South Africa last won the title in 2014. © Getty

Bryce Parsons, the 17-year-old left-handed allrounder who plays for Gauteng, has been named South Africa's captain for the Under-19 World Cup which will be played in South Africa in January-February 2020. Khanya Cotani, a right-handed batsman who has played eight first-class games along with four List A and four T20s for North West, will be Parsons' deputy in the 15-member squad announced by the South African selectors on Tuesday (December 10).

South Africa squad: Bryce Parsons (c), Khanya Cotani (vc), Luke Beaufort, Jonathan Bird, Merrick Brett, Achille Cloete, Gerald Coetzee, Tyrese Karelse, Mondli Khumalo, Jack Lees, Andrew Louw, Levert Manje, Odirile Modimokoane, Pheko Moletsane, Tiaan van Vuuren
"It was a tough process selecting this squad. We went through quite a lot of players, giving quite a few players an opportunity and we are very excited with the squad we selected. There is a lot of flexibility with some special talent around, I am personally excited about this group and I am sure they will make the nation proud," Lawrence Mahatlane, head coach of the South Africa Under-19 team, said.

"Bryce is a natural leader. The tone that he has set and the growth we have seen over the last couple of months, it was very natural for us to back him as a leader. He captained the side throughout the winter and we have seen a lot of growth in him, not only tactically, but also as a person. Hopefully, he will keep doing the country proud," Mahatlane added.

The squad also includes Gerald Coetzee who was part of South Africa's previous Under-19 World campaign in 2018. Coetzee, the 19-year old pacer, recently played a couple of games for Jozi Stars in the Mzansi Super League while he has also played four first-class games in which he has picked up a couple of four-wicket hauls.

"I feel we have chosen a well-balanced squad that has good leadership potential in its ranks as well," Victor Mpitsang, CSA's under-19 selection convener, said. "Having a player who has experienced a previous ICC under-19 World Cup tournament in Gerald Coetzee also brings significant advantages of its own. The advantage of playing at home also brings extra confidence into our ranks, particularly as the team has a good programme of competitive youth ODIs leading into the tournament."

South Africa play a three-match one-day series against India, which will be followed by a quadrangular series featuring India, New Zealand and Zimbabwe as the other three teams, before the Under-19 World Cup, which begins on January 17 and ends on February 9. South Africa are grouped alongside Afghanistan, Canada and UAE in Group D.