BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — Barbadian professionals Johann Lashley and Jamar Griffith will play key behind-the-scenes roles at the upcoming ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup after being appointed to the United States team’s medical and performance staff.
The tournament, co-hosted by Namibia and South Africa, will run from January 15 to February 6 and represents a significant global platform for the rising American side.
Key roles in high-stakes campaign
Lashley has been named the USA Under-19 team’s sports therapist, while Griffith will serve as strength and conditioning coach, forming a critical part of the support structure tasked with preparing the players for the physical demands of a world championship.
Their appointments underscore the growing international demand for Caribbean sports science and performance expertise.
Lashley’s expanding international resume
Lashley brings a wealth of experience at both regional and international levels. He previously worked with the USA Under-19 team during last year’s West Indies Regional Rising Stars competition, a stint that helped solidify his familiarity with the squad and its needs.
Beyond cricket, Lashley has built an impressive multidisciplinary résumé. He served as sports therapist to Barbados’ Under-21 netball team at the 2025 World Youth Netball Cup in Gibraltar and was also part of the medical team for the Barbados senior netball side at the 2023 Netball World Cup in South Africa.
In cricket, his credentials include his appointment as sports therapist to Barbados’ senior men’s national team in 2024, following earlier service with the under-20 and under-17 men’s teams, as well as the under-20 women’s program.
Griffith transitions from player to performance specialist
Griffith’s appointment adds another layer of cricket-specific insight to the USA Under-19 setup. A former professional cricketer, he represented Harthill and Atherton Cricket Club in the United Kingdom, gaining valuable experience in competitive English club cricket.
His performances earned him selection to Barbados ‘A’ and a Vice-Chancellor XI, and he also featured in a Twenty20 series against Zimbabwe, exposure that now informs his work in high-performance athlete development.
Caribbean expertise on the global stage
Together, Lashley and Griffith will help guide the USA Under-19 players through the physical rigors of an elite international tournament, contributing Barbadian knowledge and professionalism to a rapidly developing American cricket program.
Their presence at the ICC Under-19 World Cup not only highlights individual achievement but also reinforces Barbados’ continued influence on the global cricket landscape, well beyond the boundary ropes.
