3 PLAYERS FROM THE 2012 ICC U-19 WC WHOSE CAREERS DID NOT TURN OUT AS EXPECTED
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CAMERON BANCROFT (AUSTRALIA)
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Cameron Bancroft had scored 196 runs at an average of 39.2 in the 2012 ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup. Gradually, he became part of the Australian cricketing setup and seemed to be the answer to their opening woes. There were no issues with his form and no trouble with favouritism.
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Then there was the Newlands ball-tampering controversy that happened. Bancroft, the youngest of the trio, received unprecedented sanctions from Cricket Australia. While Bancroft was the first to return to domestic cricket, he has played only 2 Tests since his return to cricket.
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SAMI ASLAM (PAKISTAN)
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Sami Aslam appeared in 2 ICC U-19 Cricket World Cups - 2012 and 2014, leading his team to the finals in the latter edition. The Pakistan opener was pushed to the international stage by selectors. The left-hander played 13 Tests and scored 758 runs at an average of 31.58.
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However, this wasn't enough for him to keep his place in the Pakistan team. He recently quit Pakistani cricket and blamed the culture of favouritism as the main reason for his refusal to play in Pakistan. He has now moved to the USA, where he will be eligible to play from November 2023.
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1
UNMUKT CHAND (INDIA)
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Unmukt Chand was the Indian captain in the 2012 ICC U-19 World Cup. He had a decent run with the bat, scoring 246 runs at an average of 49.2. His most remarkable contribution came in the final when he played a captain's knock of 111 not out in India’s win against Australia.
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However, his career after the U-19 World Cup never took off. Unmukt's first-class average of 31.57 after 67 appearances, meant that he failed to make it big. He shifted base to Uttarakhand before returning to Delhi's squad for the 2021 Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy, but did not play a single game.
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