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| Afghanistan Under-19s | |
|---|---|
| Name | Afghanistan Under-19s |
| Nickname | Afghan U19s |
| Association | Afghanistan Cricket Board |
| Founded | 2009 |
| ICC region | Asia |
| Colours | Dark blue and red |
| Ground | Various |
Afghanistan Under-19s The Afghanistan Under-19s side is the national junior cricket team representing Afghanistan in under-19 international competitions, functioning under the aegis of the Afghanistan Cricket Board and participating in events organised by the International Cricket Council and the Asian Cricket Council. The team has contested multiple editions of the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup and regional qualifiers, facing sides such as India Under-19s, Pakistan Under-19s, Bangladesh Under-19s, and Sri Lanka Under-19s while contributing to player pipelines that feed into the Afghanistan national cricket team and domestic franchises in tournaments like the Shpageeza Cricket League and the Afghan Premier League.
The squad emerged after the Afghanistan national cricket team's rise through the ICC World Cricket League and gained formal youth structure following recognition by the International Cricket Council and collaboration with development partners including the Asian Cricket Council and sporting missions linked to Kabul and Kandahar. Early milestones include qualification attempts for the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup and participation in the ACC Under-19 Cup alongside teams such as Nepal Under-19s, Malaysia Under-19s, and Hong Kong Under-19s. The pathway has been influenced by fixtures against established youth sides from England Under-19s, Australia Under-19s, and South Africa Under-19s, with tours and training camps supported by figures connected to the Marylebone Cricket Club and bilateral exchanges with the Pakistan Cricket Board. Political shifts in Kabul and regional security concerns have intersected with scheduling alongside venues in United Arab Emirates and Sharjah, while development funding has involved agencies linked with Asian Development Bank-adjacent sport programs.
Selection follows International Cricket Council age regulations requiring players to be under 19 as of a designated cutoff date, with squads drawn from provincial academies in Kabul Province, Nangarhar Province, Balkh Province, and Herat Province. Rosters typically include specialist roles such as left-arm pacers, leg spinners, wicket-keepers, and top-order batsmen, with scouting conducted through tournaments like the Afghan Inter-Provincial Tournament and school competitions comparable to structures used by England and Wales Cricket Board academies and Cricket Australia pathways. Player eligibility checks reference documentation issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Afghanistan), provincial education boards, and the Afghanistan Cricket Board's selection committee, which liaises with international clearances when touring nations such as Ireland, Scotland, and Zimbabwe.
Coaching appointments have included former international cricketers, local coaches, and expatriate specialists with links to institutions such as the MCC and coaching qualifications from the England and Wales Cricket Board. Support teams encompass physiotherapists, strength and conditioning coaches, analysts using technology from vendors partnered with the ICC, and team managers coordinating logistics with embassies like the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates and consular services in Islamabad. Notable coaching interactions have involved exchange with personnel connected to the Pakistan Cricket Board, the Board of Control for Cricket in India, and consultants from New Zealand Cricket and Cricket South Africa.
The side's competitive history includes multiple appearances at the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup, qualification campaigns through the ACC Under-19 Championship and regional qualifiers featuring teams such as Oman Under-19s and United Arab Emirates Under-19s. Results have ranged from upset victories over established youth teams like West Indies Under-19s to narrow defeats by sides including Zimbabwe Under-19s and Ireland Under-19s, with individual performances sometimes leading to awards mirrored after accolades like the Player of the Tournament in regional events. Tournament logistics have required fixtures in neutral venues such as grounds in Dubai and Auckland when bilateral security considerations involved authorities like Interpol-coordinated clearances.
Alumni who progressed to the senior Afghanistan national cricket team include internationally recognised players who also featured in franchise circuits such as Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman alongside others who advanced via pathways used by Hashmatullah Shahidi, Najibullah Zadran, and Rohullah Gurbaz. Several former under-19 players have been drafted into leagues including the Indian Premier League, Big Bash League, and Caribbean Premier League, following precedents set by peers such as Shakib Al Hasan and Lasith Malinga in their respective regions. Alumni have also engaged with coaching roles, sports administration, and representations in multi-sport events akin to the Asian Games.
Development initiatives are coordinated with entities such as the Asian Cricket Council, donor-supported sport projects, and private academies modelled on Marylebone Cricket Club and National Cricket Academy (India) curricula. Programs emphasize batting technique, pace bowling mechanics, spin development influenced by practitioners from Sri Lanka Cricket and Pakistan Cricket Board coaching schools, and fielding drills using technology from vendors associated with the International Cricket Council. Talent identification operates via provincial tournaments, school championships, and scouting at events comparable to the ICC U19 World Cup feeder competitions.
Home fixtures and camps have been staged at venues within Kabul, Ghazi Stadium, and regional grounds in Kandahar and Mazar-i-Sharif, while international matches and qualifiers have utilised facilities in Sharjah Cricket Stadium, ICC Academy (Dubai), and stadiums in Lahore and Karachi when security and diplomatic arrangements with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Pakistan) permitted. Training infrastructure incorporates turf nets, gym facilities mirroring standards of the England and Wales Cricket Board academies, and pitch preparation guided by curators experienced with grounds in Dubai and Sharjah.
Category:Under-19 cricket teams Category:Cricket in Afghanistan