Five Players To Watch At ICC Cricket World Cup 2023

AFP picks out five cricketers who will be vying to make a name for themselves in the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. Teja Nidamanuru, Mark Wood, Towhid Hridoy, Matheesha Pathirana, Noor Ahmad

If it is the dream of every Indian cricketer to play in a World Cup, not many of them would expect to do it for the Netherlands. Such is the case for 29-year-old Teja Nidamanuru who was born in Vijayawada in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh but brought up in New Zealand -- before hitching his wagon to the Dutch. Nidamanuru qualified for them in May 2022 and struck an impressive half-century on debut against West Indies. But it was his 76-ball 111 against the two-time World Cup winners in Zimbabwe in June as the Dutch tied the 375 target, that marked him out as one to watch. The West Indies, who lost the game in the Super Over, missed out on the World Cup for the first time with the Dutch taking their place at the top table.

What he says: "It's surreal to even just be sitting here and talking of playing in a World Cup. The road to it has been hard but it feels worth it."

From his days in the Under-19s, Towhid Hridoy was picked out as a 50-over gem and this may be the moment for the wristy middle-order dasher to take Bangladesh to their first ever World Cup final. Now 22, Hridoy began to enjoy T20 franchise success before being brought into the national side for the T20 series against England in March, guickly followed by the ODI series against Ireland. He has now chalked up five 50s in his 17 ODIs and, perhaps using a bat given to him by his mentor Mushfiqur Rahim, there may be more to come in India.

Expert view from Bangladesh assistant coach Nic Pothas: "He has a high ceiling in terms of his skills. He has a lot of potential and a desire to learn. I am excited for what he can do."