Best XI of the ICC U19 World Cup 2016

The ICC U19 World Cup 2016 came to an end today with the jubilant West Indies winning the title for the first time. They defeated India in the final by 5 wickets. The Indian team that was undefeated in this tournament fell at the final hurdle after being bowled out for 146. This Under-19 World Cup like everyone tournament in the past has thrown up many talented young cricketers, which definitely promises of a rich future. Most team would have certainly got a sneak peak of the players who have the potential to represent the national squad in coming years. Here we take a look at the best XI of ICC U19 World Cup 2016. 1. Dan Lawrence (England): (Photo Source: ICC/Mumit M) Dan Lawrence of England scored the highest individual score of the U19 World Cup 2016. Lawrence started England’s World Cup campaign with a record score of 174 against Fiji. He made sure that England got off to a good start every time. He was also awarded the Man of the Match 2 times, especially for his score of 55 against eventual champions West Indies. 2. Rishabh Pant (India) (wicketkeeper): (Photo Source: ICC/Mumit M) India’s live wire wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant was another batsman who played a good role in India reaching the finals undefeated. He was stellar behind the stumps, apart from some glitches in the final. His best innings came against Namibia in the quarter-finals making 111 and he also scored the fastest fifty in the U19 ODI history, making a fifty off just 18 balls. His 267 runs in 6 matches were vital, as it laid the foundation for Sarfaraz Khan to play the knocks he did to take India to finals. 3. Jack Burnham (England): (Photo Source: ICC/Mumit M) Jack Burnham replicated the feat of making 3 centuries in a single U19 World Cup edition, something that was earlier achieved by Indian batsman Shikhar Dhawan in the 2004 edition. Burnham made 420 runs for England with his highest score of 148. Though their efforts were not enough and England finished at number 6 in the tournament losing to Pakistan in the 5th place play-off. 4. Charith Asalanka (SL) (C): (Photo Source: ICC/Mumit M) Charith Asalanka was Sri Lanka’s best batsman in the tournament with 276 runs in 6 matches to his name. Though he didn’t make any centuries, he did score 3 fifties. Asalanka also led Sri Lanka to the semi-finals with his contribution with both bat and ball. His best score of 76 came against Bangladesh at Fatuallah. 5. Shamar Springer (West Indies): (Photo Source: ICC/Mumit M) Shamar Springer was the man that got West Indies into finals of the ICC U19 World Cup. He played the innings of the match for the Windies, making 62* against Bangladesh U19 in order to guide them to the win after Windies had lost some quick wickets. Springer also hit a century against Fiji and made 285 runs in 6 matches. He also made 61 against Zimbabwe in a crunch match that ended with the bowler mankading the last batsman out with just 3 runs to go. Anyways, Springer also gave us the now viral ’Springer Dance.’ 6. Sarfaraz Khan (India): Sarfaraz Khan. (Photo Source: Facebook) Sarfaraz Khan was the batting mainstay of the Indian team, who made sure that India reached par totals. He ended the tournament with 5 fifties in 6 matches and a total of 355 runs. Sarfaraz played match-winning knocks against Namibia U19, gave impetus to the innings at the end against Nepal U19. His experience with the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL definitely came in handy while handling the pressure of big matches, which was evident in the QF, SF and the final, where he made 51 in a total of 146 runs in the three knock out matches. 7. Hasan Mohsin (Pakistan): (Photo Source: ICC/Mumit M) Though Pakistan U19 couldn’t make it to the semi-finals, they had a bright star of the future shining for them in the tournament in Hasan Mohsin. Mohsin made a total of 293 runs and finished with an average of 97.66. He scored a knock of 117 against Nepal and an 86 in a crunch match against Sri Lanka at Dhaka. The Karachi born Mohsin, bats right handed and also bowls medium pace, he grabbed 4/42 against Nepal in the same match where he had earlier scored a century. 8. Alzaari Joseph (West Indies): (Photo Source: ICC/Mumit M) West Indies, who won the ICC U19 World Cup 2016 by beating India in the finals, have to thank their fast bowlers. One bowler, in particular, impressed a lot was Alzaari Joesph. Joesph bowled with serious pace and used the bouncers to good effect. He took 13 wickets in 6 matches in the tournament with the best of 4/30 against Zimbabwe U19, a game that was a must win for the West Indies. 9. Fritz Coetzee (Namibia): (Photo Source: ICC/Mumit M) Fast bowler Fritz Coetzee surprised everyone with his pace and ability to swing the ball in subcontinent conditions. Coetzee picked up 15 wickets in 6 matches and the best for 3/16 against South Africa U19. He was expensive against England and India but made up for it by getting the wickets, he had figures of 3/72 and 3/78 respectively. 10. Saqib Mahmood (England): (Photo Source: ICC/Mumit M) English fast bowler Saqib Mahmood picked 13 wickets in 6 matches and showed that England’s fast bowling coffers had some really good talent in it. His 13 wickets cost him just 4.30 runs per over and his best bowling figures of 4/39 came against Zimbabwe U19. Mahmood also picked up 4/42 against West Indies U19, in a match that England U19 won by 61 runs. 11. Sandeep Lamichhane (Nepal): (Photo Source: ICC/Mumit M) One of the best spinners to emerge was Nepal’s Sandeep Lamichhane. The leggie from the Nepal was the most impressive of all bowlers in the tournament, someone that would serve the Nepal team for a long time. Lamichhane picked up 5/27 against Ireland U19 which included a hat-trick and in total picked up an impressive tally of 14 wickets in the World Cup. Lamichhane’s control over the ball and the amount of spin he got was very impressive and the commentators even likened him as the Nepalese version of Shane Warne.