Cricketers who played International cricket before featuring in the under-19 World Cup

Victorious 2012 Indian under-19 World Cup team2016 Under-19 World Cup is just a day away from getting kicked-off in Bangladesh and the teams will be sweating hard to come out victorious. In the past, the Under-19 World Cup has seen several kids getting transformed into a legend of the game. The likes of Sanath Jayasuriya, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Yuvraj Singh are some examples for it.Even in the modern day cricket, there are players (Virat Kohli, Josh Hazlewood, Quinton de Kock etc.) who made their mark in the under-19 World Cup before coming to the International cricket. Under-19 World Cup gives a solid platform for the youngsters to showcase their skill to the cricket fraternity.But there are players who made their International debut even before playing in the under-19 World Cup. Let us take a look at five such players:

#1 Enamul Haque Jnr.

Enamul Haque

Enamul Haque Jnr is a Bangladeshi slow left-arm bowler who made his Test debut for Bangladesh against England in 2003 and has scalped 44 wickets from 15 matches. When he made his debut, he was considered as the replacement for Mohammad Rafique but faded away as the days passed by.

Haque was a member of the 2004 Bangladeshi under-19 World Cup team that won the Plate cup. Haque ended as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 22 wickets throughout the tournament.

Haque last played a test in 2013 and his ODI was in 2009. With age on his side, he can still make a comeback to the Bangladeshi national team.

#2 George Dockrell

George Dockrell

Irish spinner George Dockrell too gets his name in the list as he made his International debut for Ireland in 2010 and played the 2012 under-19 World Cup. Dockrell is Ireland’s best spinner till date as he has scalped 56 ODI wickets and 38 T20I wickets.

Dockrell was also a part of two under-19 World Cups as he represented the Irish in 2010 and 2012 editions. In the 2012 edition, he was the skipper of the Irish team. Dockrell was awarded the ICC associate player of the year award in 2012. Aged just 23, Dockrell could achieve much more success in the future.

#3 Tatenda Taibu

Tatenda Taibu

Tatenda Taibu must be a familiar name to feature in the list. Taibu, who made his Test and ODI debut for Zimbabwe in 2001, played the 2002 under-19 World Cup in New Zealand where he scored 250 runs in 8 innings at an average of 50.

Taibu is one of the key members of the Zimbabwe side in the early 2000s and has retired from International cricket at an age of 29 to work in the church. He also captained Zimbabwe and became the youngest ever Test captain. He has scored 1546 runs in Tests and 3393 runs in ODIs for Zimbabwe.

#4 Mushfiqur Rahim

Mushfiqur Rahim

Bangladesh Test skipper Mushfiqur Rahim also features in the list of players who played International cricket before playing the under-19 World Cup. Rahim made his debut for Bangladesh in 2005 and then went on to play the 2006 under-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka.

Rahim scored just 188 runs in 6 innings in the 2006 edition, but in the International cricket for Bangladesh, he is one of the batting stalwarts in the current team. Having scored over 2650 Test runs and 3754 ODI runs, Rahim has won several matches on his own for Bangladesh. Rahim, who is just 27-years-old can reach great heights in the future.

#5 Tim Southee

Tim Southee

Tim Southee, one of the best pacers in the world at the moment has played International cricket for New Zealand before featuring in the 2008 under-19 World Cup.

Southee made his T20 debut for the Kiwis against England in February 2008 just days before appearing for New Zealand in the 2008 under-19 World Cup in which he finished as the player of the tournament.

Southee’s Test debut came in the same tour against England in March 2008, but after the World Cup ended. With almost 8 years left in him, he could end his career as New Zealand’s greatest pacer of all-time.