Cricket: Five Indians picked in ICC Under-19 World Cup team

Just a day after the Under 19 World Cup final, the ICC, on Sunday (February 4), announced the team of the tournament which was thoroughly dominated by the Indian youngsters, who fittingly won the coveted trophy for the fourth time in the history.

South Africa's Raynard Van Tonder has been named as the captain of the side which involves players from four other countries - India, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. Van Tonder, who started his World Cup campaign with a blistering 143 against Kenya, compiled a hat-trick of single-digit scores before returning to form in the last two games. The reason behind choosing Van Tonder, however, as the skipper of the side is purely for his 'better cricket acumen' the ICC said, in its release.

India's top three - Prithvi Shaw, Manjot Kalra and Shubman Gill - who outperformed their opponents neck and crop, with the bat, got their due attention, as they sealed slots 1, 2 & 3 in the playing eleven chart. The Kiwi number three Finn Allen grabbed the fourth spot having made 338 runs, which includes a century and two fifties, in the tournament.

Qais Ahmad of Afghanistan and Ankul Roy of India were the only ones to get picked from the spin department, while Kamlesh Nagarkoti (India), Gerald Coetzee (South Africa) and Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan), claimed the fast bowling spots eight, nine and eleven respectively.

Wandile Makwetu, who had a splendid time behind the stumps and the arguably the best gloveman of the tournament, was fittingly named as the wicket-keeper of the side, batting at number six just beneath his captain van Tonder. Windies all-rounder Alick Athanaze, for his outstanding show with the bat - two fifties and two centuries, has been marked as the 12th man of the side.

As is evident by the names, the team has been picked wholly on the basis of performances and consistency.

**ICC Team of the year: **Prithvi Shaw (India), Manjot Kalra (India), Shubman Gill (India), Finn Allen (New Zealand), Raynard van Tonder (South Africa, captain), Wandile Makwetu (wicket-keeper) (South Africa), Anukul Roy (India), Kamlesh Nagarkoti (India), Gerald Coetzee (South Africa), Qais Ahmad (Afghanistan), Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan).

12th man: Alick Athanaze (West Indies).

(CRICBUZZ)