Young Japan eye historic run in Zimbabwe & Namibia: Japan Cricket has officially announced their 15-member squad for the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026, to be held in Zimbabwe and Namibia from January 15 to February 6. With rising pacer Kazuma Kato-Stafford appointed as captain, Japan enters the tournament with renewed belief and a group full of exciting young talent.
Kazuma is one of the most experienced U19 captains in this edition, having already represented Japan in 12 T20I matches for the senior national team. His leadership brings both confidence and stability to a team that is aiming to script its biggest-ever achievement in world cricket.
Japan Aim for Breakthrough in Their Second U19 World Cup Appearance
Japan first played in the U19 World Cup in 2020. Now, after earning qualification again, the team is preparing harder than ever for a stronger performance.
This time, Japan is placed in Group C alongside:
- Sri Lanka
- Australia (defending champions)
- Ireland
All three Japan group-stage matches will be held at the Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek.
Japan begins their campaign on:
- January 17 vs Sri Lanka
- January 20 vs Australia
- January 22 vs Ireland
Ahead of the tournament, the squad will travel to South Africa on January 5 for warm-up matches against Tanzania (Jan 10) and West Indies (Jan 12).
Experience Returns, Young Stars Rise
Two key senior players for Japan cricket, Nikhil Pol and Timothy Moore, have returned to the squad after missing the recent ACC Premier Cup. Their presence strengthens the middle order and all-round options.
The selectors have also rewarded exceptional recent performers:
- Nihar Parmar, who smashed 156 off 132 balls vs Maldives
- Kaisei Kobayashi-Doggett, who blasted 106 off 73 vs Qatar
Both youngsters enter the World Cup with high confidence after their brilliant batting displays.
Japan’s senior men’s international Reo Sakurano-Thomas has been appointed as the head coach, while national captain Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming will serve as the assistant coach, making the support staff one of the strongest Japan has ever had at the U19 level.
Read Also:- Top 10 Most Searched Cricket Players on Google 2025
Japan U19 Squad for ICC U19 World Cup 2026
Full 15-Member Squad
Below is the complete team announced for the tournament:
| Player Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Kazuma Kato-Stafford (Captain) | Fast Bowler / Leader |
| Charles Hara-Hinze | Batter |
| Gabriel Hara-Hinze | Batter |
| Montgomery Hara-Hinze | All-rounder |
| Kaisei Kobayashi-Doggett | Batter |
| Timothy Moore | All-rounder |
| Skyler Nakayama-Cook | Batter |
| Ryuki Ozeki | Bowler |
| Nihar Parmar | Batter |
| Nikhil Pol | Batter |
| Chihaya Sekine | Bowler |
| Hugo Tani-Kelly | All-rounder |
| Sandev Aaryan Waduge | Bowler |
| Kai Wall | Batter |
| Taylor Waugh | Bowler |
A New Era of Japan U19 Cricket Begins
With a strong core, impactful young performers, and international exposure at the top, the Japan U19 squad is preparing with belief that they can challenge bigger teams and produce upset wins.
Their progress in Group C will be followed closely by cricket fans across Asia and beyond.
