Kazuma Kato-Stafford to lead Japan at men's Under-19 World Cup
Japan are in Group A at the World Cup alongside Australia, Ireland and Sri Lanka
ESPNcricinfo staff
10-Dec-2025
The Japan squad at the ACC Under-19 Premier Cup • Japan Cricket Association
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 and Sri Lanka. The team will leave for southern Africa on January 5, and play warm-up matches against Tanzania and West Indies 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.