ICC Under-19 World Cup 2016: Five potential superstars to look out for in the future

The biggest youth cricket international tournament, the ICC Under-19 World Cup has produced many superstars in cricket over the years. The likes of Yuvraj Singh, Virat Kohli, bSteven Smith, Ahmed Shehzad and Jacques Kallis all first launched themselves on the international platform on this tournament in the past.The tournament has been very successful in its ideal core of finding future superstars of various nations at a young age. Every nation looks to see their future group of cricketers get the taste of high-voltage tussles in this tournament. Nine leading cricketing nations along with seven associate nations participated in this year’s competition. This tournament is equally important for the associate nations to identify special talents in their own ranks to bolster their growth.This year’s youth championship has given us the glimpse of the superstars of the future with their exceptional performances in the tournament. Here are the five youngsters and potential future superstars of the game with their performances in the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2016.

#1 Jack Burnham (England)

Jack Burnham(left) celebrates after scoring a century.

Jack Burnham, this right-handed opening batsman from England currently leads the scorer’s list in some style. Burnham has played all England’s six matches and in those appearances, Burnham has scored a whopping 420 runs at an average of 84.

The talented cricketer from Durham has a 105 run lead over his closest rival teammate Dan Lawrence. In his six innings, he went on to made three centuries with 148 being his highest score in the tournament. He also has the highest number of centuries in the tournament.

The 19-year-old started off the tournament with an outstanding hundred against Fiji and went on to make two more tons against Zimbabwe and Namibia respectively. He has registered the most numbers of sixes in the tournament with 15 maximums.

With this excellent show in the tournament, Burnham seems to have a very bright future ahead. His temperament is a very big plus in the sub-continent tracks along with the special ability to play long innings and converting a good start into a big score.

#2 Sarfaraz Khan (India)

Sarfaraz Khan is the third highest run-getter of the tournament so far.

Sarfaraz Khan is currently representing the Indian Under-19 team in the World Cup in Bangladesh. Sarfaraz is in a rich vein of form, he has already registered 304 runs in 5 innings at an average of 76.

The 18-year-old is currently in the third position in the scorer’s list of the tournament. He recently became the fourth Indian and the 18th overall player to reach 1000 ODI runs at the youth level.

The Mumbai-born cricketer is a very important member of the team of the Indian team, who are also the favourites to win the World Cup. The Indian Under-19 team have already reached the final of the tournament where they will play against West Indies.

His last five innings in the tournament were 74, 74, 21*, 76 and 59 his form and the team's overall form is the main reason why India is touted as tournament favourites.

With his awesome show in the tournament, Sarfaraz is definitely one for the future.

#3 Fritz Coetzee (Namibia)

Fritz Coetzee is the highest wicket-taker of the tournament so far.

This 18-year-old left-arm fast-medium bowler from Namibia has caught plenty of eyes during this year’s tournament in Bangladesh. Coetzee is the highest wicket-taker of the tournament with 15 wickets to his name.

In six appearances the left-arm pacer has picked up those wickets at an average of under 16 and with an economy rate of less than five runs an over. His consistent performance throughout the tournament makes him the scariest bowler for any opposition in the competition.

The talented pacer started off slowly but once he reached his peak he became lethal and helped Namibia to reach the quarter-finals of the tournament. His best figure of the competition was against Nepal where he picked up three wickets for 34 runs.

Fritz Coetzee is one rising superstar from the associate nations and is the youngest to keep an eye out for the future.

#4 Rory Anders (Ireland)

Rory Anders celebrates a wicket against India.

The associate nation continues to dominate the highest wickets takers list of the tournament with Ireland’s young right-arm fast bowler, Rory Anders being the latest. Anders finished the tournament with 13 wickets in six matches.

Anders has picked up those 13 wickets at an average of just over 11. He also has the economy-rate of almost 3 which is excellent. His pace is also a very important factor of his impact as fast-bowler.

He started the tournament against the favourites India with a good show of 3/35. After this performance, he went through three matches without a wicket but bowled extremely well. In the last two matches, he registered the figures of 4/21 and 2/24 respectively against his name.

Honestly, Anders has been very unlucky for not getting rewards for his performances in the tournament but definitely has a bring future ahead.

#5 Gidron Pope (West Indies)

Gidron Pope has been excellent with both bat and ball for the West Indies.

Gidron Pope is one of the main reasons why the West Indies team is in the final of the tournament with his superb all-round show. The talented cricketer from Mount Greenan has emerged as tournaments leading all-rounder.

With the bat, the left-hander has already scored 229 runs at an average of 45.80 and with an awesome strike-rate of 113 in five appearances so far. He also scored two fine fifties on the way against England and Fiji respectively.

Apart from his heroics with the batting, this Caribbean youngster has also impressed with his bowling. The right-arm off-break bowler has picked up seven wickets in five matches at an average of just over 23 with a good economy-rate of 4.76.

Pope’s good all-round form is West Indies’s most lethal weapon when they take on the mighty Indians in the final on February 14.