Top-order batter Joshua Dorne has been handed the captaincy for West Indies’ campaign at the Men’s Under-19 World Cup, to be staged in Zimbabwe and Namibia early next year. All-rounder Jonathan Van Lange will serve as vice-captain.
Cricket West Indies confirmed a 15-player squad that blends familiar youth names with a touch of senior international experience. Jewel Andrew, already capped in three ODIs and five T20Is for the senior side, is included and expected to anchor the middle order.
The selection panel stuck largely with the group that featured in back-to-back seven-match Youth ODI series at home against Sri Lanka and England. Dorne topped the run charts in both series, with Van Lange not far behind. Zachary Carter, Matthew Miller, Jakeem Pollard, Shaquan Belle and Vitel Lawes, all regulars during the recent fixtures, also keep their spots.
Pollard impressed with the ball, collecting 18 wickets at 16.27 across ten outings. Belle claimed 15 wickets in nine matches, while Lawes recovered from a lean patch against England to grab 14 scalps at 14.92 versus Sri Lanka. Consistency rather than pure numbers, the selectors said, was the ordering principle.
“In assembling this group, we have aligned their development with the style of play we expect at the senior level, ensured exposure to high-quality match opportunities, and placed a strong focus on leadership, tactical awareness and individual support within their territories,” Dwain Gill, CWI’s High Performance Manager, said.
The young Windies have been drawn in Group D alongside South Africa, Afghanistan and Tanzania. Their opening fixture is against Tanzania in Windhoek on 15 January, followed by tougher tests against the Proteas and Afghanistan. A top-two finish would take them into the Super Six stage.
Looking ahead, West Indies coaches view the tournament as a chance to refine roles rather than chase quick results. The squad’s batting depth, headed by Dorne, Andrew and Van Lange, appears solid on paper, while the pace trio of Pollard, Belle and Lawes offers wicket-taking threat on southern African pitches. Spin options are thinner, though left-arm orthodox Tanez Francis and off-spinner Kunal Tilokani could find assistance if the Zimbabwean surfaces slow up.
Squad: Joshua Dorne (capt), Jewel Andrew, Shamar Apple, Shaquan Belle, Zachary Carter, Tanez Francis, R’jai Gittens, Vitel Lawes, Micah McKenzie, Matthew Miller, Israel Morton, Jakeem Pollard, Aiden Racha, Kunal Tilokani, Jonathan Van Lange (vice-capt).
The final preparatory camp begins in Antigua after Christmas, with two warm-up games scheduled before departure for Africa.
