In 2006, Sri Lanka became the first nation to host the Under-19 World Cup for the second time. The matches were played across five venues in Colombo.
Bangladesh had won the plate championship in 2004. This time, they had their future superstars in Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim representing them. For what these men have gone to achieve, in hindsight, it doesn’t come as a surprise that Bangladesh topped Group A.
Shakib (4-34 and 25) and Mushfiqur (46) teamed up to beat a strong Pakistan side in a low-scoring group encounter. Both the teams qualified for the next round.
Meanwhile, India steamrolled their opponents through strong all-round shows. Hosts Sri Lanka managed to qualify from India’s group.
Group B saw Australia and West Indies advance, but a big surprise was in store from Group D as Zimbabwe topped the tables after beating England in a low-scoring thriller. Gary Ballance’s three wickets and 47 runs was the difference between the sides. Ironically, Balance later went on to play his senior international cricket for England.
Despite the upset, England returned strongly to stop the Bangladeshi juggernaut in the quarter-final.
Zimbabwe’s unbeaten run was also brought to an end by Pakistan, while Australia knocked out hosts Sri Lanka courtesy of their skipper Moises Henriques’ all-round show (4-22 and 79*).
India, the tournament favourites, continued to ride on the rich form of their players. The top three of Gaurav Dhiman (74), Cheteshwar Pujara (97) and Rohit Sharma (50) put them in a strong position in their quarter-final against West Indies. They were 209/1 in the 35th over, but Javon Seales took six wickets to restrict them to 284. Dhiman and V. Yo Mahesh then shared seven wickets to guide India to a 126-run victory.
In years to follow, Rohit, Piyush Chawla, Ravindra Jadeja, Yo Mahesh, Abu Nechim, Seales, Kemar Roach, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard and Andre Fletcher made their names in limited-overs cricket.
Pujara (129*), Rohit (59) and Dhiman (48) again starred for India in the semi-final against England. Chasing 293, Moeen Ali’s England folded for 58, with Abu Nechim getting a four-wicket haul.
In the other semi-final, Australia had Pakistan on the mat at 80/5 before Asad Ali (69), and Riaz Kail (84) added 160. Imad Wasim’s 15-ball 29 not out then got the defending champions to 287. Apart from Usman Khawaja’s 59, none of the future Australian stars could stand to the Pakistani challenge. They lost by 163 runs. Aaron Finch and David Warner batted at Nos. 5 and 6 respectively.
Pakistan had beaten India in the 2004 semi-final. This time arch rivals met in the final, and it turned out to be a contest between Pakistan and Chawla. The Indian spinners – Jadeja (3-16) and Chawla (4-8) – dismantled Pakistan for 109 in 41.1 overs.
Chawla’s figures of 8.1-3-8-4 were the then best bowling figures in a U-19 World Cup. The record barely lasted two hours as Anwar Ali ran through the Indian line-up, registering 9-0-35-5, bundling out India for 71 inside 19 overs.
India had half an hour's batting before the scheduled lunch break. They were reduced to 9/6. The innings featured five ducks, including Pujara, who still ended up amassing 349 runs to be named Player of the Tournament.
Pakistan became the first team in the history of Under-19 cricket to defend the World Cup successfully. And for the second time in a row and thrice in four editions, an Indian walked away with the Player of the Tournament.
Semi-final 1: India 292/4 in 50 overs (Cheteshwar Pujara 129*; Nick James 2-60) beat England 58 in 20.1 overs (Graeme White 17; Abu Nechim 4-14) by 234 runs.
Semi-final 2: Pakistan 287/9 in 50 overs (Riaz Kail 84; Moises Henriques 3-58) beat Australia 124 in 32.3 overs (Usman Khawaja 59; Imad Wasim 3-16) by 163 runs.
Final: Pakistan 109 in 41.1 overs (Rameez Raja 25; Piyush Chawla 4-8) beat India 71 in 18.5 overs (Piyush Chawla 25*; Anwar Ali 5-35) by 38 runs.
Most runs: Cheteshwar Pujara (India, 349), Eoin Morgan (Ireland, 338), Todd Astle (New Zealand, 252)
Most wickets: Jamshed Ahmed (Pakistan, 18), Moises Henriques (Australia, 16), Anwar Ali (Pakistan, 15)
Player of the Tournament: Cheteshwar Pujara
Future stars:
Australia: Moises Henriques, Tom Cooper (Netherlands Seniors), Ben Cutting, Aaron Finch, David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Matthew Wade
Bangladesh: Mushfiqur Rahim, Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan, Sirajullah Khadim (Portugal Seniors)
England: Moeen Ali
India: Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Cheteshwar Pujara, Piyush Chawla, Ishant Sharma
Ireland: Eoin Morgan (Ireland and England Seniors)
Nepal: Paras Khadka, Gyanendra Malla
New Zealand: Todd Astle, Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Tim Southee
Pakistan: Sarfraz Ahmed, Nasir Jamshed
Scotland: Richie Berrington, Calum MacLeod
South Africa: Dean Elgar, Craig Kieswetter (England Seniors), Wayne Parnell
Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne, Angelo Mathews, Thisara Perera
West Indies: Sunil Narine, Kemar Roach, Andre Fletcher, Kieron Pollard, Jason Mohammad
Zimbabwe: Graeme Cremer, Chamu Chibhabha, Taurai Muzarabani, Sean Williams, Gary Ballance (England Seniors)