In 2016, Bangladesh hosted the ICC Under-19 World Cup for the second time, after 2004. Sixteen nations contested in the tournament played across seven different venues. These included nine Full Members (Australia withdrew, citing security concerns), five regional winners, and Nepal and Ireland, champions and runners-up of the 2015 ICC Under-19 Qualifier.
The teams were divided into four groups. Bangladesh won all three matches in Group A, which witnessed the biggest upset of the tournament when Namibia stunned defending champions South Africa. With Scotland losing all three matches, the match effectively helped Namibia qualify for the quarter-finals and knocked South Africa out.
From Group B, Pakistan and Sri Lanka qualified for the top eight at the expense of Afghanistan and Canada. Pakistan won all three of their matches as leg-spinner Shadab Khan impressed all.
Group C witnessed tournament debutants Fiji being bowled out for hundred in all three matches. They lost by 299 runs against England, seven wickets against Zimbabwe and 262 runs against West Indies. England topped the group, followed by West Indies. In a must-win match, Keemo Paul Mankaded the last Zimbabwe batter, helping West Indies win by two wickets.
From Group D, India and Nepal qualified for the second round as New Zealand and Ireland missed out. For India, Rishabh Pant and Sarfaraz Khan made their mark with impressive power hitting. Both scored a couple of fifties, the most devastating being a 24-ball 78 by Pant against Nepal.
Afghanistan won the Plate division final against Zimbabwe thanks to a Tariq Stanikzai hundred. South Africa, New Zealand, Ireland, Scotland, Canada, and Fiji finished 11th to 16th respectively.
In the Super League quarter-finals, India beat Namibia by 111 runs as Pant scored 111 and Sarfaraz 76. Bangladesh beat Nepal by six wickets as Zakir Hasan scored an unbeaten 75. Avishka Fernando’s 95 helped Sri Lanka beat England to reach the semi-finals. West Indies were the fourth team to qualify, with a five-wicket win over Pakistan.
India and West Indies qualified for the final, winning their respective semi-finals, against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Anmolpreet Singh’s 72, another fifty from Sarfaraz and an impressive bowling performance by the bowlers helped India beat Sri Lanka by 97 runs. Meanwhile, West beat Bangladesh by three wickets asShamar Springer’s unbeaten 62 trumped Mehidy Hasan Miraz's 60.
It was India’s fifth Under-19 World Cup final but their first against the West Indies. With the Indian top-order collapsed, only Sarfaraz made a significant contribution as he reached his fifth fifty of the tournament. Even then, India could score only 145 as Ryan John had 3-38 and Alzarri Joseph had 3-39.
Despite such a low target to defend, the Indian bowlers tried their best and at one stage West Indies were 77/5, but, a 69-run unbeaten partnership between Keacy Carty (52*) and Keemo Paul (40*) took West Indies to their maiden Under-19 World Cup title
Semi-final: India 267/9 in 50 overs (Anmolpreet Singh 72; Asitha Fernando 4-43) beat Sri Lanka 170 by 97 runs in 42.4 overs (Kamindu Mendis 39; Mayank Dagar 3-21). Player of the Match: Anmolpreet Singh
Semi-final: Bangladesh 226 in 50 overs (Mehidy Hasan Miraz 60, Keemo Paul 3-20) lost to West Indies 230/7 in 48.4 overs (Shamar Springer 62*; Saleh Ahmed Shawon 3-37) by 3 wickets with 8 balls to spare. Player of the Match: Shamar Springer.
Final: India 145 in 50 overs (Sarfaraz Khan 51; Ryan John 3-38) lost to West Indies 146/5 in 49.3 overs (Keacy Carty 52*; Mayank Dagar 3-25) by 5 wickets with 3 balls to spare. Player of the Match: Keacy Carty.
Most runs: Jack Burnham (England, 420), Sarfaraz Khan (India, 355), Dan Lawrence (England, 315)
Most wickets: Fritz Coetzee (Namibia, 15), Sandeep Lamichhane (Nepal, 14), Rory Anders (Ireland, 13), Saqib Mahmood (England, 13), Alzarri Joseph (West Indies, 13), Mohammad Saifuddin (Bangladesh, 13)
Player of the Tournament: Mehedi Hasan Miraz (Bangladesh)
Future Stars:
Afghanistan: Rashid Khan, Zahir Khan
Bangladesh: Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mohammed Saifuddin
England: Sam Curran
India: Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar
Ireland: Harry Tetor
Nepal: Sandeep Lamichhane
New Zealand: Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips
Pakistan: Shadab Khan
South Africa: Wiaan Mulder, Kyle Verreynne
Sri Lanka: Wanindu Hasaranga, Lahiru Kumara, Avishka Fernando, Charith Asalanka
West Indies: Shimron Hetmyer, Keemo Paul, Alzarri Joseph