The Under-23 XI of the 2022 T20 World Cup

By Nesara VJ Oct 12, 2022, 18:59 IST

Although T20 was initially seen as the format for youngsters, the format has now evolved to become inclusive of all types of cricketers. Yet, this generation of cricketers brings excitement to the fans mainly due to their skills and intent. On that note, in this article, we take a look at the under-23 XI of the 2022 T20 World Cup.

It is important for team management to groom cricketers at big events while also trying to win that tournament. A few players, in fact, have become polished at a young age and it further eases the job for the management. For instance, Rashid Khan became one of the best spinners in the format while he was just 18. This is now applicable to various other cricketers in the tournament.

Openers: Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Finn Allen (WK)

The Afghan-Kiwi duo will open the batting for this under-23 XI of the 2022 T20 World Cup. Gurbaz's talent is well-known and in the recent Asia Cup, he further re-iterated his reputation by putting on a brilliant show. Finn Allen is in top form at the moment. The future of the New Zealand batting line-up, Allen is known for his aggressive and positive intent. New Zealand will somehow need to find a way to include him consistently in the XI.

Middle-Order: Harry Tector, Harry Brook, Haider Ali and Tristan Stubbs

It is a strong middle-order for the under-23 XI of the 2022 T20 World Cup. Harry Tector's recent performances have put him under the limelight. The Irish man will be important for his team's prospects at the T20 WC. Harry Brook, at just 23, has already cemented his place in the England XI. Yes, the arrival of Liam Livingstone could change a few things but Brook is still in the mix for a spot in the XI.

Haider Ali and Tristan Stubbs will complete the middle order for this XI. Haider Ali recently returned to the squad and left a good impression. Stubbs has been in stunning form and will play in the lower middle order for the team.

Bowlers: Maheesh Theekshana, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Arshdeep Singh, Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah

We do not have all-rounders in this XI because not many were suitable for this U23 XI. However, we have an extremely strong bowling attack to compensate for it. Sri Lanka's Maheesh Theekshana and Afghanistan's Mujeeb form a potent spin attack. Both have an element of mystery which further increases their stocks.

In the pace department, we have Shaheen Afridi, who has achieved so much but is still 22 years old. He will lead the pace attack while Arshdeep Singh and Naseem Shah will complete the bowling unit. In this trio, this XI has the resources to cover all phases of an innings.