The year 2016 was a pretty good one for West Indies cricket.

That was the year West Indies Men claimed their second International Cricket Council (ICC) Twenty20 (T20) World Cup title and West Indies Women stunned everyone by also claiming the global T20 competition.

Those who keep a keen eye on West Indies cricket will also recall that, earlier that year, West Indies Under-19s had set the stage for their seniors by covering themselves in glory, winning the Youth World Cup — the first such global triumph for a West Indies Under-19 squad.

It was a squad rich in pace bowling talent, including Messrs Alzarri Joseph, Chemar Holder, Keemo Paul, Obed McCoy, Odean Smith, and Shamar Springer. All six would later represent the West Indies senior men’s team with Messrs Joseph, Paul, and Holder playing both red- and white-ball versions for the regional set-up.

Just as a matter of interest, Mr Holder actually came in as a late replacement for an injured Mr McKoy.

That Under-19 squad also included Messrs Shimron Hetmyer (captain), Keacy Carty (batsman), Tevin Imlach (wicketkeeper/batsman), all of whom have since represented the West Indies in various formats.

In fact, the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup has provided a priceless nursery for the world’s top cricketers since its inauguration in 1988. The legendary Mr Brian Lara — among West Indies’ all-time great batsmen — led West Indies to the semi-final of that 1988 tournament.

It’s against all that background that the current elite among young Caribbean cricketers are now in southern Africa for the latest edition of the ICC Men’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup being played in Namibia and Zimbabwe.

The Antiguan Mr Jewel Andrew, a talented batsman who has played white-ball cricket for the regional senior team and who has a first-class century, will obviously be at the centre of attention. But the entire squad has been described by knowledgeable observers as highly talented — blessed with the ability to go far in this tournament should the players actualise their true potential.

But even should they fall short, this tournament will provide invaluable experience.

Series victories over touring Sri Lanka as well as England Under-19 squads in the build-up to the World Cup were welcome confidence boosters. But there’s also the flip side.

It’s been said by those in the know — and not for the first time in relation to West Indies cricket squads regardless of age or gender — that resource constraints rendered preparation less than ideal.

From a local perspective, a major disappointment was that only one Jamaican, intriguing left-arm wrist spinner Mr Vitel Lawes, was selected in this squad. That’s further evidence, perhaps, of a continuing decline in Jamaica’s cricket at all levels.

Caribbean cricket fans, long used to their team slipping and sliding on the proverbial banana skin, were undoubtedly relieved that the West Indies youngsters got past unheralded Tanzania by five wickets in their opening game on Thursday.

The West Indies coaches were perhaps more than a little perturbed that, after cruising at 100 for one wicket in pursuit of Tanzania’s modest 122, their charges lost four more wickets before completing the victory.

But that’s sport.

The West Indies will now face dangerous Afghanistan on Sunday. The latter announced themselves in emphatic fashion on Friday, stunning former champions South Africa.

The ICC has often been criticised for not doing enough to “universalise” the glorious sport of bat and ball. But it can’t be missed that for this World Cup, Japan, mostly unheard of previously in relation to cricket, is among the 16 participating countries.

Slowly, but surely, cricket is becoming global.