Cricket World Cup 2023: 5 Emerging Players To Watch Out For

The Cricket World Cup, which starts in India on October 5, will bring together the cream of the white ball world. The crowds will hurry to watch established stars like Ben Stokes, Virat Kohli and Trent Boult but they will also be on the lookout for the new generation of players to emerge from the tournament. AFP picks out five who will be vying to make a name for themselves.

Noor Ahmad (Afghanistan)

It is always exciting when someone a little bit different comes along and 18-year-old Noor is certainly that, a left-arm wrist spinner with a high action and good control as well as decent pace. He made his Under-19 debut for Afghanistan when he was just 14 and was only 17 when he made his full ODI debut against Sri Lanka last year and then took 4-10 against Zimbabwe in his only T20I thus far. Noor starred for Gujarat in the IPL and is in demand from numerous franchises around the world - in India he will offer important back-up to his idol and influence Rashid Khan.

Expert view from Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan: "That little kid, he just wants to learn. He has got the opportunity now and I am so, so happy he has been delivering. It's great news for Afghanistan cricket."

Matheesha Pathirana (Sri Lanka)

Since the retirement of the great Lasith Malinga after the 2019 World Cup, Sri Lanka have been looking for a shock bowler who can take wickets and tie up the batsmen at the close of the innings. In Pathirana they appear to have found the most like-for-like replacement possible. Also a slinger, with an even lower arm action than his model Malinga, the 20-year-old speedster with a penchant for yorkers, stepped into the fast lane when MS Dhoni pulled him into the Chennai IPL squad late in 2022 as a replacement for Adam