December 19, 2025 – The starting point is Antigua and Barbuda’s rising cricket powerhouse, Jewel Andrew. Still in his teens yet already wearing history comfortably on his shoulders, Andrew stands as the youngest-ever West Indies men’s player to feature in both T20 Internationals and One Day Internationals. Now, he returns to youth cricket not as a prospect whispered about in nets, but as a proven international presence, anchoring a West Indies Under-19 squad heading to the ICC Men’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2026, to be staged in Zimbabwe and Namibia from January 15 to February 6.
Andrew’s inclusion signals more than individual brilliance. It marks a moment of collective affirmation for Antigua and Barbuda and the wider Leeward Islands, whose development systems have quietly, steadily, and now unmistakably borne fruit.
A Squad Built with Purpose
The West Indies will be captained by Joshua Dorne, a top-order batter who made his first-class debut last year and has emerged as a composed leader beyond his age. His deputy, all-rounder Jonathan van Lange, adds balance and versatility to a side shaped through careful planning and sustained exposure to high-level competition.
The 15-member squad reflects strong performances across the 2025 regional Under-17 and Under-19 competitions, as well as victories in confidence-building international preparatory series against England and Sri Lanka. It is a team selected not merely to compete, but to adapt, think, and evolve under pressure.
The U-19 West Indies Squad:
Joshua Dorne (captain), Jewel Andrew, Shamar Apple, Shaquan Belle, Zachary Carter, Tanez Francis, R’jai Gittens, Vitel Lawes, Micah McKenzie, Matthew Miller, Isra-el Morton, Jakeem Pollard, Aadian Racha, Kunal Tilokani, Jonathan van Lange
Reserves:
Brendan Boodoo, Tyriek Bryan, Earsinho Fontaine, Deshawn James
Dwain Gill, Cricket West Indies’ High Performance Manager, underscored the philosophy behind the selection, noting that the squad is the product of a deliberate and well-structured preparation and selection process aligned with senior-level expectations.
The Leeward Islands Statement
If the squad speaks of planning, the Leeward Islands representation speaks of excellence. Six players in the final 15 hail from the Leewards, with four Antiguans among them. Nearly half the squad drawn from one sub-region is no coincidence. It is confirmation.
The Leeward Islands selectees are Jewel Andrew, Tanez Francis, Micah McKenzie, Matthew Miller, Isra-el Morton and Kunal Tilokani.
For Antigua and Barbuda, the pride runs especially deep. Jewel Andrew, Micah McKenzie, Matthew Miller, and Tanez Francis make up a quartet of Antiguans selected for the World Cup squad, a rare and historic concentration of talent.
Echoes of History, Eyes on the Future
Only twice before has Antigua and Barbuda supplied three players to a West Indies Under-19 side. In 1982, we offered Mark Bowers, George Ferris, and Anthony Merrick. In 1988, Ridley Jacobs, Stephenson Simon, and Kenneth Browne were in the squad for the inaugural Youth World Cup in Australia.
Placed in Group D alongside South Africa, Afghanistan, and Tanzania, our young Windies squad will contest all its group matches at the High-Performance Oval in Windhoek, Namibia.
This World Cup is not only about results. It is about validation, pathways working, and young men stepping forward as standard-bearers for Caribbean cricket.