KEY POINTS
- Rohan Nurse singles out Pakistan trio Minhas, Zaib, and Sayyam as tournament’s exciting talents.
- Pakistan enters the World Cup with confidence following their Asia Cup triumph.
- West Indies coach identifies Pakistan as a strong favorite to reach semi-finals.
WINDHOEK, Namibia: As the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026 gets underway across Zimbabwe and Namibia, a seasoned observer has pinpointed Pakistan’s young stars as ones to watch, labelling the green shirts a serious threat for the title.
West Indies Under-19 head coach and former first-class cricketer Rohan Nurse, highlighted the depth and firepower in the Pakistan squad, tipping them as strong semi-final contenders.
Trio of talent garners praise
Nurse identified three Pakistani players he believes will set the tournament alight. He lauded opening batters Sameer Minhas and Umar Zaib, alongside fast bowler Mohammad Sayyam.
“There are talented players such as Sameer Minhas, young Umar Zaib, and Mohammad Sayyam, who will bring excitement to this tournament,” Nurse said.
His praise for Minhas is particularly well-founded. The opener arrives in Zimbabwe in devastating form, having just powered Pakistan to the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup 2026 title.
In a commanding 191-run victory over arch-rivals India in the final, Minhas smashed a blistering 172, earning Player of the Match honours.
He was also named Player of the Series, amassing 471 runs at a staggering average of 157.00.
Pakistan tipped for deep run
When asked to predict the final four, Nurse was cautious, citing the unpredictable nature of youth cricket, but left no doubt about Pakistan’s credentials.
“There are several teams with talented players, and that ultimately means that they all have a chance,” he stated.
“Pakistan is definitely one of the teams that have an excellent chance of doing so, along with many others.”
He underscored his point by referencing their recent dominance.
“The Pakistan team is an extremely talented side, and this was very evident in their performances in the recently concluded Asia Cup. There are many players in the squad that are game changers.”
Caribbean focus on process
Shifting focus to his own team, Nurse expressed satisfaction with the West Indies’ preparations in Namibia, emphasising the value of warm-up matches and practice sessions.
He highlighted the promise within his squad but stressed the long-term goal. “The team consists of several talented young players who have the ability to change games,” he said.
“Once these players continue to work hard on their games and remain disciplined, I am sure that they can make the transition to senior cricket in the future.”
Tournament Kick-off
The tournament, running from January 15 to February 6, sees Pakistan in Group C alongside England, Scotland, and Zimbabwe.
Captain Farhan Yousuf will lead his team into their opening fixture against England this Friday in Harare.
The West Indies, led by Joshua Dorne, reside in Group D with Afghanistan, South Africa, and Tanzania. They begin their campaign this Thursday against Tanzania in Windhoek.
U19 World Cup Squads
Pakistan: Farhan Yousaf (c), Usman Khan, Abdul Subhan, Ahmed Hussain, Ali Hasan Baloch, Ali Raza, Daniyal Ali Khan, Hamza Zahoor, Huzaifa Ahsan, Momin Qamar, Mohammad Sayyam, Mohammad Shayan, Niqab Shafiq, Sameer Minhas, Umar Zaib.
Reserves: Abdul Qadir, Farhanullah, Hassan Khan, Ibtisam Azhar and Mohammad Huzaifa.
West Indies: Joshua Dorne (c), Jewel Andrew, Shamar Apple, Shaquan Belle, Zachary Carter, Tanez Francis, R’jai Gittens, Vitel Lawes, Micah McKenzie, Matthew Miller, Isra-el Morton, Jakeem Pollard, Aadian Racha, Kunal Tilokani and Jonathan Van Lange.
Reserves: Brendan Boodoo, Tyriek Bryan, Earsinho Fontaine and Deshawn James.
