Dubai: After thoroughly dominating the recently concluded U-19 World Cup, five Indians find themselves in the ICC U-19 World Cup team which was announced by the International Cricket Council on Sunday.
The Prithvi Shaw led team remained unbeaten throughout the tournament and defeated Australia by eight wickets in the final in Mount Maunganui on Saturday to lift their fourth U-19 title.
The top three batsmen in the Indian batting order- Prithvi Shaw (261 runs), Manjot Kalra (252 runs) and Player of the Tournament Shubman Gill (372 runs) feature in the same batting positions in the world team as well.
The other two Indians to make it to the team are left-arm spinner Anukul Roy (14 wickets) and Kamlesh Nagarkoti (9 wickets).
A five person selection panel comprising of former West Indies’ fast bowler Ian Bishop, former Indian women’s captain Anjum Chopra, former New Zealand skipper Jeff Crowe, former Australian all-rounder Tom Moody and journalist Shashank Kishore picked the world team.
South African skipper Raynard Van Tonder was named as the captain of the side which has players from six countries. Van Tonder’s better understanding of the game gave him an edge over there captains according to an ICC statement. He also ended the tournament with 348 runs in six matches with a highest score of 143 against Kenya.
South Africa’s title hopes came to an end following a loss to Pakistan in the quarter-finals but finished fifth in the competition, beating Bangladesh in a play-off, where Van Tonder scored an unbeaten 82.
The other South Africans to feature in the world team are wicket-keeper Wandile Makwetu and pacer Gerald Coetzee. Wandile scored some useful runs besides having a total of 11 victims in the tournament. Coetzee finished the competition with eight wickets.
Kiwi batsman Finn Allen with 338 runs in the tournament also made it to the world team alongside Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Afridi (12 wickets) and Afghanistan leggie Qais Ahmad (14 wickets). West Indies batsman Alick Athanaze, who finished as the highest run-getter in the tournament with 418 runs which included centuries against Sri Lanka and Kenya was picked as the 12th man.
The ICC U-19 World Cup team:
Prithvi Shaw (India), Manjot Kalra (India), Shubman Gill (India), Finn Allen (New Zealand), Raynard van Tonder (South Africa, captain), Wandile Makwetu (wicket-keeper) (South Africa), Anukul Roy (India), Kamlesh Nagarkoti (India), Gerald Coetzee (South Africa), Qais Ahmad (Afghanistan), Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan).
12th man: Alick Athanaze (West Indies).