Five who made it
Alastair Cook (England, 2004 U19 World Cup)
Cook was destined to lead England, really. He was skipper of a side that made it to the semi-finals in unfamiliar conditions in Bangladesh, where they lost to the West Indies. Even then, Cook was unveiling the template by which he would captain the senior side nearly a decade later: runs. He was comfortably England’s top-scorer and second-highest for the tournament, behind only another left-handed opener, Shikhar Dhawan.
Inzamam-ul-Haq (Pakistan, 1988 Youth World Cup)
Inzamam was a late, late call-up to trials for the first youth World Cup and he arrived with Waqar Younis. Waqar did not make it, but Inzamam went along and impressed quietly, ending up the third-highest scorer for his side. That was a strong Pakistan side – including Aaqib Javed and Mushtaq Ahmed – that made it to the final. A couple of years later, Inzamam was beginning what would be one of the greatest Pakistani batting careers ever.
Virat Kohli (India, 2008 U19 World Cup)
Kohli had been earmarked as a special talent long ago and, in a way, the 2008 edition was a semi-confirmation of his gifts. Though he finished third in the run charts, he did not set the world alight: just one hundred and no fifties in six games. But as captain, he led the side to success and unveiled the brash, abrasive personality that has since seen him set the senior scene on fire.
Darren Bravo (West Indies, 2008 U19 World Cup)
It was always in the genes with Bravo. Half-brother of Dwayne and cousin of legend (and 1988 edition participant) Brian Lara, if Darren had not made it, questions would have been asked. In any case, he proved he was both good and stylish by topping both batting and bowling averages for the West Indies. Before the tournament, Lara told him “to back myself and go out there and play the way I know”. He is still doing it for the senior side.
Tamim Iqbal (Bangladesh, 2006 U19 World Cup)
Tamim showed little sign of how good he might be during the tournament in Sri Lanka. In five matches, he had only 66 runs, but he was part of a squad that was arguably Bangladesh’s greatest age-side ever. Eight players from that squad would represent the senior side, including Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rehman. No one as explosive as Tamim, though.
Five who did not make it
Brett Williams (Australia, 1988 Youth World Cup)
There looked no better batsman than Williams in that tournament. He made two hundreds, including one in the final that set up Australia’s win against Pakistan. He was the leading run-scorer in that event as well and a long career for an under-performing Australia senior side did not look out of the question. Yet he played just four first-class games for South Australia thereafter, and by the end of the 1990 season, was gone.
Ravneet Ricky (India, 2000 U19 World Cup)
Years after helping win the 2000 tournament, Ricky admitted he simply assumed by playing at this level a senior spot was only a matter of time. Ricky was outstanding in India’s triumph, the second-highest tournament scorer, behind Graeme Smith. Though he went on to forge a middling career for Punjab in domestic cricket with over 4000 runs and 13 hundreds, he never quite broke through to the national side. You might remember his teammates from that year: Mohammad Kaif and Yuvraj Singh.
Jamshed Ahmed (Pakistan, 2006 U19 World Cup)
Alongside Anwar Ali, who has only recently broken into the senior side, Ahmed was responsible for Pakistan’s 2006 triumph. They beat India in the final, despite defending a paltry 109; Ahmed took two and Anwar five. Ahmed’s left-arm pacers actually looked more durable in that tournament. He was better built and could swing it both ways, taking 14 wickets in that edition. He has played just 21 first-class games since and has made it nowhere close to the national side.
Leon Johnson (West Indies, 2006 U19 World Cup)
If any country has matched Pakistan and India in letting talent slip through in recent history, it is the West Indies. Johnson was captain of the side, and though he did not set the world on fire, he did play one outstanding crunch innings of 83 against South Africa. He impressed observers with his leadership and when he scored runs domestically a season later, his ascension seemed assured. He did end up playing three senior ODIs, but has slipped off the radar since.
Mohammad Amir (Pakistan, 2008 U19 World Cup)
The most poignant story of those who did not make it, because he kind of did, and he still might. Amir played one game in the tournament before falling seriously ill with Dengue fever. He returned home to Pakistan, but was always destined to make it to the national side. Within a year of the tournament, he was an essential member of Pakistan’s senior side. Two years later, though, he was found guilty of spot-fixing. And who knows, at age 23, he may yet return in 2015.
osamiuddin@thenational.ae