Kazuma Kato-Stafford will continue as Japan's captain for the men's Under-19 World Cup, to be played in January-February 2026 in Namibia and Zimbabwe. Nikhil Pol, a former captain, and allrounder Timothy Moore, who missed the recent Asian Cricket Council Premier Cup in Ajman in November-December, are back in the squad.
At the Premier Cup, Japan had positive results against Maldives, who they beat by 366 runs after putting up 422 for 7 in their 50 overs, and Qatar, who they trumped by 183 runs, but lost to Oman to miss out on a semi-final spot.
Nihar Parmar, who scored 156 in 132 ball against Maldives, and Kaisei Kobayashi-Doggett, who slammed 106 in 73 balls against Qatar, are both in the World Cup squad.
In the Under-19 World Cup 2026, Japan are drawn in Group A, alongside defending champions Australia, Ireland, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and West Indies. The team will leave for southern Africa on January 5, and play a couple of warm-up matches before the start of the tournament.
Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming, the captain of the senior men's team, is the Under-19 team's assistant coach, and Reo Sakurano-Thomas, also an active senior team cricketer, is the team's head coach.
Japan squad for men's Under-19 World Cup
Kazuma Kato-Stafford (capt), Charles Hara-Hinze, Gabriel Hara-Hinze, Montgomery Hara-Hinze, Kaisei Kobayashi-Doggett, Timothy Moore, Skyler Nakayama-Cook, Ryuki Ozeki, Nihar Parmar, Nikhil Pol, Chihaya Sekine, Hugo Tani-Kelly, Sandev Aaryan Waduge, Kai Wall, Taylor Waugh