The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming Men’s U19 World Cup, set to be hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia from January 15, 2026.
Captain and Vice-Captain
Somerset wicketkeeper-batter Thomas Rew, who recently participated in the England Lions tour of Australia, will lead the team as captain for the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup. Nottinghamshire all-rounder Farhan Ahmed, who served as captain during Rew’s absence in the seven-match Youth ODI series against West Indies in Grenada, continues to hold the position of vice-captain. Uncapped Leicestershire left-arm spinner Ali Farooq has received his first selection for the Young Lions.
Coach’s Statement
England Men U19s Head Coach, Mike Yardy, stated, “This is an amazing opportunity for the players we have selected to not only wear an England shirt at a World Cup but also to go out and try and do something special. We have a balanced squad with a core group of players who already have county experience and who have developed a camaraderie while playing together for the U19s that will serve them well during the tournament. I really want the players to enjoy the opportunity to play at a World Cup, in a beautiful country like Zimbabwe, and to embrace the chance to compete against different countries and show their quality.”
Group Schedule
The English side will be located in Zimbabwe and is placed in Group C of the 16-team tournament. They will commence their campaign with a match against Pakistan in Harare on Friday, January 16, followed by games against co-hosts Zimbabwe and Scotland on January 18 and 21.
The top three nations from each of the four groups will advance to the ‘Super Six’ stage, with the final match scheduled to take place at Harare Sports Club on Friday, February 6.
England’s Squad for the U19 World Cup:
- Thomas Rew (c)
- Farhan Ahmed
- Ralphie Albert
- Ben Dawkins
- Caleb Falconer
- Ali Farooq
- Alex French
- Alex Green
- Luke Hands
- Manny Lumsden
- Ben Mayes
- James Minto
- Isaac Mohammed
- Joe Moores
- Sebastian Morgan