournament is a confident young batsman and is the first Indian-origin cricketer to be leading an Australian side. Sangha caught the eye of the selectors with his performance against England in the pre-Ashes tour game in 2016 where he struck a superb hundred and at 18 years and 71 days became the youngest cricketer since Sachin Tendulkar to score a first-class century against England. Sangha&rsquo;s performances throughout the 2015 season were exceptional in youth cricket and he amassed runs in whatever tournament he played in during that phase. His strokeplay is suited for all formats and he has even got a BBL contract from Sydney Thunder. How he leads the Australian side in this World Cup while focusing on his own batting will be intriguing to watch.

The ICC U-19 World Cup has produced real stars of today like Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Kane Williamson, and Hashim Amla, to name a few. With the tournament having gone bigger and attracting more attention now, the pressure to perform on the young stars in the event would be that much more.&nbsp; But the modern game having evolved so much, young cricketers today are truly fearless. The ICC U-19 World Cup 2018 will hence surely be one exhilarating tournament to watch. &nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

The ICC U-19 World Cup has produced real stars of today like Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Kane Williamson, and Hashim Amla, to name a few.

The latest edition of the ICC Under-19 ODI World Cup has begun in New Zealand from the 13th of January amidst a lot of anticipation. After all, this is the one tournament where we get to witness the stars of tomorrow in action and it is always fascinating to observe the young plethora of talent from the world over. While the tournament is underway, there are a lot of players who are likely to leave a mark. Here is a look at five exciting young talents who will certainly be worth keeping an eye out for in the ICC U-19 World Cup 2018. Shubman Gill (India) Although Indian captain Prithwi Shaw is at the centre of all attention in this tournament, another young lad from the team who is likely to leave a mark is Shubman Gill from Punjab. The stylish middle-order batsman first made news when he slammed a majestic 351 off 271 balls in the Punjab Inter-District Under-16 tournament. Carrying his form from there, Gill also scored a double hundred on his Under-16 state debut for Punjab in the Vijay Merchant Trophy soon after. Blessed with a good technique and having a great attacking game, Gill currently averages an astounding 97.76 in Under-19 ODIs. Certainly, there is something about this batsman. Kamindu Mendis (Sri Lanka) The Sri Lankan captain is playing his second straight U-19 ODI World Cup and is now well-renowned for his ambidextrous spin bowling skills. Kamindu Mendis can bowl both left and right arm spin and is equally proficient with both. Ever since he first displayed this rare skill in the last World Cup, Mendis has been hot property in Sri Lankan cricket and is being looked as the future bowling star for the country. Mendis is also a solid middle-order batsman and already has four half-centuries in Under-19 ODIs. It will be interesting to see how this ambidextrous spin bowler displays his unique craft in the upcoming tournament. Baheer Shah (Afghanistan) If there is one U-19 cricketer this year who has created sensation the world over, it is Afghanistan’s Baheer Shah. The 18-year-old commenced his career by slamming a record 256 in his maiden first-class match - the second highest debut score in the format. If one thought this was a fluke, Baheer proved it otherwise by striking a spectacular triple hundred five innings later and, thus, became the second youngest first-class triple centurion. Baheer’s first-class average at present is a Bradmanesue 121.77 after 7 matches. With those glittering feats he has already achieved, the young Afghani batsman will surely be under a lot of focus this World Cup. Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan) Pakistan’s ability to churn fast bowling sensations literally out of nowhere is remarkable. Shaheen Afridi seems to be another one in that burgeoning list. In his very first match in the Quaid-e-Azam trophy, (Pakistan’s first-class domestic tournament) Shaheen grabbed a stunning 8-39 – the best figures by a Pakistani bowler on first-class debut – that destroyed the opposition. A fan of Pakistani legend Wasim Akram, this left-arm pacer is clearly inspired by his hero and has modeled his action on him and Australian speedster Mitchell Starc. With an ability to bring the ball into the right-handers and getting good pace and bounce, Shaheen Afridi will definitely be a major threat to batsmen this World Cup. Jason Sangha (Australia) The Australian team captain in this tournament is a confident young batsman and is the first Indian-origin cricketer to be leading an Australian side. Sangha caught the eye of the selectors with his performance against England in the pre-Ashes tour game in 2016 where he struck a superb hundred and at 18 years and 71 days became the youngest cricketer since Sachin Tendulkar to score a first-class century against England. Sangha’s performances throughout the 2015 season were exceptional in youth cricket and he amassed runs in whatever tournament he played in during that phase. His strokeplay is suited for all formats and he has even got a BBL contract from Sydney Thunder. How he leads the Australian side in this World Cup while focusing on his own batting will be intriguing to watch. The ICC U-19 World Cup has produced real stars of today like Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Kane Williamson, and Hashim Amla, to name a few. With the tournament having gone bigger and attracting more attention now, the pressure to perform on the young stars in the event would be that much more. But the modern game having evolved so much, young cricketers today are truly fearless. The ICC U-19 World Cup 2018 will hence surely be one exhilarating tournament to watch. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

