U-19 World Cup 2014 Build Up and Predictions

16 days
16 teams
240 squad players
31 games 
10 televised games
4 venues
The 10th edition of the ICC U-19 World Cup
Defending Champions = India
Most titles = India and Australia
Most finals = India, Australia and Pakistan 

The first time UAE are hosting an ICC tournament outside qualifiers

The biggest under age group tournament in sport

One of 3 ICC 50 over tournaments with World Cup, Womens World Cup and Champions Trophy in past

One of 3 official ICC World Cups with the World Cup and Womens World Cup

The only ICC 50 over World tournament of the year

Chance for some outside selections for 2015

A competition which has been a launching pad for some of the great talents of the modern game i.e. Kohli, Cook, Clarke, Amla, Watson, Pujara, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Ahmed Shehzad, Jason Holder, Wayne Parnell, Quinton De Kock, Graeme Swann, George Bailey, Ravi Rampaul 

2012 U19 World Cup players that have gone on to play at the top level = Quinton De Kock, Ashton Agar, Ehsan Adil

A brief 2 week tournament held every alternate year 

Key Names to look out for in 2014 edition = Zia ul Haq, Sami Aslam, Zafar Gohar, Ben Duckett, Sanju Sampson, Vijay Zol

Match coverage provided by Star Cricket just like for other ICC tournaments

Winners

Australia 1988, 2002, 2010
India 2000, 2008, 2012
Pakistan 2004, 2006
England 1998

Group A

Pakistan = 3 wins
India = 2 wins
Scotland = 1win
PNG = 1 win

Group B

Australia = 2 wins
Bangladesh = 2 wins
Afghanistan = 2 wins
Namibia = 0 wins

Group C

West Indies = 3 wins
South Africa = 2 wins
Ireland = 1 tie
Zimbabwe = 1 tie 

Group D

Sri Lanka = 3 wins
UAE = 2 wins
New Zealand = 1 win
England = 0 1wins

Above is in order of finishing predictions during the group stages

QFs

Pakistan vs UAE = Pak
India vs SL = Ind
Australia vs South Africa = Australia
West Indies vs Bangladesh = West Indies

SFs

Pak vs Ind = Pak
Aus vs West Indies = Aus

Final

3rd place = Defending Champions Ind
Final = Pak vs Aus 

Leading Performers Verdict 

Leading run scorer = Sami Aslam
Leading wicket taker = Zafar Gohar
Leading catcher = Hussain Talat
Most catches and stumpings = Saifullah Bangash 
Player of the tournament prediction = Zafar Gohar

Other Facts

5th Under 19 World Cup in Asian conditions, Asian team winning each time in previous 4 ones in Asian conditions

There has been as Asian team in the final in the last 5 editions

Winning Captain by Year

2012 = Unmukt Chand
2010 = Mitchell Marsh
2008 = Virat Kohli
2006 = Safraz Ahmed
2004 = Khalid Latif
2002 = Cameron White
2000 = Mohammad Kaif
1998 = Owais Shah

Player of the tournament by Year 

2012 = Will Bosisto
2008 = Wayne Parnell
2006 = Pujara