Attention will soon be on finding potential stars for the future, as the 15th edition of the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup is set to begin on 19 January in South Africa, just a few weeks after the new year.
This will be the second consecutive year that South Africa hosts the age-group global event, following India’s victory in the inaugural U19 event for women, which was played in the T20 format and led by Shafali Verma.
The men’s 50-over tournament will feature 16 nations and will span 24 days, with 41 matches to be played across five venues in South Africa. Contenders include five-time winners and defending champions India, the reigning ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup holders Australia, and New Zealand, who’ll be making a comeback after missing out on the most recent edition in the West Indies in 2022. The tournament will also have a new format.
India, led by Yash Dhull, won the last edition of the tournament in the West Indies in 2022 and is placed in Group A with Bangladesh, Ireland and the USA. Group B features England, South Africa, West Indies, and Scotland. In Group C, there will be Australia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Namibia, while Group D features Afghanistan, Pakistan, New Zealand, and Nepal.
Format Tweaked
The event in South Africa, originally meant to be held in Sri Lanka, will feature a departure from the Plate and Super League format that had been used in previous editions of the tournament.
The competition will retain the same number of teams (16) as in 2022 and will divide them into four groups of four sides. However, 12 sides will remain in contention for the ultimate prize after the opening stage, unlike eight in the prior edition.
The top three sides from each group will qualify for the next phase. The top teams from groups A and D will be clubbed together in the Super Six stage, and likewise with the top three teams from groups B and C. They will play two encounters against those teams from the corresponding groups who finished at different group stage positions.
The top two sides from these groups will then qualify for the knockout stages, comprising the semi-finals and the final in Benoni on 11 February.
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These teams were South Africa (2014 champions), Australia (1988, 2002, 2010), Afghanistan, Bangladesh (2020), England (1998), India (2000, 2008, 2012, 2018, 2022), Ireland, Pakistan (2004, 2006), Sri Lanka, the West Indies (2016), and Zimbabwe.
For the five remaining spots, teams had to progress via their respective regional qualification tournaments.