…Guyanese Van Lange and Apple selected

VICE-CAPTAIN Jonathan Van Lange and Shamar Apple are a part of the West Indies which begins their campaign against Tanzania on Thursday January 15 in ICC 2026 U-19 World Cup, before coming up against Afghanistan on Sunday, January 18.
The regional side then oppose South Africa on Thursday January 22 in their third game in the U-19 World Cup.
The top three teams from each group will advance to the Super Six phase followed by the Semi-Finals on February 3 and 4 with the Final slated for February 6 at Harare Sports Club in
Zimbabwe.
West Indies are in Group D with South Africa, Afghanistan and Tanzania and their group matches will be played at the High- Performance Oval in Windhoek, Namibia.
West Indies will play their warm-up matches against Ireland and Japan before the tournament begins in earnest on January 15.

West Indies’ only title since Brian Lara led the team in the inaugural event in 1988 in Australia, was in 2016 when Guyanese Shimron Hetmyer captained the team to Championship honours.
Top-order batter, Joshua Dorne, enjoyed outstanding success this year in regional competitions and for West Indies U-19s in Internationals and has been appointed captain.
Batting all-rounder, Guyanese Jonathan van Lange, who turns 19 today, is one of two Guyanese in the squad and will serve as Dorne’s deputy in Africa.
In addition to Dorne and Van Lange, the team will rely on the experience of Zachary Carter, Matthew Miller, Jakeem Pollard, Shaquan Belle and Vitel Lawes, who all were successful against Sri Lanka U-19 and England U-19.
Antiguan Jewel Andrew, who became the youngest West Indian to play ODI when he made his debut at 17 against Sri Lanka, is the only player with senior international experience in the squad.
Jamaican Xaver Marshall was the previous youngest ODI player.
Antiguan Micah McKenzie made his List A debut for the West Indies Academy against the Sri Lanka Emerging Men’s team in June and recently received his maiden cap for Leeward Islands
Hurricanes in the 2025 CG United Super 50 Cup.
Sixteen-year-old Shamar Apple, who at 15 became the second youngest Guyanese to play senior 50-over cricket when he was picked for the Guyana Harpy Eagles squad for the Super50 tournament. Only Ramnaresh Sarwan was younger than him.
Apple and Mckenzie, joined the England U-19 series for the final two matches, with both players maintaining their places for the World Cup in January.
Full Squad: Joshua Dorne (captain), Jonathan Van Lange (Vice-Captain), Jewel Andrew, Shamar Apple, Shaquan Belle, Zachary Carter, Tanez Francis, R’jai Gittens, Vitel Lawes, Micah McKenzie, Matthew Miller, Israel, Morton, Jakeem Pollard, Aadian Racha, Kunal Tilokani,