ICC U19 Men’s World Cup 2026: Heavyweights Pakistan and England set for Group C Showdown
ICC U19 Men’s World Cup 2026: Heavyweights Pakistan and England set for Group C Showdown
By Nawaz Gohar ; As the countdown to the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026 begins, Group C has emerged as one of the most anticipated brackets of the tournament. Featuring two-time champions Pakistan, former winners England, hosts Zimbabwe, and a resilient Scotland side, the group promises a high-octane battle for supremacy.
Pakistan enters the tournament as the most formidable side in the group. Riding high on momentum after a crushing 191-run victory over arch-rivals India in the Asia Cup final, the “Young Guns” are eyeing their third world title (previously won in 2004 and 2006).
Key Player: All eyes will be on Shahmir Minhas, who dominated the Asia Cup with a record-breaking 172-run knock in the final and an aggregate of 471 runs in the tournament. With five final appearances in history, Pakistan’s consistency makes them the team to beat.
England, champions in 1998, are looking to rectify their recent slump after exiting in the Super Six stage in 2024. Despite a 5-2 series loss to the West Indies recently, the squad is packed with professional county experience.
Squad Strength: Led by Thomas Rew, the team features rising stars like Farhan Ahmed, James Minto, and Isaac Mohammed. England remains one of the few nations to have participated in nearly every edition of the tournament.
The hosts are banking on home conditions and the guidance of legendary former captain Elton Chigumbura as head coach.
Players to Watch: Captain Simbarashe Mudzinganyama leads a squad featuring the promising Blignaut twins. While their recent results in a tri-series were modest, the form of bowler Shelton Mazuvitorera provides hope that the hosts can pull off an upset at home.
Scotland secured their berth by dominating the Europe Qualifiers, finishing at the top of the table with a perfect 5-0 record. Captained by Thomas Knight, the Scots are aiming for their first group-stage win since 2014.
All matches are set to take place in January 2026, with the clash between Pakistan and England expected to determine the group leader.
Cricket analysts suggest that while Pakistan and England are the statistical favorites to progress, the 2026 edition offers a unique challenge due to the slow, spinning tracks typical of Zimbabwean venues.
This could allow the hosts or Scotland to capitalize on any lapses in concentration from the bigger teams. The stage is set for a thrilling display of youth cricket, where the stars of tomorrow will battle for global honors.
