U19 Cricket World Cup 2024: Five players to watch out for at the South Africa tournament

The 2024 Under-19 Men’s World Cup gets underway on 19 January in South Africa and will see 16 teams fight it out for the age-group world title. The U-19 World Cup has a special place in age-group cricket as it is seen as gateway to recognition and success. The 2023 edition, which was moved from Sri Lanka to the Rainbow Nation, provides similar opportunities to the 16 teams and their teams. Before the tournament gets underway, here’s a look at five of the top players to watch out for. Rahman Hekmat The Afghanistan spinners including Rashid Khan has emerged as sensation in world cricket but Hekmat is a Afghan-origin New Zealand leg-spinner who admires Rashid but is also a big fans of Shane Warne. Hekmat was born in Peshawar, Pakistan, and took up spin bowling after watching Warne’s YouTube videos. Ubaid Shah [caption id=“attachment_13624682” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Ubaid Shah is brother of Pakistan pacer Naseem Shah. PCB image[/caption] Ubaid is a fast bowler just like his brother and Pakistan cricketer Naseem Shah. Ubaid, however, a bit taller and is known for his abilities to bowl yorkers consistently. In the Asian Cricket Council Under-19s Asia Cup 2023-24, he took 10 wickets in four matches at an average of 14.90 and with an economy of 4.15. Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar Afghanistan continue to produce quality spinners and latest in the line is Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar who is only 16. In four matches of the recently-concluded Tri-Nation Under-19s Tournament which also included India and South Africa, Ghazanfar took 10 wickets in just out matches. He has also drawn comparisons with Mujeeb Ur Rahman. Luc Benkenstein [caption id=“attachment_13624652” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Luc Benkenstein plays for Essex in County Cricket. Luc Benkenstein X account image[/caption] Luc’s father Dale played for South Africa and his grandfather Martin played for Zimbabwe. Now the junior-most Benkenstein is looking to make a name for himself with England. He is an all-rounder who bowls leg-spin. He became famous by taking 6/42 vs Glamorgan in a one-day match. Arshin Kulkarni [caption id=“attachment_13624662” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Arshin Kulkarni is an Indian all-rounder. Arshin Kulkarni X account image[/caption] The 18-year-old pace-bowling all-rounder Arshin Kulkarni from India is another player who will look to make a name for himself at the U19 World Cup. At the U19 Asia Cup, he emerged as a crucial player for India with four wickets in four matches and 138 runs.