Many stars in cricket today, announced themselves to the world in past ICC (International Cricket Council) Under-19 Cricket World Cups, and hopefully a West Indian star will rise to the occasion later this month, like many present West Indies players did at the 2004 edition.At the 2004 ICC World Cup in Bangladesh, West Indies finished as runner-ups, its best ever World Cup finish. In the final against Pakistan, West Indies, captained by Denesh Ramdin, went down by 25 runs. Chasing 231 to win, Ramdin top scored with 36, but the Windies were dismissed for 205.Other West Indies international players who were part of the 2004 squad, includes Xavier Marshall, Lendl Simmons, Assad Fudadin, Ravi Rampaul, Lionel Baker and Kirk Edwards. Also making a name at the tournament were current English captain Alastair Cook and India's Shikhar Dhawan. Kevin O'Brien (Ireland) and Vernon Philander (South Africa), who played in the inaugural Caribbean Premier League last year, also featured in the 2004 competition.
This year's tournament, which features 16 teams, will take place from February 14�28 in Dubai. The current squad of West Indies U-19 players has been together since January 22. The team took part in a one week camp in Barbados, under head coach Roddy Estwick, before arriving in Dubai on Wednesday. The team, captained by Jamaican Ramaal Lewis, will play in Group C along South Africa, Zimbabwe and Canada. India is the defending champions, defeating Australia by six wickets in the 2012 final.West Indies will attempt to get its campaign off to a winning start when it faces South Africa on February 14.
Squad
West Indies–Ramaal Lewis (captain), Fabian Allen, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Bryan Charles, Tristan Coleman, Jonathan Drakes, Shimron Hetmyer, Jerome Jones, Ray Jordan, Brandon King, Preston McSween, Marquino Mindley, Gudakesh Motie, Nicolas Pooran, Jeremy Solozano.