Many players have represented different countries at the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup and in senior international cricket but no one has had a more direct connection to the move than Imran Tahir.
The 38-year-old leg-spinner met his wife Sumayya when he toured South Africa for the U19 Cricket World Cup in 1998 representing Pakistan and went on to settle in that country. He took a circuitous route to South Africa through England and has earned a top-class reputation in limited overs cricket, even ascending to No.1 in the ICC Player Rankings for both ODIs and T20Is.
Two other prominent contemporary players in this club are Eoin Morgan and Colin de Grandhomme, both of whom played in the 2004 edition in Bangladesh. Morgan is England’s captain in the shorter versions of the game after having also played international cricket for Ireland, while de Grandhomme played for Zimbabwe A before establishing himself in the New Zealand side, recently hitting the second fastest century by a Black Caps batsman against the Windies.
De Grandhomme remembers playing along with leading Zimbabwe cricketers Brendan Taylor, Elton Chigumbara, Craig Ervine and Prosper Utseya and calls his decision a “great move” as “the cricket is getting better” and he has learnt a lot being in New Zealand.
Retired England batsman Jonathan Trott had centuries on first-class and Test debuts but only after playing the U19 CWC for South Africa in 2000. Interestingly, his immediate replacement in the Test side, left-hander Garry Balance, made a similar move from Zimbabwe to England after figuring in the 2006 edition.
New Zealand all-rounder Grant Elliott’s best moment was probably guiding his team to the final of the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2015 with a fine knock against South Africa but that came a good 17 years after he had figured for Zimbabwe in the 1998 U19 CWC. If Elliott had moved to New Zealand, former England pace bowler Andy Caddick (1988 U19 CWC) and Netherlands captain Peter Borren (2002 U19 CWC) had moved on from New Zealand.
Left-handed opener Michael Lumb (1998 U19 CWC for South Africa) was born in South Africa but returned to play for England while Tim Murtagh’s (2000 U19 CWC for England) move to Ireland has seen him gain success, recently rising to 21st in the MRF Tyres ICC Player Rankings for ODI Bowlers.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Craig Keiswetter (2006 U19 CWC for South Africa) had an early end to an impressive career due to an injury behind the stumps but was hot property when he broke onto the scene, selected for England within one week of qualifying to play for his adopted country.
Andri Benrenger’s career is interesting because he played for Sri Lanka in the 2010 U19 CWC and for the United Arab Emirates in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.
Logan van Beek, who moved to the Netherlands after representing New Zealand at the 2010 U19 CWC, kind of continued a family tradition – his grandfather Sammy Guillen had played Test cricket for both New Zealand and the Windies!
Players who played U19 CWC for one country and senior international cricket for a different country:
Jonathan Trott (represented South Africa in U19 CWC 2000, moved to England)
Gary Ballance (represented Zimbabwe in U19 CWC 2006, moved to England)
Grant Elliott (represented South Africa in U19 CWC 1998, moved to New Zealand)
Andy Caddick (represented New Zealand in U19 CWC 1988, moved to England)
Peter Borren (represented New Zealand in U19 CWC 2002, moved to Netherlands)
Imran Tahir (represented Pakistan in U19 CWC 1998, moved to South Africa)
Michael Lumb (represented South Africa in U19 CWC 1998, moved to England)
Tim Murtagh (represented England in U19 CWC 2000, moved to Ireland)
Craig Kieswetter (represented South Africa in U19 CWC 2006, moved to England)
Andri Berenger (represented Sri Lanka in U19 CWC 2010, moved to United Arab Emirates)
Logan van Beek (represented New Zealand in U19 CWC 2010, moved to Netherlands)
Eoin Morgan (represented Ireland in U19 CWC 2004, moved to England)
Colin de Grandhomme (represented Zimbabwe in U19 CWC 2004, moved to New Zealand)