Opinion: Why these 5 cricket stars will shine in ICC U-19 World Cup

Skipper Prithvi Shaw led from the front with a 94-run knock and shared a 180-run stand with fellow opener Manjot Kalra (86) to power India to a challenging 328 for seven against Australia in their ICC Under-19 World Cup match, here today.

The splendid top-order batting vindicated Shaw&#39;s decision to bat in their tournament-opener.

There was no respite for the Australian bowlers even after the departure of Shaw and Kalra with Shubhman Gill tormenting the bowlers with his 63-run knock.

It was not that Shaw and Klara plundered boundaries, instead, they raised their knocks with some stupendous risk- free batting.

Shaw, though, missed out on a century by six runs as he was caught behind off Will Sutherland, son of former Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland.

The Indian captain faced 100 balls and scored eight boundaries, including two sixes in his knock.

His opening partner also missed out on a ton, falling for 86 which came off 99 balls with 12 shots to the fence and on over the ropes.

There were no steady partnerships after their departure even as Gill kept one end solid with his 54-ball knock which had six fours and a six.

The middle order batsmen lost their wickets, trying to accelerate the run-rate as Himanshu Rana (14) and Anukul Roy (6) fell cheaply.

Abhishek Sharma though managed to come up with an 8-ball 23-run cameo which propelled India past the 300-run mark. He hit two sixes and as many fours.

As Indian batsmen looked for some quick runs, Australian medium fast bowler Jack Edwards ended up taking four wickets. It was Edwards, who dismissed Rana and then later added wickets of Abhishek and Shiva Singh (10) to his tally.&nbsp;

The splendid top-order batting vindicated Shaw's decision to bat in their tournament-opener

Skipper Prithvi Shaw led from the front with a 94-run knock and shared a 180-run stand with fellow opener Manjot Kalra (86) to power India to a challenging 328 for seven against Australia in their ICC Under-19 World Cup match, here today. The splendid top-order batting vindicated Shaw's decision to bat in their tournament-opener. There was no respite for the Australian bowlers even after the departure of Shaw and Kalra with Shubhman Gill tormenting the bowlers with his 63-run knock. It was not that Shaw and Klara plundered boundaries, instead, they raised their knocks with some stupendous risk- free batting. Shaw, though, missed out on a century by six runs as he was caught behind off Will Sutherland, son of former Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland. The Indian captain faced 100 balls and scored eight boundaries, including two sixes in his knock. His opening partner also missed out on a ton, falling for 86 which came off 99 balls with 12 shots to the fence and on over the ropes. There were no steady partnerships after their departure even as Gill kept one end solid with his 54-ball knock which had six fours and a six. The middle order batsmen lost their wickets, trying to accelerate the run-rate as Himanshu Rana (14) and Anukul Roy (6) fell cheaply. Abhishek Sharma though managed to come up with an 8-ball 23-run cameo which propelled India past the 300-run mark. He hit two sixes and as many fours. As Indian batsmen looked for some quick runs, Australian medium fast bowler Jack Edwards ended up taking four wickets. It was Edwards, who dismissed Rana and then later added wickets of Abhishek and Shiva Singh (10) to his tally.

U-19 World Cup: Prithvi Shaw hits 94 as top-order fires India to 328/7 against Aussies

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