espnstar.com brings to you a brief history of the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup. Here is a read.

Initially conceptualised as a one-off event in 1988, the inaugural ICC U19 Cricket World Cup, in Australia, continued in 1998, featuring the best Under-19 cricket talent the world has to offer on a biennial basis. Here is a concise history of the tournament to date:

1988

The ICC U19 World Cup was first conceived as the McDonald's Bicentennial Youth World Cup, and it was part of the Australian Bicentenary celebrations. Taking place in South Australia and Victoria, teams from the seven Test-playing nations, as well as an ICC Associates XI, competed in a league to determine the finalists. Australia edged out Pakistan in the final, claiming the first ever youth level World Cup.

Future England captains Nasser Hussain and Mike Atherton featured in this tournament, as well as Indian spinner Venkatapathy Raju, New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns, Pakistanis Mushtaq Ahmed and Inzamam-ul-Haq, Sri Lankan Sanath Jayasuriya, and West Indians Brian Lara, Ridley Jacobs, and Jimmy Adams. All went on to have celebrated Test careers as the years went by.

Australia's Brett Williams led all scorers with 471 runs at an average of 52.33. Wayne Holdsworth from Australia and Mushtaq Ahmed came up huge in taking wickets, with 19 wickets at averages of 12.52 and 16.21 respectively.

1998

The tournament was then re-launched in South Africa, scheduled as a developmental competition that would take place once in two years. Nine Test-playing nations were invited, as well as Bangladesh, Kenya, Scotland, Ireland, Denmark, Namibia and Papua New Guinea. The teams started in the preliminary stages and advanced to Super League pools, with winners advancing to the final. England defeated New Zealand in the final this time around, and the non-qualifiers from the pool stages competed in the Plate competition, which was won by Bangladesh after a tremendous win over the West Indies.

West Indian Chris Gayle was the tournament's leading go-getter, finishing with 364 runs at an average of 72.80. West Indian Ramnaresh Sarwan and Zimbabwean Mluleki Nkala were the leading wicket-takers, with 16 wickets at 10.81 and 13.06 respectively.


2000

The 2000 edition of the Cup was held in Sri Lanka, featuring the nine Test-playing nations, as well as Bangladesh, Kenya, Ireland, Namibia, Holland, Nepal and the Americas. India defeated Sri Lanka in the in a hotly contested final, and South Africa subdued Bangladesh in the Plate final.

South African Graeme Smith led the Cup in scores, with 348 runs at an average of 87.00, and Pakistan's Zahid Saeed took the most wickets, with 15 wickets at 7.60. India's Yuvraj Singh was named Man of the Series for outstanding displays at every outing.

2002

The 2002 ICC U19 Cricket World Cup was held in New Zealand, with the now ten Test-playing nations taking part, along with Canada, Kenya, Namibia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, and Scotland. Australia defeated South Africa in an all-Southern hemisphere final, and Zimbabwe won the Plate over Nepal.

Australian Cameron White was the tournament's leading run-scorer, with 423 runs at an average of 70.50. Australian Xavier Doherty was the leading wicket-taker, with 16 wickets at 9.50. Zimbabwe's Tatenda Taibu was named Man of the Tournament.

2004

The 2004 tournament was then held in Bangladesh. The now-established ten Test-playing nations took part, as well as Canada, Namibia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Scotland, and Uganda. Pakistan took the final with a good win over the West Indies, while Bangladesh stunned Australia in the Plate final.

India's Shikhar Dhawan earned the Man of the Tournament with a tournament-leading 505 runs at an average of 84.16. Bangladeshi Enamul Haque was the leading wicket-taker, with 22 wickets at 10.18.


2006

The ICC U19 Cricket World Cup was held in Sri Lanka in February 2006. Pakistan became the first to win consecutive championships, with Cheteshwar Pujara of India being named as the man of the tournament, by virtue of being the leading run-scorer with 349 runs, at an average of 116.33, way ahead of Bangladesh duo Mushfiqur Rahim and Mehrab Hossain. Nepal won the plate final by demolishing New Zealand with a wicket to spare.

Aussie Moises Henriques finished as the leading wicket-taker, with 16 wickets at an average of 10.62.

2008

The ICC U 19 Cricket World Cup was held in Malaysia in 2008 from February 17 to March 2. As many as 16 teams participated in the tournament.

After finishing runners-up in 2006, India stormed to the finals in the next edition and under a gutsy Virat Kohli got the better of South Africa. Young Tanmay Srivastava starred for the eventual champions, with a solid 46 against the Proteas.

New Zealand’s opening bowler Tim Southee won the Player of the Tournament for his consistent show with the new ball.

Nepal, who had won the Plate final in 2006 paved way for the West Indies to lift the title in 2008.